Always look for sensory issues first. Keep a log if you have to, to see if there is anything that seems to particularly set him off. It might be stuff that you and I would never notice, such as certain lights, certain clothes, certain foods, smells, sounds, or even textures. We have a friend whose son was set off for many months just by watching someone else on the swing.

If there is a pattern, try to figure out what it is. If he is using it to get your attention, try to teach him an easier way, such as coming and touching your hand. If he has learned that it gets him attention, he may be doing it without realizing it. It may take a while to "unlearn" that behavior. But it is worth the effort. Spend a few months of responding very slowly to screaming, and very rapidly to everything else.

If he is screaming to avoid something, then it will take some detective work to figure out what it is. It might be as simple as an upset stomach, or as complicated as sensory overload. Many kids scream because they are trying to figure out language, and it is frustrating and confusing. There is usually a trigger, it can just be very hard to figure it out.

Many kids do outgrow it, but it can be a lot of work to help them through it. Good luck.

Getting therapy and a routine going will be a struggle but once its yours and his normal life it will help! I am not even a year into this and I am blown away at the struggles we have and sadness I feel wishing I could understand him better and do more but each step of progress is such a huge reward it is amazing! Always keep those moments close!

I would try to find out why he is screaming. It is in response to a question to do something, is it when other noises are present, is he trying to tell you something, is it when there is too much going on around him? Knowing why he is doing it will help you come up with a solution to address the root cause of the screaming. Sometime this includes asking another person to watch as you go through an activity to see the exact point when he decided to scream. When you are in the activity with him, it is hard to see everything. Once you figure out why he is doing it, you can start to teach him the correct way to ask for (words, signs, pictures) what he is screaming for.

I know where you are coming from we have a bit of screaming around here too! My son is 3 was diagnoses shortly after turning 3 we are now in several therapies that do help but we have daily struggles!! Is your son in any therapy yet? I have found there are different reasons behind the screaming sometimes a sensory problem thats hard to do much for other times frustration not being able to communicate and for us at times high anxiety! Before my son started therapy I took photos of all items he may request used velcro to attach to poster board and thaught him to pull card off give to me when he wanted something also a binder for going places photos car then each place we will go. I also use the same schedule for time at home with pecs cards so he knows what is going to happen next. He picked up on this fast and even started placing photos on the binder asking to go different places. Its helped us a lot! As for screaming due to sensory problems if your son has them will be easier to figure out how to help after an ot eval we use compression clothes, weighted blankets, ipad, swing can be very calming. Just some thoughts on what we have done each kid is different. Before we started therapy and even still I read as much as I can to find new ideas gain understanding. We have been doing this less than a year so by far I dont have all answers I wish I did! I hope something here may help you!

Has your son had an eeg? When my son was that age he did the same thing. He also started scratching himself and others. After three years without any let up, we finally had an eeg doneat Childrens' Hospital in Washington DC. The EEG showed that the screaming was a result of continuous seizures. They put him on anti-seizure medication and the screaming stopped completely.

You might talk to his pediatrician.