I was talking on my LJ to a fellow mom who also has an Autism diagnosed child. She mentioned that the nitrous at the dentist might cause her son to feel as uncomfortable as the actual dental work. ETA: She explained that the nitrous feeling was enough to cause screaming and discomfort. I never thought about it. I expected Malachai to not like how the novacain made him feel. He is so sensitive to taste (everything is “spicy,” even foods I would consider mild… anything overly flavoured, it doesn’t have to be spicy like peppers or what most people consider “spicy”) and touch. I just never expected how the nitrous made him feel to be unpleasant. It makes me wonder if it did work better than I thought it did, but in a way that made him more sensitive to the pain, or at least, more sensitive to the sensation. It would make me yell too. We have another appointment next week to finish the work. To be honest, he was fine once he settled down and we go in the car. He is even willing to go back. I do not feel wasting time hoping to find an oral surgeon who can fully sedate him is worth the risk of not having insurance to pay for it.

Now, to the question. Do you have a child who has been diagnosed with Autism or anything on the Autism Spectrum? Can you tell me what “sets” them off? What makes them melt down, freak out, or otherwise cause massive problems to their day? Like I said, I never even thought the nitrous might be the culprit. What else am I not thinking of? I do not plan to spend my life avoiding potential triggers, but I would love to be aware of them and at least have it in the back of my mind that X might cause Malachai to have a melt down. Say a truck air horn freaks your child out. Well, I’d never think it would be a problem. I wouldn’t go out of my way to make sure he never hears one, but I would know that I need to pay more attention if we hear one, because it could potentially be an issue. I am aware all kids are different in all aspects, but there are also similarities. I just want to make a general sort of list to keep in mind of things that cause your child to have a melt down, whether it is a certain fabric, a certain sound, a social situation, whatever.

I spoke with the school psychologist today. I need to fill out a release form for our psychologist so they can chat. I also mentioned his problems are primarily social, and after a bit she asked how I thought Monday would go. I said there is a good chance it wont go well at all. When he started at HACS when he was 3 he wasn’t presenting with his problems, and last year when he went he knew most of the kids and somewhat the teacher. It was a small class and not overwhelming. This class is much larger, he wont know anyone. I see it being a problem. She said she would make sure she was in there to watch for potential problems. We go in for orientation tomorrow, so I hope that helps him as well.