Strategies to Manage Severe Autism Behavior Problems

Autism

Navigate autism severe behavior problems with strategies for management, early diagnosis, and therapies.

Steven Zauderer

October 21, 2024

9 minutes read

min read

Understanding Severe Behavior Problems

In order to navigate the complex terrain of autism, it is crucial to understand the nature and impact of severe behavior problems that can accompany this condition. These behaviors can significantly impact individuals with autism and their families.

Impact on Individuals with Autism

Severe behavior problems can manifest in various forms, including self-injury, aggression, and destructiveness. According to the Autism Research Institute, approximately 59% of individuals with autism engage in these behaviors at some point in their lifetime.

In a recent follow-up study, it was found that 44% of children diagnosed with autism who engage in self-injurious behaviors exhibited the same behaviors a decade later. These behaviors can become more severe with age, impacting the quality of life for both the individuals and their caretakers.

These behaviors can significantly limit the individual's ability to participate in everyday activities and social interactions. They can also pose safety risks and create significant stress for the individual and those around them.

Factors Contributing to Behavior Issues

It is critical to understand that behavior problems in individuals with autism are often a response to underlying challenges. They are not deliberate acts of defiance or misconduct.

The Autism Research Institute suggests that biological causes can play a significant role. These can include anxiety, painful medical comorbidities such as gastrointestinal distress, or environmental sensory processing issues.

An individual with autism might engage in self-injury or aggression due to an inability to communicate pain or discomfort. Alternatively, sensory overload from a noisy or crowded environment might lead to destructive behaviors.

Understanding these contributing factors can guide effective intervention strategies and help manage these behaviors. It can also help to foster empathy and understanding towards individuals with autism who are dealing with these challenges.

In conclusion, severe behavior problems can significantly impact individuals with autism. However, with a better understanding of these behaviors and their contributing factors, effective treatment strategies can be explored. This can lead to improved quality of life for individuals with autism and their families.

Treatment Approaches for Severe Behavior Problems

Managing severe behavior problems in individuals with autism involves a multi-faceted approach. It's essential to understand that these challenges can be a result of various factors, including genetic conditions, mental health issues, or even undisclosed medical conditions. Here, we will explore different treatment approaches, including behavioral interventions, medication considerations, and inpatient treatment options.

Behavioral Interventions

Behavioral interventions are often the first line of treatment when managing severe behavior problems in individuals with autism. These interventions involve identifying triggers and consequences through a process called functional assessment. Understanding the events leading to problem behavior is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies. These strategies may include avoiding triggers, teaching new skills like communication, and reinforcing appropriate behaviors [1].

It's important to note that some behavior disorders in individuals with autism are directly connected to genetic conditions. Therefore, the functional assessment process should consider these underlying conditions when developing treatment plans [1].

Medication Considerations

Children with autism are more likely to have mental health problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mood disorders, or depression. These can contribute to challenging behaviors and may require medication to manage effectively.

Furthermore, medical and dental conditions can often be misinterpreted as behavior problems in individuals with autism. For instance, severe changes in behavior can often be a sign of underlying medical issues, with some as common as constipation or an ear infection. A change in behavior can indicate the presence of an underlying health issue in individuals with autism who may not be able to communicate their pain effectively.

Inpatient Treatment Options

For individuals with very severe behavior disorders at an increased risk of self-injury or harming others, inpatient admission may be necessary. Treatment on the Neurobehavioral Unit involves an interdisciplinary approach with psychiatrists, behavior analysts, medical providers, speech and language pathologists, educators, and social workers to address all aspects of the behavior disorder effectively.

Approximately one in 10 youth with autism will be admitted to a hospital psychiatric unit by age 21 due to behaviors like aggression, self-injury, or tantrums.

Inpatient treatment can provide a safe and structured environment for individuals with severe behavior problems, allowing for intensive intervention and the development of effective management strategies.

In conclusion, it's crucial to tailor the treatment approach based on the individual's unique needs and circumstances. This often requires a combination of behavioral interventions, medication considerations, and inpatient treatment when necessary.

Psychological Impact on Parents

The journey of raising a child with autism severe behavior problems is not easy. It's a path often marked with emotional challenges, crises, and the need for strong support and coping strategies.

Emotional Challenges

Parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder often experience a higher level of emotional distress. They report greater levels of depression, anxiety, and other mental health–related issues compared to parents of children without autism spectrum disorder and parents of typically developing children [3].

This emotional turmoil can be attributed to chronic and acute demands such as health problems, child emotional problems, caregiving, multiple stressors, school stress, death, life changes, child behavior, and family problems. These challenges can lead to a crisis characterized by a failure of coping mechanisms and functional impairment. It can result in an inability to act calmly, reasonably, and in a pleasant manner, and a loss of motivation and uncertainty about how to proceed.

Support and Coping Strategies

Given the overwhelming emotional challenges, it's crucial for parents to find effective support and coping strategies. Crisis is often related to a lack of support and resources, including a weak support network, difficulties in obtaining support from extended family, issues with the use of emergency services, lack of finances, and the complete loss of all available resources [3].

Coping Strategy	Description
Building a Strong Support Network	Seek support from family, friends, healthcare providers, and autism support groups.
Accessing Professional Help	Therapists and psychologists can provide valuable guidance and therapeutic interventions.
Self-Care	Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep can help manage stress and emotional upheaval.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques	Practices like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can help reduce stress and anxiety.
Education and Training	Understanding autism and learning effective strategies for managing severe behavior problems can make the caregiving journey less stressful.

