Temper tantrums: Re: Re: use caution...

» Red - Re: Re: use caution...

In response to message posted by neldis:

neldis,

Brandon's melt downs were exactly like temper tantrums. We couldn't tell the difference, but as he was normally a very well behaved child, we knew that something wasn't right. He is now nine years old and when other people see him have a melt down, they assume it is a temper tantrum amd often make rude comments. As I said, things are not always what they seem.

I have taken care of many children in my day. If you didn't know he had Asperger's, you would assume he was either a bad child, or just throwing a tantrum to get his own way. We have to be very careful when reacting to his behavior. The signs between a melt down and a temper tantrum are very subtle. A melt down can be brought on by a shirt whose fabric is driving him over the edge. He's been this way since he was an infant. He did not chronically cry and it was just not fussiness. These melt downs are far more extreme. Again, I advise to use caution. As someone else said, infants don't scream because they are throwing a tantrum. When they do so, it is because there is a need, whether it be a feeding, a diaper change, or possibly, in Brandon case, a loosened diaper or a change in clothes.

-- posted by Red