Low Frustration Tolerance & Rigidity of Thinking

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That's a good question - someone else here might be able to help with that one. Also, her pediatrician might be able to recommend someone, that is how we found our private OT. You should be able to just call the p doc's office and ask for a recommendation or a referral if that is necessary for your insurance.

My son has terrible ADHD issues and cant tolerate the stimulant meds. His neurologist recommended that I allow him a caffeinated beverage before needing to focus. I buy some of the energy drinks with added vitamins. It looks odd, but the DR is fine with it.

If she does have dyslexia or another learning disorder, the challenge will be to help her understand that she will NOT be perfect in that area, and that she needs to accept a certain amount of "failure" to achieve anything. I have NVLD, which went undiagnosed until college. I am a big perfectionist and have very low frustration tolerance. I still burst into tears if I feel I'm not "good" at doing something. Thankfully, my mother made me persevere with tasks that she knew I could eventually master to some degree. I feel I'm a better person because of that. I'm actually happy that I grew up in an age where accommodations didn't exist, because it forced me to learn how to do things that, nowadays, I would get to skip past. Just my two cents. Good luck!

Thanks for that! I feel the same way about my daughter being in a small private school-totally mainstreamed. While they don't have a lot of knowledge of AS, they are flexible, but it forces my daughter to attempt all things first without accommodations. Sometimes this is a curse, but you've pointed out a plus to this.

Now for a question...how did your mother know what you could eventually master? I have trouble determining what needs a push and what needs to be dropped or helped. So many things cause frustration that even simple things become frustrating because she is just on edge from constant difficulties.

My mother mostly relied on my reaction to something and me physically telling her if something was too hard. My mother would always gently push me to try something, and if I was a physical wreck afterwards, sobbing uncontrollably, she knew not to push any further. Like, she wanted me to try to learn how to drive before I went to college. I was scared stiff of driving, but I agreed to try. I had two lessons and never left the parking lot. Just the thought of going on the road petrified me completely, and I was shaking and bawling just from the experience. I've never been a "faker" (one advantage of Aspie honesty), and there are very few things that have made me freak out THIS strongly. Usually, if I'm worried about something (I have OCD, too, by the way), I'll have a minor crying fit, and after I let out my frustration and know I need to get something done because it's important, I will be able to function enough to try again. But things like driving are just too extreme for me to even attempt again, and my mother never has pressured me again. I take the bus to work. Feel free to PM me other questions if you want! ^_^

OddDuckNash, I just thought I'd mention I use the same barometer your mom did. My son, too, becomes a sobbing mess when things are too much. That's when I know. He doesn't melt down like other people (angry, tantrum-like). He weeps uncontrollably and cannot stop unless he is left completely alone. He also has NVLD.

I have anger outbursts, too, but those are more from sensory issues and interruption in routine (more AS things). But I have sobbing breakdowns when things are too much for me to handle emotionally/physically.

Visual processing problems can also be Irlen Syndrome:

Reading by the Colors: Overcoming Dyslexia and Other Reading Disabilities Through the Irlen Method by Helen Irlen

The Irlen Revolution: A Guide to Changing Your Perception and Your Life by Helen Irlen

www.irlen.com Irlen Syndrome