When NOT to Punish an Aspergian Kid

I wanted to follow up on my somewhat Patton-esque rant about the importance of a kid staying quiet every once in awhile...

During the same vacation, we were attending an outdoor festival.

Again, perfect night... The holiday lights were illuminating St. Augustine's town square like a postcard.

The music was great - beaming live from the gazebo. But it was really, really loud.

In fact, NJ had to cover his ears. This was in the middle of a rambling semi-tantrum about wanting to go back to the hotel room, etc.

And I immediately recognized it as legitimate aural overstimulation.

Many kids on the spectrum are overwhelmed by loud noise, screaming crowds of kids, loud music and the like. I find that's especially true when other stressful stimuli are present.

In other words, when he's:

- Tired
- Hungry
- Getting hungry
- Getting tired
- Been out all day, playing in the fresh air
- Overstimulated, like after birthday parties

At these times, he's more prone to classic Aspergian problems such as sensitivity to loud noises.

So when we recognized his hearing overstimulation, we gladly grabbed him up and absconded back to the room. There, he enjoyed a soak in a big jacuzzi tub... sipped some root beer... played some video games... and eventually went to bed.

As other experts have pointed out, and I agree, it's absolutely critical NOT to punish the symptoms of Asperger's.

Then again, sometimes it's hard to distinguish between bad behavior and AS symptoms.

But as we go along, and learn, it becomes a little easier each day.

And one thing I am sure of: Laughing hilariously at one's own gross-out jokes is not a sure sign of Asperger's. Unless I, too, am an Aspergian.