FAQautism

Several families and teachers lately have reported an escalation in the frequency and intensity of emotional outbursts by youngsters with autism. Some concerns involve kids who withdraw and sulk or cry uncontrollably, and others describe aggressive tantrums with screaming, tearing or throwing items, kicking, crying, and self-abuse including biting, scratching, and head-banging.

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With some exceptions, we are not able to put a stop to these issues by demanding the youngster settle down or by threatening removal of privileges or other consequences. Instead, we might want to take a close look at the situation in order to determine the circumstances contributing to the problem before developing strategies to address those specific issues. But this is not always as easy as it seems. Pinpointing the causes of emotional outbursts can be very challenging when autism is part of the equation.

1. Communication. Even individuals with autism who speak clearly can become frustrated with their inability to express themselves well. Among other things, agitation can result for people with autism if others do not take time to listen or if others are not unable to understand their needs or opinions. For example, a ten-year-old student with autism with sophisticated communication skills began echoing many questions, especially at school. Sometimes she seemed calm and cooperative, answering questions without hesitation. But, at other times, she repeated questions over and over, becoming more and more agitated, sometimes screaming the question out or throwing the closest object. It took her teachers, therapists, and parents several months to realize she was echoing questions and becoming frustrated when she did not understand the question or did not know the answer.

2. Change. Many people with autism are averse to change. They may get extraordinarily upset, for example, if a friend moves away, if they must replace outgrown shoes, if a favorite stuffed animal falls apart, or even if they must use a different flavored toothpaste. Angry outbursts can result when the family gets a different car or pet, when a student moves to a new school, or when someone changes the radio station in the car. One of my young students suddenly began rocking vigorously, biting his hand, and hitting his head one day. It took some time for me to scout out the reason for his agitation: new strings on my guitar. Not only did they look different, but they also sounded different.

3. Sensory issues. Some individuals with autism have extreme sensory issues that seem unreasonable to those of us who are less sensitive to changes in light, air temperature, smells, visual patterns, taste, environmental sounds, and touch. Significant agitation can result, for example, from a change of pitch in the sound of a ceiling fan, the taste of a different brand of mustard, or the texture difference in a different brand of t-shirt or washcloth.

There are other general categories of issues that contribute to frustration and agitation. Check into part 2 of this discussion for more thoughts about Explosive Outbursts.

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

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