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What Parents Need To Know About Children With Aspergers And Puberty

By Dave Angel

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 13Apr2011 Word count: 709 Viewed: 643 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Question

My son is now 13. He was diagnosed with Aspergers at the age of 8. All of a sudden he is acting out, cussing all the time, lying, etc. Are these years the hardest, or is it just the beginning? When he finally hits puberty, will things get better?

Answer

Teens and their parents need to address Aspergers puberty sooner than many might think. He has probably already begun puberty. Yes, the teen years are the most difficult, whether your son has Aspergers or not. Bad behavior and anger can be caused by the frustration of social interactions on top of raging hormones. Many teens need counseling to get through these years with the greatest amount of success. Consider getting counseling for your son and start it immediately if you decide to proceed.

The type of behavior your son is exhibiting is fulfilling a need of his somehow. This need may be any of the following:

Avoid responsibility - Attending school, obeying parents

Get something - His way in a decision, your attention, control over a situation

Manage Pain - Physical and /or emotional stress that must be alleviated

Fulfill sensory needs - Relief from heat, cold, or to satisfy thirst

Your son is unlikely to identify with your feelings or to comprehend others' objections to his behavior. Aspergers puberty is a difficult time for a child who cannot empathize with others. The only explanation that is likely to resonate with him is to explain that his actions are simply against the rules. Stating rules he can follow is likely to help him focus so he can work on modifying his behavior. Behavior modification is a therapeutic approach that can change your son's behavior. This approach can be very effective for addressing the issues that come up during Aspergers puberty.

It is essential to find and teach a replacement behavior once you can determine the need his aggression is fulfilling during Aspergers puberty. For example, he can be taught to ask for or point to what it is he wants. He can also use a picture or an emotion card to communicate. Sometimes self-stimulating behaviors like rocking or pacing are taught as replacement behaviors. Remember that it will take time to fully integrate these new behaviors into his daily life for them to replace the inappropriate ones. If your son is severely out of control, he may need to be physically removed from a situation. This is probably easier said than done and you may need assistance doing it. Yet, behavior modification can be helpful and should be started as soon as possible.

Many issues with Aspergers puberty can be avoided if the child is kept on a daily routine schedule. A daily routine produces behavioral stability and psychological comfort for Aspergers children. It also lessens their needs to make demands since they can anticipate that their needs will be met. When you establish a daily routine, you eliminate some of the situations in which your son's behavior becomes demanding. By building in a regular time to give him attention, he may have less need for showing aggression. He will stop trying to get your attention in such a negative way.

Over time you child will hopefully learn to identify and express the causes of his aggression and other acting out. It is important to do everything you can to help him figure that out now. Many children who get their needs met due to aggression or violence are very likely to continue and escalate this behavior. Aspergers puberty requires an individualized behavior therapy program because children with Aspergers can have such varying characteristics and issues. Family circumstances also make a difference in the type of therapy that may be needed. Treatment approaches that work well with other diagnoses may not work with Aspergers. Consult a psychiatrist who can oversee a treatment plan as well as any medication regimen that your son may need.

Parenting a child with Aspergers can have a number of challenges, but can also be tremendously rewarding too. I hope this your short article is of help to you as a parent, if your child is going through puberty.

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