Universally compatible with
all Apple devices
No More Meltdowns
Have you ever seen a child with autism have a meltdown in public? I have. My own son has had a couple huge emotional nuclear meltdowns right there within eye sight and ear shot of John Q Public. It's never fun. It's often humiliating and exhausting and sometimes these crying fits of rage are unpredictable.
If you've been on the receiving end of a meltdown and don't expect them to magically go away any time soon, the No More Meltdowns iPhone app can help. This app can help you cope with, understand, anticipate, and prevent meltdowns. It's basically a companion to the book of the same name written by Jed Baker, Ph.D. But, this app is useful as a stand-alone tool also.
There are other iPhone apps that allow for inputting of data on behaviors and tracking and even graphing. But this one walks you through the steps thoroughly and it's the only one I know of that offers good research-based advice to help parents cope with their emotions, deescalate a meltdown, prevent future meltdowns, and more. Those things are hugely helpful!
No More Meltdowns doesn't require an internet connection while you're using it, but you'll want to have a wifi connection when you initially open it and create an account with SymTrend. You'll also need a wifi connection so you can sync the data you input. This app is intended to be used in conjunction with the No More Meltdowns website on SymTrend.com. Through the website you can analyze the data you've input about your child's meltdowns, read more detailed prevention plans, and keep an electronic health diary. I have not taken the website for a test run. Evaluating the app itself takes enough time!
See the fifth screenshot to get an idea of the features this iPhone app packs. There is no shortage of features. And although there's nothing especially pretty about the interface, it's very functional and, in my opinion, it's quite a tool.
You only have to create an account and login to No More Meltdowns one time on your iPhone (or iPod Touch or iPad). However, if you use this app with multiple children you'll want to create an account for each and remember to login with each new child. But once you login you're taken straight into the app. Each time you go into the app you're shown the No More Meltdowns book cover until you press 'Next.' I think this is sort of a reminder that the book exists. SymTrend would be smart to eliminate this screen and instead show the book cover while the app is sync'ing and/or as a splash screen which is common.
One of the features of this app is the ability to time a meltdown while it's happening. This is a great feature, but you have to go through too many screens to get to it. When my autistic kid is having a fit I scarcely have time to pull out my iPhone, let alone navigate through 7 screens. My advice to SymTrend would be to make this feature available from the start. And, in addition to timing a fit while it's happening, parents like me will find it useful if we could somehow input the approximate duration after the fact, or to adjust the time.
As I mentioned, sometime after you input data you need to sync your device. This is done by tapping your child's name on the bottom of the screen which then takes you to the appropriate area within the app. I found that sync'ing had some issues. I estimate that I was able to successfully sync about 50% to 70% of the time. That's a big problem that leads to bigger problems (such as not being able to use the app at all).
No More Meltdowns may very well lead to fewer meltdowns. This app puts the tools in your palm and puts you firmly in the driver's seat. But if the car only starts half the time, you may find yourself walking instead.
