Should autistic children be moaning constantly??

Question

Hi,

I live next door to a family with an autistic son, aged 12.

I have every sympathy for anybody who must endure the daily struggle of autism. Also, I thought I knew about autism & its various behaviours, but I never expected this:

The boy moans constantly. Constantly. Constantly. He's moaning right now, as I write this. Because of this, his family tend to leave him outside in the garden for hours at a time, on a trampoline. About 7 hours a day. Since my bedroom window looks directly into their garden, I have a thorough exposure to the moaning- at times it can be very frustrating.

My question is this:

Is it normal, in the clinical sense, for an autistic child to be moaning this much? Isn't it a sign of neglect? I imagined he could be taught not to moan, and shouldn't his parents have done this? Or have I misunderstood?

Thanks guys,

J

Answer 1

Ok I no medical expert but my brother and step son has Autism. It is a stimulating behavior for them such as rocking or wiggling their fingers. Autism is a neurological disease that affects several of the senses and the relationship to form bonds through touch and communication............

Answer 2

The moaning is a "stim". Basically, people on the spectrum will do things like flap, spin, or make sound effects to cope. These perseverations calm them & make it easier for them to deal with a less than user-friendly world.

He's probably happy to be out there on that trampoline moaning. The trampoline provides a lot of sensory input that can help with sensory integration dysfunction.

The problem with getting rid of a stim is it is replaced with another stim. So taking away the moaning might cause him to scream or to do something more dangerous, like hit himself.

Please, be compassionate. I realize its probably annoying to listen to the moaning. But he truly can't help it & I'm sure the parents are doing the best they can. (And I'm not sure how severe the autism is, but even high-functioning children can have these stims). Can you play a radio softly near the window to drown out the sound? Or keep the windows shut on that side of the house?

If you really must say something, please keep in mind how isolating & difficult it is to care for kids on the spectrum. Many of us parents (yes, I have a son with aspergers) get stares, comments, even nasty suggestions from friends, family & strangers alike. (I had a spec.ed. bus driver tell me if she were me, she would beat my son & maybe that would fix him). We are automatically defensive & protective because we have to be. People just don't get that just because a child looks normal it doesn't mean they are normal. How you approach a conversation with this family is critical.

I wish I had better advice.

Answer 3

The moaning is a stim (non-purposeful repetitive behavior).  It is either to calm him down or hype him up.  The trampoline (jumping) may be overstimulating him and he is self-calming by moaning.  The trampoline is a sensory thing, too much of a good thing can be counterproductive.  He may be an anxious type of spectrum kid, and he may be undermedicated or not medicated.  Autistic children prefer to be alone, even higher functioning one's take breaks from the group to keep themselves together.  The stimming is a common thing, usually kids have their thing like the moaning and it can change over time into a different stim or stop all together.  My 2 yr old stims vocally by a high pitched scream perseveratively.  We get a lot of looks in public!  It is normal behavior for autism, there isn't much the parents can do but maybe medicate, or limit the trampoline time.  My own stims are more socially acceptable.  I am not autistic spectrum and stim more than both my 2 kids.  I twirl my hair, bounce my knee, tap my pen, chew my lips, and rub my hands together (friction) I have seen spectrum kids do the last one.

Answer 4

The autism spectrum is very diversified.  This child most likely has severe autism.  He can't help it and yes it's normal.  

If this child has classical autism (which it sounds like) no he can not be taught not to moan.

People on the other end of the spectrum with ASD's (such as Asperger's Syndrome) can be taught other "coping mechanisms" and social skills training.  

I don't think that you're being insensitive, I just think that you're curious.  Most people don't understand Autism or ASD's because it's only obvious to most when you see "classic autism".    This kids parents are probably doing the best that they can (although....I don't think I'd leave my child out in the garden for hours at a time).

Answer 5

Not seeing the experience first-hand, I can not judge if the child is being left alone or watched, or it 7hrs is exaggerated.  Trampolenes, swings, etc... are very stimulating and calming for a child with autism (in general) the constant motion helps to relax them.  The moans may be like a giggle or something else that a child who would be tickled, or jumping on a trampolene may do.  If the child is low functioning he or she may be nonverbal, so the moaning is the child's communication.  From what you said, I can't see it as neglect because the parents know that the child likes the trampolene.

Answer 6

yes. manly cannot talk. i doubt they are just leaving him, he is probably happiest on the tramp. my dd with autism used to spend hours, trust me, it is hard to get them back in, and he may find the tramp safe and relaxing.

just like NT kids autistic kids vary. if you are worried call cps but that may be even worse for him. does he look dirty and malnourished.

do you have any idea how hard it is to care for a special needs child? offer help before you attack.

i had big fights with my child who wanted to go out on the swings in rain and snow. if i had let her she would have lived on the swings.

she is older now and much better thanks to 20 yrs of therapy.

Answer 7

It depends on the child, autism is quite misunderstood and complicated, I doubt it is neglect because he will have doctors who will have picked up on it and tried to work on it, there are lots of symptoms and moanings, screaming, constant negative remarks/noises can all be associated with autism.

You are doing the right thing by trying to research autism but there are some good websites that will explain more for you.

Answer 8

I have a teenage son who is autistic, and he sometimes moans a lot. It's mostly when he is playing and is enjoying himself. He's not doing it because he is being neglected, and he doesn't really have much control over it.

Before judging this child's parents you should try and find out more about autistic children, and try to have a little compassion. All autistic children are not alike. Some of them have tantrums at times. I remember when a nurse at a hospital (who obviously didn't have a clue about autistic  children) told me that all my son needed was a good spanking.