Autism with Behaviour Problems: Effective Management Strategies

Autism

Navigate autism with behaviour problems, learn effective management strategies and interventions.

Steven Zauderer

October 8, 2024

9 min read

min read

Understanding Autism Behaviour

To effectively navigate the challenges of autism with behaviour problems, it is crucial to first understand the nature of autism and the behaviours associated with it. Autism, a neurodevelopmental condition, presents a wide array of symptoms that can vary significantly from one individual to another.

Spectrum of Symptoms

Autism is often described as a spectrum, indicating the broad range of symptoms and their severity that individuals with this condition may exhibit. Some individuals may have only a few or mild symptoms, while others may experience many or severe symptoms. This means that each individual with autism is unique and their behaviour may differ greatly from others with the same diagnosis [1].

The symptoms can be broadly categorized into two areas: social communication/interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. The first category may include challenges with social-emotional reciprocity, nonverbal communication, and developing and maintaining relationships. The second category encompasses interests and activities that are limited and repetitive, insistence on sameness, and sensory issues.

Common Problem Behaviours

Children with autism often exhibit problem behaviors at home, in the classroom, or in the community. These behaviors can be challenging to manage and may include:

Aggression
Self-injurious behavior
Property destruction
Noncompliance
Tantrums
Elopement or running away
Repetitive behaviors

These behaviors can be distressing for both the child and those around them. However, it's important to remember that these behaviors often serve a purpose for the child, such as communicating a need or want, escaping a difficult situation, or self-regulating their sensory input.

Understanding the underlying purpose of these behaviors can help in developing effective strategies to prevent problematic behaviors and promote positive behavioral changes. It's also important to note that staying calm when interacting with a child with autism is crucial, as heightened emotions can exacerbate behavior problems and cause the child to feel anxious or scared.

In the following sections, we will delve deeper into various strategies for managing autism behavior problems, as well as common comorbidities, behavioral interventions, and coping mechanisms.

Managing Autism Behavior

Managing the behavior of a child with autism can be a challenging task for parents. However, with the right strategies and understanding, it's possible to prevent problematic behaviors and promote positive changes.

Strategies for Prevention

Prevention strategies can be an effective approach to curb problematic behaviors. These strategies often involve understanding the triggers that lead to certain behaviors and taking steps to avoid or mitigate them. This could involve maintaining a consistent routine, providing clear instructions, and using visual aids to help them understand what is expected of them.

Remember, it's crucial to remain calm when interacting with a child with autism. Yelling or threatening can exacerbate their behavior and cause them to feel anxious or scared.

Promoting Positive Changes

Positive reinforcement can be an effective way to guide the behavior of children with autism. This involves acknowledging and rewarding positive behavior, which encourages the child to repeat it in the future. On the other hand, negative consequences, although sometimes necessary, should be used sparingly as they often signal a need for behavior change rather than reinforcing positive behavior.

Importantly, physical punishment, such as smacking, is discouraged. It doesn't facilitate learning about self-control or positive behavior, and carries the risk of inadvertently worsening behavior or causing harm to the child. If parents are concerned about their child's behavior, it's recommended to seek help from a pediatrician or psychologist for professional guidance [2].

Structured Activities

Structured activities can provide a sense of routine and predictability for a child with autism, helping to alleviate anxiety and promote positive behavior. These activities should be hands-on or visual in nature, such as playing a computer game, completing a puzzle, or sorting objects. They can stimulate the child's interest, keep them engaged, and reduce the chances of problematic behavior.

Activity	Description
Computer game	Helps develop problem solving skills and hand-eye coordination.
Puzzle	Enhances cognitive skills and concentration.
Sorting objects	Improves categorization skills and attention to detail.

Remember, managing autism behavior is a journey that requires patience, understanding, and consistency. By implementing the right strategies and promoting positive changes, you can help your child navigate their world more effectively.

Common Comorbidities

In understanding autism and managing behavior problems, it's crucial to consider the common comorbidities associated with autism. Comorbidities are additional conditions that can occur alongside autism. These often include gastrointestinal disorders, epilepsy and seizures, and issues related to sleep and anxiety.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are nearly eight times more common among children with autism than other children. They affect around 70% of children with autism. GI disorders can include conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Managing these conditions can be challenging but is essential as they can exacerbate behavioral issues associated with autism. Regular consultations with a healthcare provider can help manage these disorders effectively [3].

Epilepsy and Seizures

Epilepsy, characterized by recurrent seizures, affects up to a third of people with autism. This is significantly higher compared to only 1 to 2 percent of the general population. Seizures can be frightening and can also contribute to behavioral and developmental challenges in children with autism. It's crucial to seek medical intervention and to have a comprehensive seizure response plan in place.

