No Magic Pill
Life would be much easier if we could find the fool-proof answers to all our questions about autism in a manual entitled something like: Guaranteed-Solutions-For-All-Challenging-Issues-Related-to-Autism. But the complexity of autism prevents the development of magic pills and watertight solutions that work in all cases and with every individual diagnosed with autism.
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Before we can develop an effective solution to a challenging issue, we must, of course, pinpoint the issues and contributing factors for that specific person. As we all know, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to determine the root cause of a challenging behavior or to pinpoint the specific circumstances contributing to a problem. For example, if a person with autism reaches out to scratch or hit another person, we assume they are expressing anger or frustration. But, in reality, they may strike out to others for one or more reasons listed below.
1. The person is expressing boredom or discontent.
2. Hitting, scratching, or biting has become an unconscious habit.
3. The individual is expressing dislike for a particular person.
4. Striking out occurs when a person is overly excited or overstimulated.
5. The person is trying to tell us they are hungry, tired, cold, or hot.
6. The individual is expressing the need to go to the bathroom.
7. The person with autism is being mischievous or playful.
8. The individual is seeking attention of others.
9. Our friend with autism is attempting to purposefully hurt another person.
10. The individual is reacting negatively to a person standing too close for comfort
These are just some of the factors that could be causing a person with autism to strike out at other people. I’ve even had young friends with autism who appeared to purposefully hit people because they enjoyed the loud and sudden reaction by everyone in the room.
TIP FOR THE DAY: This list of causes of a common behavior in autism illustrates the reason for difficulty in developing foolproof, watertight solutions to issues arising in the lives of our friends with autism. In reality, there is no magic pill.
But, never fear! We have developed some resources to help you explore root causes and develop effective solutions individualized to the needs of your friend with autism. Check out these “magic resources” by clicking on the Toolkit tab at our website: http://FAQautism.com
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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