Wallace and Gromit update (longish)

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Registered: 01-19-2005
Wallace and Gromit update (longish)
2
Fri, 10-14-2005 - 11:00am

DH and I loved the movie! Very funny! But now this has become an on-topic post!

Thanks to all for their suggestions below. Yesterday was a teacher work day, so we took Eric to the noon matinee. I had lots of snacks. We had talked about it ahead of time and done a mini-social story. Those work well with Eric.

There were only 3 other families in the theater, all with small kids, so we knew we would not bother anyone. We had a whole aisle to ourselves, no one in front or back. DH sat on one end, Eric in middle, and me on the other end.

Good thing it was so unattended, and I'm glad I went, but here is what happened:

Well, although Eric did seem to enjoy the movie, it was almost a repeat experience of that research test they did on him a couple of weeks ago. He was just very overwhelmed by the loudness of the sound and also the big visuals. He kept jumping up and down, wringing his hands or flapping them, shaking his head wildly,making weird noises. But he seemed to follow the story. He would occassionally quiet down to eat a snack. During parts of the movie that were less loud, he was ok too.

Afterwards I asked him if he had fun. He said yes but that it was too loud and hurt his ears. It really is disconcerting to see him like this, it's like a different child. If you only witnessed these displays and never saw him in any other context you would think he is possessed. I guess I prefer this reaction to his "shutting down and checking out" like he used to do before he could talk. This looks strange to outsiders, but at least he can tell us what he feels now and he's learning some calming skills. Nevertheless, I think I need to talk to our neurologist about this, since it appears to be a new trend.

He is more sensitive than ever lately to loud noises. Always telling me to turn off TV, radio, says he wants quiet time. Going upstairs to hide under the sheets. His stimming is off the charts too. I've been attributing it to school, but now I am wondering if there is something physical/auditory happening that is stressing him?

He's doing so great in every other way. He really is fun to be around now. I just feel so badly when something (usually auditory) sets him off in this extreme way. It's not a tantrum, on the contrary--he seems kind of euphoric--and like I said he is aware of everything around him even though he behaves so oddly, so it's not a seizure, I don't think. It's like all his most extreme autistic behaviors wrapped up at once in a short time period. Then they go away, like a switch turned on and off. If that makes sense.

We will probably try going to another matinee if there is a nice holiday movie out. But I do think I need to bring this up with the doctor. It's not really just the movie anymore, but trying to pinpoint what it is exactly that sets him off and how to help him cope.

I know this was long. Writing it out kind of helps me to think about it logically. Also, I just wanted to update everyone and as always I'd be grateful for any advice or thoughts.

Katherine

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 10-14-2005 - 10:36pm

I am glad he enjoyed the movie and you did too. Headphones or earplugs may be your friend. If you can help block out the sound for him it may help. If you can get him used to it now rather than later it may help.

For the longest time everywhere we took Mike he had his headphones with his music playing to drown out the other noise. In stores this was amazingly helpful. I have ear plugs too. There was something recently that was noisey that was bothering Mike and he used them. Don't remember now. They are both doing better with noise recently.

There are lots of choices even down at your local pharmacy. And if you don't mind the funny look there are those sound proof ones at home improvement stores that you wear with loud tools.

Good luck, it is tough.

Renee

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Registered: 03-31-2003
Sat, 10-15-2005 - 10:49pm

I haven't seen the movie, although I love Wallace and Gromit. David, who is almost 8, has been to one movie in his life ("Finding Nemo"), and we had to walk out about a quarter of the way through it. Movies these days are just too LOUD and in-your-face. I don't remember having a problem with it when I was a kid, but I don't think they were always so loud.

I'm not on the spectrum (probably close to it, though), and even I get all weird feeling during the mega-loud, fast-paced sounds and images of the previews. I've learned not to look at it.

I'm thinking that if I saw a child acting in a way that seemed, well, "autistic", I would simply think, "autism". *My* son with Asperger's rarely looks "autistic" in his behavior. When he's having one of those days, he simply looks like a badly behaved kid whose mother has no control of him.

Oh, goodness....They are getting WEIRD in the bathtub. Gotta go!

Evelyn