Re: Spitting behavior

[Guest guest]

She may have yeast problems.

Lucy

>

> My daughter has severe verbal apraxia. She is now 7 years of age. She

> signs exclusively for communication. For the last 6 years she has had

> behaviors of spitting. At first we thought it was blowing raspberries and

> people thought it was cute. As a 7 year old, it is not cute. Different

> speech therapists have thought it was due to frustration of communication,

> getting attention, getting a reaction, frustration with a situation, etc.

> etc.

>

> When she was younger it occurred as often as every second. Now she will do

> it (in a comfortable situation at home) 4-10 times a day, around kids very

> often and with gross motor activity very often.

>

>

>

> We have been given and read many many parenting books on discipline. Of

> course every one without an apraxic kid thinks this is a lack of discipline.

> Discipline of all kinds over 6 years has not helped the situation. Has

> anyone dealt with spitting or similar behavior? Any advice?

>

>

>

> Thank you,

>

> Jen O'Brien

>

>

>

> (mom to Colleen-hearing impaired and apraxia)

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

We have spitting issues as well, but my son also combines spitting with other

aggressive behaviors (hitting, biting, kicking, etc).

Does your daughter spit at other people? Or is she just spitting, like spitting

her saliva out as one does when they have too much and don't want to swallow?

Discipline, I hear you about that. For us, the normal route of discipline has

not worked with our son. THat is is not an excuse, it is a fact. We

discipline, and our other children respond...not him.

Sorry, no help for you. Just letting you know, you are not alone with

this...discipline not working, and the like.

-Deanna-

[Guest guest]

Jen this doesn't sound to me like the typical aggressive reason why special

needs children may sometimes spit. Sure some of it could be frustration in her

lack of verbal skills but based on what you wrote it does sound like it's more

of a coping/soothing mechanism for her that developed years ago. At this point

she's probably not even aware at most times she's doing it which is why I don't

believe punishment would work.

To me this would fall under a similar category of like someone that bites their

lips, chews nails, twirls hair etc. when they are thinking or nervous or realize

they did something wrong.

It does sound however as if she's not socially aware that this is not

appropriate behavior -is not embarrassed by it -or is she? Does she have

alternative ways to communicate with people that don't understand sign?

What about providing another more appropriate crutch for her to substitute at

least for now? Like..and I'm just throwing this out here -but for a few days

try giving her something to suck on when it appears she is spitting lots- in

other words try to break the habit. If you go with lollies you can use these

http://yummyearth.com (they are INCREDIBLE!!!) How cool -a possible way to

break the habit and the treat all in one

And since in my opinion this is linked in somehow with the same issue of nail

biters, hair twirlers etc. -I'd suggest exploring suggestions in this area as in

my opinion you don't want to punish a child who is simply trying to cope with

life in the best way she may know how at this point...we just need to teach her

more appropriate ways to cope!

haha just read the doc suggests the lollipop substitute as well- great minds

think alike...and besides how can you go wrong with a lollipop?

NAIL-BITING

Backing Off a Nervous Habit

Many children bite their nails, says Kechijian, M.D., clinical associate

professor of dermatology and chief of the nail section at New York University

Medical Center. Usually they grow out of the habit, and nagging them about it

only makes the situation worse.

What can you do if your child can't or won't keep her nails out of her mouth?

First, understand why she does it.

''Nail-biting is a nervous habit that's often a symptom of anxiety or

insecurity,'' says Womack, M.D., associate professor in the Department

of Child Psychiatry at the University of Washington School of Medicine and

codirector of the Stress Management Clinic of Children's Hospital and Medical

Center, both in Seattle. ''It's your child's way of comforting herself.''

Figure out what's eating your child, and you're halfway to getting her to stop

eating her nails. Eventually, most children stop biting their nails when they

start to care how their nails look--or when their friends start to notice.

Meanwhile, try some of these creative solutions.

Help your child understand. Enlist your child's cooperation by helping her

understand why she's biting her nails. ''Explain that sometimes people bite

their nails because they worry a lot or are upset and nervous,'' says Dr.

Womack. For example, ask her if she does it when relatives visit, when she's

meeting new friends or when she's trying hard to learn something new. Your child

may be better able to control the habit if she can talk about the stresses she's

experiencing, according to Dr. Womack.

Nail down a deal. Ask your child if her nail-biting bothers her. If, and only

if, your child wants to stop biting her nails, you and she can talk about a

''contract,'' suggests Dr. Womack.

For instance, would she consider not biting her nails for a dime a day? Or for a

week--in exchange for a visit to an amusement park? Would she appreciate a new

watch of her own for not biting her nails for a month?

Keep a chart of successful non-nail-biting days, then reward her for compliance

with the ''deal,'' says Dr. Womack.

