Is using the internet good for a 9 year old austistic boy?
By smashville14
@smashville14 (278)
Philippines
January 14, 2011 9:18am CST
I have a nephew who was diagnosed as autistic when he was just around 2 yrs old. He is now 9 yrs old. Eversince he was exposed to using computer games (around 6 yrs old I think), he got hooked on it already and he never stopped using the computer anymore whenever he got the time after his special schooling. He learned how to surf already in the internet (mostly images from google for just about anything that fancy his interest like racing cars, trains, and calenders). Now he plays online games about constructing racing cars. One day, when I visited their house, I found him playing online game named "The Torture House" where he was using an animated chainsaw and he was sawing off the arm of a vague hanged animated human.. and I was so shocked! Now I'm wondering if the internet will have a bad implication to his mind (being austistic) or maybe he was not monitored closely (by his parents) on what online games he should be playing in the net.
Another bad thing is when I reprimanded him in a calm voice to stop playing such senseless game, and I turned off the computer... he gets upset and start yelling at me with "Shut the F_ck up! Stop talking!" repeatitively... now I know where he gets that line, its from watching action movies in DVD. It's what he does if he's not using the computer.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
15 Jan 11
That torture house does not sound like a good game for anyone to have. It is not healthy for a child (or adult for that matter) to be online all the time.
The outbursts he has is part of the autism.
I agree with another poster who said he does need to have boundaries set for him, but how can you do that? You are not the parent. Perhaps you can speak with the parents and whoever is in charge of his health, such as his teacher.
1 person likes this
@smashville14 (278)
• Philippines
16 Jan 11
I already told my brother about the game he plays and I think he's pretty aware of it. I think the problem is the time given to the child. If he was my child I would be setting firm boundaries for sure specially in using the internet games. I am just afraid he might be violent when he reaches his adolescent age for playing such disturbing game. However, I wouldn't know that. Autism is really hard to understand.
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
16 Jan 11
You have made them aware of it, and that is the best you can do. Unfortunately it sounds as if they are just letting him do what he wants to avoid the conflict with an autistic child.
@neesancute (67)
• Philippines
15 Jan 11
Oh that's a bit difficult to handle-
My cousin is a boy too and he has a mild autism (they say~ but I can't see the mildness of it.) I think he started to get hooked in computer when my other cousin(who sometimes acts like a special child too) introduces that thing to him..
Every time when my normal cousin visits their house they always go outside not to play tag or hide and seek but non other than go to the nearest computer shop and rent- (they don't have personal computer) My cousin still have his control that time until his father bought a computer for them to use~ From time to time when
I'm seeing him in our family gatherings and when we visits their home... I've noticed that he has change a lot~ He's manners changed a lot!! He used to be a sweet boy back then when he was younger but now he's talking to me like I'm not older than him- and sometimes he's not respecting his mother too D:
In my opinion~ He's not gonna give you some respect if your heights are not much different.. I guess~ Hahaha :)) It's not that I'm small!! .
1 person likes this
@smashville14 (278)
• Philippines
16 Jan 11
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your experience too. :-)
@housechaos7 (609)
•
15 Jan 11
Two of my children are on the autistic spectrum and it is very hard to decide as parents what to let them do.but personally i know that autistic children/teens/adults always feel very isolated from the real world,they canbe socially indifferent,not adjust to change and very literal eg:you ask"whats up"they reply "the sky" now you have to have humour this is from real experiance with my own children,they are rarely invited to friends houses and parties etc and usally feel asfer at home and like to play alone.The internet is a way they can communicate without feeling different to others just be themselves,which we all take for granted,i always moniter what all my children do on the internet.i think you may need to read up on what your newphew has to help you understand better.
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
16 Jan 11
Isn't autism tough to deal with? Parents of autistic children struggle with this continuously. I could go on a rant about this but.... Unfortunately you aren't a parent. If you walked in the parents shoes for a while you would find this is not the biggest difficulty they have to deal with! Alternative sources of entertainment for autistic children and adults are hard to find. It's far easier to criticize than it is to develop new programs for these people to take part in. If you have any ideas I'd love to hear them!
@blahokay1 (84)
• United States
27 Jan 11
Autism is a hard disease to understand and control, but I would not take action against your nephew. I believe you should just advise his parents, of this issue, for they could enforce control over it, through blockers on the computer, and many other things.
