Did you know that the medical term for faecal smearing is scatolia? This challenging behaviour is observed in some children with autism and individuals with dementia. Having faced firsthand experience, I understand how difficult it can be.
Scatolia often stems from sensory-seeking behaviour. Reflecting on our own experiences, I remember feeling completely drained—alone and isolated in a foreign country with a young child who struggled to sleep, eat, or play. My partner was working hard to build a life for us, often travelling, and working around the clock. No friend or family support. Playgroups and playdates were never straightforward. It was a very difficult time, even when James slept, I struggled to find peace.
Practical Strategies for Managing Scatolia
To help manage scatolia, here are some practical strategies that have proven effective:
- Sensory Input: Provide squishy sensory toys or play dough to offer an alternative sensory experience. Essential oils with calming scents can also be beneficial.
- Preventive Measures: Use clothing designed to prevent access, such as back-fastening sleepsuits with buttons. This can help reduce the opportunity for access to the prize.
- Handling Attention-Seeking Behaviour: If the behaviour seems to be attention-seeking, clean up quietly and without reprimanding. Reprimanding might not only be ineffective but could also reinforce it.
Support for Parents
Looking back, I wish I had sought support for myself sooner. The stress of special needs parenting can be overwhelming, then add to the day, scatolia. I strongly believe, with hindsight, someone should have said, we need to help you first. It’s not your fault. Let’s schedule parent therapy with professionals who understand autism. This is essential and mandatory pre and post-diagnosis support. I say it because I know it can make a significant difference in how subsequent challenges could be managed. It’s as simple as the advice in an emergency scenario on an aeroplane, put your mask on first and take care of your own well-being. I wish the support back then, was more than just recommendations and suggestions. I wish there was an evolving box of tips and tricks that was handed out post-diagnosis, and updated periodically. In the UK, I was given a bag of nappies as standard when I gave birth to James. After he was diagnosed I was given a huge printout of recommendations, multidisciplinary, yet I was in no fit state to fully digest them. For example: I still struggle with making visuals. Sometimes the ones I have are torn up or lost. Regardless, it’s not just the case of being given the tools, you need to know how to use them and why. That old adage, give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will be self-sufficient, springs to mind. In the case of some children, they neither offered the fish, taught to fish or sometimes force-fed the fish. I think it’s impossible to understand the full brevity of the situation only by analysing the child. And it’s equally impossible to take care of yourself when you are sleep-deprived, anxious, and grieving. I had to learn to relax, try to worry less about everything, including food, and sometimes lock ourselves in a room to manage the situation. I also found anti-anxiety medicines, a supportive doctor (who listened to every single side effect I felt with many medicines, without judgement yet offering professional suggestion) and a late diagnosis of ADHD helped me to understand our life a bit better. Additionally, exercise helps me a lot, specifically Muay Thai for specific reasons. However any type of exercise will improve metabolic health.
The most significant changes for came from the support of a specialist school that understood James’ needs. Their duty of care and expertise was invaluable in helping us navigate several challenging periods. They provided a safe and structured environment with plenty of opportunities for outdoor physical activity daily. We have had a full experience of exclusion, self-harm, Tourette’s syndrome and beyond, due to a multitude of reasons. My poor child. So, knowing my son now has a more fulfilling day knowing that he is safe, and not frustrated or hurting himself, is the greatest gift parents like me can get.
This type of security gave me the time and energy to recover from the physical, emotional, and mental strains this situation inevitably entails. To become a confident and strong parent again.
Support Strategies to Consider:
- Sensory Toys: Offer squishy toys or play dough to keep hands engaged.
- Soothing Smells: Use essential oils to create a calming environment or add essential oils to soft furnishings or soft toys.
- Special Clothing: Opt for back-fastening or buttoned sleepsuits to limit access. I remember sewing them, because they didn’t exist in the sizes I needed.
- Layering: Use multiple layers, like briefs on top of nappies, for added protection.
- Regular Checks: Set a timer to remind yourself to check on your child frequently. If you are are parent to a child with a tendency to do this, you will understand that hypervigilance and omnipresence can only go so far balancing everyday life and fatigue, but it could help. Consider using this timer to implement a toilet training schedule.
- Open Discussion: Discuss the situation with others who have faced similar challenges and seek advice.
In summary, although scatolia and other sensory seeking/averting or challenging behaviours can be persistent and unpredictable, these strategies may help manage the situation and provide you with a bit of respite—perhaps even a moment to go to the toilet or take care of yourself 🙂
Jamie
Holistic Strategies for Well-Being
Evidence-based holistic strategies can significantly benefit individuals with autism and their families. Here are some sources and strategies for supporting well-being:
- Mindfulness and Relaxation: Techniques such as mindfulness and relaxation exercises can help reduce stress and improve emotional regulation.
- Family Support and Resilience: Building resilience and providing support to families is crucial. Resources like family therapy and support groups can offer emotional relief and practical advice.
- Nutritional Interventions: A balanced diet and nutritional support can impact behaviour and overall health. Consulting with a nutritionist who understands autism can be beneficial.
- Physical Activity: Regular physical activity has been shown to improve mood and behaviour in children with autism.
Coregulation and Effective Strategies
In managing scatolia, coregulation—where caregivers and children work together to regulate emotions and behaviours—can be incredibly helpful. Here are some strategies that I found effective and backed by research:
- Coregulation: This approach involves helping your child manage their emotions by staying calm and supportive yourself. For children with autism, coregulation helps in reducing stress and fostering a sense of safety. This is something I still struggle with at times.
- Intensive Interaction: This technique focuses on building communication and engagement through simple, repetitive interactions that are responsive to the child’s cues. It’s particularly useful for improving connection and understanding. Initially, the best thing to do is to just watch. I remember I always felt I had to be doing something and I didn’t know what to do. I still do if I am completely honest, I took the course, and received the certificate, but acknowledge there will always be days when some things are more difficult. Trying your best and nothing working can subconsciously heighten stress guilt levels, and reliance on external support. And a stressed mother makes coregulation very difficult.
- Low-Arousal Environments: Creating a low-arousal environment can help reduce anxiety and challenging behaviours. This involves minimising sensory overload and creating a calm, predictable space. Dingley’s Promise provides resources and guidance on creating such environments to support children with autism. Dingley’s Promise – Low Arousal Environments
I am James' mum 