MEDICAL ALERT

When to See the Doctor

If all your child does is bite off the tips of her nails, it's not a medical

problem, says Kechijian, M.D., clinical associate professor of dermatology

and chief of the nail section at New York University Medical Center.

It only becomes a problem when children bite their nails more

aggressively--particularly if they tear off their nails and cause their fingers

to bleed. The cuticle area is especially important because the nail forms under

the whitish half moon (usually seen only on the thumb), then grows out from

underneath the cuticle.

''Theoretically,'' says Dr. Kechijian, ''you could bite your nail tips for 25

years and never have permanent deformity because you're not injuring the nail

root. But the cuticle has an important function, which is to act as a barrier to

keep bacteria, yeast and liquids from getting underneath the skin of the finger.

When children bite the sides and cuticles of their nails, or peel, tear and rip

the cuticle off, they can get a low-grade infection of the finger and the nail

root.'' And that can lead to permanently deformed nails.

If you see any sign of infection--fingers that are chronically swollen and red,

or nails that are bumpy--see a dermatologist, says Dr. Kechijian.

Trim off some stress. If you teach your child relaxation techniques, she can

counter the stress that usually leads to nail-biting, suggests Dr. Womack. ''Say

to her, ' When you feel like biting your nails, think of something pleasant,

like playing on a beach or having fun with friends, suggests Dr. Womack.

Offer a manicure. ''Have your child get a manicure,'' says Frances Willson,

Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Sherman Oaks, California, and chairman of the

Health Psychology Committee of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association.

''It's better if she gets it professionally than if you give it; then she'll

have an investment in someone outside of you. But she has to want it.''

Suggest a substitute. Have your child try substituting a sugarless lollipop

(available at health food stores) for biting her nails, suggests Bobbi Vogel,

Ph.D., a family counselor in Woodland Hills, California, and director of the

Adolescent Outpatient Program at Tarzana Treatment Center in Tarzana. ''Your

child may find it easier to stop nail-biting if she has a substitute means of

oral gratification, at least temporarily,'' says Dr. Vogel. Besides a lollipop,

you can also offer sugarless gum or a crunchy carrot stick.

Try positive distraction. If a child is ready to give up nail-biting, you can

help her learn to keep her hands otherwise occupied, says Dr. Vogel. For

example, if your child habitually bites her nails while staring at the TV set,

keep a supply of drawing materials near the TV and encourage her to color or

draw while her favorite shows are on. Or buy her a special ''worry bead''

bracelet she can wear and play with when she's tempted to bite her nails.

Annoy the taste buds. With your child's cooperation, and if she's over four

years old, put something bitter on her nails, suggests Dr. Vogel. One

over-the-counter product, Thum, contains cayenne pepper extract and citric acid.

''This will do more harm than good, however, if your child feels she's being

punished for being bad,'' points out Dr. Vogel. Only use it if she agrees.

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/50/78.cfm

=====

[Guest guest]

It is funny you should bring this up. My son who is just turned 3 in Jan. and

has verbal apraxia use to blow raspberries very often when he wanted to say

something but could not, especially when he was very excited. It seemed to be at

it's peek last summer when he was on the verge of starting to talk. This past

fall he finally started talking ( you can only understand about 60% of what he

is saying but he is talking in sentences now) basically stopped spitting. I

believe with my son and I think with your daughter it is a lack of language

skills and not a discipline issue. It is so frustrating for this children, I can

you only imagine what it is like for them. Hell, if I could not communicate my

needs I would be doing a lot more the spitting raspberries. I am sorry I really

don't have an answer for you as to how to handle the situation. I remember

feeling very embarrassed and frustrated but trying to be very compassionate at

the same time to my son's

feelings. It was really tough, I feel for you. Good luck.

Carolyn

________________________________

From: Jen O'Brien <jen@...>

Sent: Wed, March 31, 2010 11:36:24 AM

Subject: [ ] Spitting behavior

My daughter has severe verbal apraxia. She is now 7 years of age. She

signs exclusively for communication. For the last 6 years she has had

behaviors of spitting. At first we thought it was blowing raspberries and

people thought it was cute. As a 7 year old, it is not cute. Different

speech therapists have thought it was due to frustration of communication,

getting attention, getting a reaction, frustration with a situation, etc.

etc.

When she was younger it occurred as often as every second. Now she will do

it (in a comfortable situation at home) 4-10 times a day, around kids very

often and with gross motor activity very often.

We have been given and read many many parenting books on discipline. Of

course every one without an apraxic kid thinks this is a lack of discipline.

Discipline of all kinds over 6 years has not helped the situation. Has

anyone dealt with spitting or similar behavior? Any advice?

Thank you,

Jen O'Brien

(mom to Colleen-hearing impaired and apraxia)