Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 10/27/2011

Question
My daughter is almost 8 diagnosed with asd. She has outburst of complete defiance with hitting, kicking, destroying things. She is on medication and is at risk of getting kicked out of school for these behaviors. I dont know what to do, her doctor just keeps upping the meds or adding more. Im trying to get her into behavior management but insurance doesnt cover anything, any ideas?

Answer
Hi Nick,

It is very important to try and figure out what triggers these outbursts. Most often, the child is feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the environment. It can be anything, or a combination of things, such as high pitched noises, florescent lights, changes in activity without sufficient warning, etc. She may not understand what is being asked of her so she reacts violently.

A trained observer should spend time in the classroom just watching to see when these episodes happen. He/she will prepare a report for use in making a plan to help.

Your daughter should have an I.E.P. at school that includes behavior management training. Your school district is responsible to make a plan that helps her stay in school. This may include an adult aide to be with her in the classroom to deal with her outbursts until she can control them herself.

Ask the district to call a new I.E.P. review and discuss the options for helping your daughter handle the classroom environment. Just "kicking her out" is not acceptable. She has a legal right to a free public education, whatever it takes.

As to medication: sometimes it helps, sometimes it makes things worse. If increased doses are not helping, I would get a second opinion. She may need a different medication altogether.

Here are some links to resources you can contact for more information:

State of Florida Gov't. Resources
The IEP law
The Autism Society of Florida