The Third Year

The third year continued in the same manner, the first 6 months of the year I averaged 4 to 5 hours sleep a night with Brandon´s constant night awakenings (every couple of hours for nearly an hour at a time). At this point the Paediatrician convinced me to try medication. I guess I just felt that this was the end of the road (so untrue!) We trialled Clonidine, a medication used in Autism Spectrum disorders to assist in night time sedation and reduce aggression. It is mostly used as an anti-hypertensive medication in adults. I was cautiously optimistic, as having tried various antihistamine preparations with the doctor´s approval had not helped at all; Brandon just seemed resistant to any sedating effects. As for the Clonidine, a very small dose seemed to work. I say this because it would knock Brandon out for a few hours then he would wake up again in the usual manner. It did seem to reduce the night time terrors though. It also seemed to calm him during the day. It was helpful for a few weeks but the side effects of rebound nightmares and very dry mouth soon appeared. At that stage it was suggested by a friend to try Periactin, a different type of antihistamine. With the doctor´s assistance we trialled a small dose which worked wonderfully - and gently. Now, I alternate between the two so he doesn´t get too resistant to one or the other. Brandon was also assessed privately by a Clinical Psychologist whose 3 hour assessment in developmental skills and abilities found his profile to be "strongly indicative of Asperger´s Syndrome". Further assessment was advised. One thing I have discovered is that health professionals can be very reluctant to specifically "label" children so early in life, despite the positive direction it can offer parents/carers in coming to terms with what is happening, start accessing intervention therapies and resources and learn to accept that it is NOT their "fault" or method of parenting that their child´s behaviour is the way it is.