How to control the aggressive behavior of an 11-year-old child with autism and ADHD?

Question

Hi doctor,

My son is 11 years old with autism and ADHD. He is very aggressive and hits himself and us. We were already giving Tablet Zyprexa 10 mg to him.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Children with autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) can sometimes be aggressive in their behavior for different reasons. Is he verbal or non-verbal? Does he have any intellectual disability? Tablet Zyprexa (Olanzapine) is an antipsychotic medication that can ease aggressiveness to an extent. Tablet Zyprexa is not ideal to be given for a longer period due to weight gain and other related side effects. You can manage weight gain by following a healthy diet and more physical activities (like walking, running, and swimming, if possible). Aggression can be difficult to manage alone by the family, but with support from his medical team and special educators, you can devise a plan to manage his behavior. Is your son in a special school for managing autistic children? Having input from special education teachers and therapists in managing aggressive behavior will be very helpful. Is there any trigger for his aggression? Is he able to communicate or talk about it when he is calmer, or is he non-verbal? Is he has any pain like a toothache? I can understand that the situation can be hard but can be gradually managed. Try relaxation techniques as well.

Take care.