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5 year old with "speech processing delay" showing aggressive behavior

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jan73763
jan73763

Both of my grandchildren are "strong willed" yet adorable.  My daughter is an elementary teacher and has amazing parenting skills!  However, her 5 year old girl "RJ" is prone to hysterical outbursts: she screams, hits and bites.  Recently she nearly got suspended from the school bus!

Her pre-kindergarten tests showed a high IQ but she has a marked delay in processing what is said to her.  As a pediatric nurse who has worked in the school system I can say without a doubt that the combination of a bright intellect and her delay in comprehension leave her very frustrated.

Her father is in the Air Force and the family is stationed in Italy and prior to that in Japan where RJ was born.  Change is difficult for her.  We visited them during Christmas 2013.  The poor little girl totally rejected her Nana and Grandpa as if we were invading aliens.  One morning I walked into their kitchen and when she saw me (mind you I was just standing in the doorway) she started screaming,"AHHH! She's trying to kiss me!  AHHH! She's trying to hug me!" I tried not to burst out laughing.

Long story short (???) : Does anyone have any ideas or experience with this disorder and the behavior ramifications?

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • louise21984
    louise21984 jan73763

    Posted

    Change is difficult for her ... she has a delay in comprehension ... she's very bright. 

    Has anyone suggested she might be on the Autistic scale?

  • lucy02639
    lucy02639 jan73763

    Posted

    I do wonder about the possibility of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). Diagnosis of this, in the UK, comes through audiologists. I have no idea what the procedure would be in Italy, and from your post, I'm wondering if your family is American? (We don't have elementary teachers in the UK!) APD is often confused with ADHD and other learning difficulties, and can be hard to diagnose before the age of seven.
  • Tanya_Curtis
    Tanya_Curtis jan73763

    Posted

    Hi there.  I am wondering if there are any associaltions with high functioning autism spectrum disorder (previously known as Aspegergers Syndrome)?  As a beahviour specialist I work alot with children on the autism spectrum disorder and some of the characteristics you are talking about are very consistent with this.  E.g., she struggles with change, rejecting 'new' people.  Also based on my experience it is common for a person wiht a high functioning ASD to  have what we call an 'uneven profile' wiht their Intellectual Profile.  That is  the child may appear very intelligent yet has some obvious weaknesses with certain areas (often in processing, organisation, sequencing, receptive & expressive communication, social skills). It is aslo common for a person wiht ASD to require a structured routine and can struggle when change in that routine occcurs.  Im not sure if your granddaughter has all of those arees but just felt to mention for you to investigate a little bit futher.

    Ultimatley from a behavioural perspective, the key is to ensure that without a doubt we know that "all behaviour is happening for a reason" and that reason is always the persons way of expressing they are struggling wiht something that is happening.  The key to supporting your granddaugher is to ask "I wonder what she is trying to communicate right now" and where possible "teach her new ways to be able to send that message using behaviours that are likley to support her as she ages and become the most independent & responsbile adult she is capable of becoming".

  • Sinusprob
    Sinusprob jan73763

    Posted

    Hi Jan: My Grandson had outbursts for years starting at age 5, after mumerous doctors and other health officials my daughter was told he does not process info like most other children. Denying him anything turned into a world war. Once diagnosed and treated he is now very calm and no longer has tantrums as before. very mild medication and only on it during the school year to help him focus not during breaks.
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