Having a robust support system and effective coping strategies can be invaluable in helping parents navigate the emotional challenges of raising a child with autism. It's essential to remember that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a step towards resilience and better management of autism severe behavior problems.

Crisis Management for Families

When managing autism severe behavior problems, families may occasionally experience crises. These are periods of high stress and emotional turmoil that can feel overwhelming and difficult to manage. It's crucial to understand the factors that can lead to a crisis and the resources available to help families cope.

Identifying Crisis Factors

A crisis in families of individuals with autism spectrum disorder is often characterized by factors influencing four major areas: demands, internal capabilities, external resources, and subjective appraisal [3].

Chronic and acute demands that can lead to crisis include health problems, child emotional problems, caregiving responsibilities, multiple stressors, school stress, death, life changes, child behavior, and family problems. These demands can overwhelm families, leading to a crisis characterized by a failure of coping mechanisms and functional impairment.

In a crisis, families may find it difficult to act calmly and reasonably. They may experience a loss of motivation and uncertainty about how to proceed. These moments can be distressing, but it's important for families to know that they are not alone, and resources are available to help.

Seeking Support and Resources

Crisis is often related to a lack of support and resources. This can include a weak support network, difficulties in obtaining support from extended family, issues with the use of emergency services, lack of finances, and the complete loss of all available resources.

Parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder often report higher levels of depression, anxiety, and mental health–related issues. They also report greater emotional problems compared to mothers of children without autism spectrum disorder and mothers of typically developing children.

In these moments of crisis, it's crucial to seek out support and resources. There are many organizations and agencies that offer support to families of individuals with autism. These resources can provide emotional support, practical advice, and strategies for managing severe behavior problems. They can also help families connect with other families facing similar challenges, providing a sense of community and shared understanding.

In addition to seeking external support, it's also critical for families to take care of their own mental health. Parents and caregivers should consider seeking therapy or counseling to help manage stress and develop effective coping strategies. Respite care, which provides temporary relief for primary caregivers, may also be beneficial.

Remember, it's okay to ask for help. You don't have to manage autism severe behavior problems alone. By identifying crisis factors and seeking support, families can navigate these challenging moments and ensure the best possible outcomes for their loved ones with autism.

Early Diagnosis and Interventions

Addressing autism severe behavior problems involves a multi-faceted approach, and early diagnosis and tailored interventions play a critical role. When dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), early identification and personalized treatment can significantly impact the individual's symptom management and skill development.

Benefits of Early Intervention

Early diagnosis and interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly during preschool or before, have been shown to have significant positive effects on symptoms and later skills in individuals with ASD [4]. The sooner the intervention begins, the better the outcome in terms of symptom management and skill development.

Highly structured and specialized programs are often the most effective therapies and interventions for individuals with ASD. In some cases, treatment can significantly reduce symptoms and assist individuals with autism in their daily activities [4].

Behavioral approaches, like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), have the most evidence for treating symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are used in many schools and treatment clinics. ABA encourages desired behaviors and discourages undesired behaviors to improve a variety of skills.

Tailoring Treatment to Individual Needs

When dealing with ASD, it's crucial to focus on addressing the specific needs of the individual, rather than solely on the diagnostic label. This is especially important considering the symptom overlap between ASD and other disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Individual treatment plans should incorporate a range of different therapies to meet the unique needs of the individual with ASD. Developmental approaches focus on improving specific developmental skills, such as language or physical skills, or broader developmental abilities.

Common therapies include:

Speech and Language Therapy: Aimed at improving communication skills.
Occupational Therapy: Designed to enhance independent living skills.
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM): Based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis for children aged 12-48 months.

These interventions allow for a comprehensive approach to managing autism severe behavior problems [5].

By focusing on early diagnosis and personalized interventions, families and therapists can collaborate to create the most effective treatment approach for managing severe behavior problems associated with ASD. This individualized plan can improve the quality of life for the individual with ASD and their family.

Specialized Programs and Therapies

Addressing severe behavior problems in individuals with autism involves implementing specialized programs and therapies that are designed to mitigate these issues and enhance the person's overall quality of life. These approaches often involve highly structured interventions and the development of individualized treatment plans.

Highly Structured Interventions

Highly structured and specialized programs are often the most effective therapies and interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the effectiveness of these programs varies from person to person. In some cases, these treatments can significantly reduce symptoms and assist individuals with autism in their daily activities.

One of the standard assessment strategies used in these interventions is the Functional Behavior Analysis (FBA). This approach aims to discover the underlying causes of challenging behaviors in individuals with autism and helps guide the correct combination of preventive, responsive, and replacement strategies [6].

The treatment of severe problem behavior often involves identifying the antecedents (or “triggers”) and typical consequences for the behavior using a functional assessment approach. Therefore, treatment may include a combination of avoiding events that trigger the behavior, teaching new skills (e.g., communication), and reinforcing appropriate behaviors [1].

Individualized Treatment Plans

Due to the diverse range of symptoms and behaviors associated with ASD, it is crucial for treatment to focus on addressing the specific needs of individuals with ASD, rather than solely on the diagnostic label. This is especially important considering the symptom overlap between ASD and other disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Developmental approaches for individuals with ASD focus on improving specific developmental skills, such as language or physical skills, or broader developmental abilities. Common therapies include Speech and Language Therapy to improve communication skills, Occupational Therapy to enhance independent living skills, and the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis for children aged 12-48 months.

By personalizing treatment plans to the unique needs and symptoms of each individual with ASD, healthcare providers can offer more targeted and effective interventions. This personalized approach to treatment is fundamental to managing autism severe behavior problems and improving the quality of life for individuals with ASD and their families.