FAQautism

Difficult behavior tops the list of challenges that many parents and other caregivers encounter in day-to-day care of individuals functioning on the spectrum of autism. Concerns range from stealing ice cream out of the refrigerator to squeezing all the toothpaste out of the tube. A residential staff wrote about a young adult who swallows paper clips and rubber bands. Another parent wrote of his daughter who gets very agitated and fussy while waiting at the dinner table for supper to be served. All were searching for ideas to decrease or eliminate these behaviors.

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SOME IDEAS. Sometimes the solution to behavior issues related to autism is as simple as removing the temptation or the catalyst that causes the problem. For example, in the case of the daughter who gets restless and agitated while waiting for supper, parents can eliminate that problem by waiting until the plates are served before calling their daughter and other kids to the table. Or they can eliminate that wait time by giving her some specific “pre-meal” jobs that help her feel useful and keep her from getting impatient while waiting.

If stealing Dad’s ice cream from the freezer is a serious issue, Dad can simply quit bringing the tempting sweet home. Or he could purchase smaller containers that will be emptied by the family in one sitting so no ice cream is stored in the freezer. This is particularly a problem with the family who submitted the concern since their youngster stored the “stolen” ice cream under the covers in his bed.

Squeezing toothpaste out into the sink and pumping all the hand cleaner out of the bottle are common behaviors for individuals with autism. You can keep the family toothpaste hidden away and make a personalized tube in a drawer or personal toiletry bag for your friend with autism. Use the smallest tube of toothpaste you can find for the family. When about two-thirds of the tube has been used, designate it as the personalized tube and put it in the designated drawer or toiletry bag. The same principle works for liquid hand soap in a pump container.

We always take time to “baby-proof” living areas for two-year-olds, but we need to remember to do the same for older children and even adults who have the habit of chewing on or swallowing items compulsively. In the case of the young adult with autism mentioned earlier, it would be wise to look at her living space with a fine tooth comb, removing any loose buttons, paper clips, rubber bands, beads, rings, earrings, safety pins, or other small items the young lady might be tempted to pop in her mouth.

The key to successful behavior management in these cases is for family members, staff members, and other caregivers to determine the catalyst for the inappropriate behavior, and to remove that temptation when possible.

NOTE TO CAREGIVERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. I encourage you to click on www.FAQautism.com now. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com

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