Sleep and Anxiety Issues

Sleep problems are another common comorbidity in children with autism. Over half of children with autism, and possibly as many as four in five, have one or more chronic sleep problems. These can include difficulty falling asleep, irregular sleep-wake patterns, and early morning awakenings. Such sleep issues can worsen behavioral challenges, interfere with learning, and decrease the overall quality of life.

Anxiety disorders are prevalent among individuals with autism, affecting up to 42% of people with autism. This is significantly higher compared to 3% of children and 15% of adults in the general population. Social anxiety is particularly common among people with autism. High rates of comorbidity between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other psychological disorders, including depression and anxiety, indicate that standard behavioral approaches are not adequately addressing issues related to mental health in this population.

These comorbidities can significantly impact the lives of individuals with autism and their families. Therefore, it's important to recognize and address these issues as part of an integrated approach to managing autism and behavior problems.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

In the quest to manage problem behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), one common therapeutic approach is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). It's a method that focuses on understanding the reasons behind certain behaviors and finding ways to promote more appropriate expressions or responses.

Treatment Approach

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a treatment approach used to address problem behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It operates by identifying the purpose of the behavior and developing treatments to promote more appropriate ways for the child to express themselves or get their needs met [4].

The treatment approach involves understanding why the child behaves in a certain way, known as the function of the behavior. Once the function is determined, strategies are developed to help the child learn more adaptive behaviors. These strategies involve reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching the child new skills that they can use instead of the problem behavior.

Treating problem behavior in children with autism often requires patience, as it involves helping the child learn new skills that may be challenging for them. It is suggested to start with small achievable actions and gradually increase demands over time.

Intervention Strategies

Common treatment strategies in ABA-based interventions for children with autism and problem behaviors include reinforcement, shaping, prompting, fading, and chaining to help the child learn new skills [4].

Intervention Strategies	Description
Reinforcement	Encourages the repetition of desirable behaviors by providing rewards.
Shaping	Involves gradually modifying a behavior by rewarding successive approximations of the desired behavior.
Prompting	Helps the child complete a task or action by providing cues or assistance.
Fading	Gradually withdraws the prompts until the child can perform the task or action independently.
Chaining	Teaches a complex behavior by breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps.

The length and type of treatment for problem behaviors in children with autism depend on their specific needs, and guidance can be sought from a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA or BCBA-Doctorate) or a psychologist experienced in behavior interventions to help develop effective strategies.

Services for treating problem behaviors in children with autism may be available in their school through an individualized education program (IEP) that includes a behavior intervention plan (BIP) tailored to target specific problem behaviors.

Through a combination of these ABA-based intervention strategies, it is possible to guide children with autism towards healthier and more adaptive behaviors. However, it's crucial to remember that each child is unique, and strategies must be tailored to their individual needs and progress levels.

Behavioral Interventions

Behavioral interventions can be essential strategies for managing autism with behavior problems. These interventions may include behavior modification techniques, individualized education programs (IEP), and behavior intervention plans (BIP).

Behavior Modification Techniques

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a treatment approach that addresses problem behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It aims to identify the purpose of the behavior and develop treatments to promote more appropriate ways for the child to express themselves or get their needs met.

Common treatment strategies in ABA-based interventions include reinforcement, shaping, prompting, fading, and chaining. These techniques help the child learn new skills, which may help manage problem behaviors. However, it's important to remember that treating problem behavior in children with autism often requires patience. It involves helping the child learn new skills that may be challenging for them. It is suggested to start with small achievable actions and gradually increase demands over time.

Individualized Education Programs (IEP)

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services. Services for treating problem behaviors in children with autism may be available in their school through an IEP. This includes strategies and supports tailored to target specific problem behaviors and promote positive behavior change.

Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)

A Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) is another effective strategy for addressing problem behaviors in children with autism. A BIP is a plan that is based on the findings from a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and is included in the IEP. The BIP outlines how a child will learn new behavior skills and responses and details how the school will intervene if the problem behavior occurs.

The length and type of treatment for problem behaviors in children with autism depend on their specific needs. Guidance can be sought from a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA or BCBA-Doctorate) or a psychologist experienced in behavior interventions to help develop effective strategies.

By understanding and implementing these behavioral interventions, parents, caregivers, and teachers can play a crucial role in managing problem behaviors in children with autism and encourage their progress and development.

Coping with Challenging Behavior

Managing behavior problems in children with autism can be challenging for parents. However, with the right strategies, parents can successfully navigate these issues, fostering a more harmonious environment for their child. Here are some strategies for coping with challenging behavior in children with autism.

Setting Clear Rules

Establishing clear rules is essential when dealing with children with autism. These rules should focus on what the child should do rather than what they should not do. For instance, instead of saying "no running," use "please walk." This provides clarity and makes it easier for the child to understand what is expected of them. Remember, positive consequences are more effective in guiding behavior in autistic children compared to negative consequences. Similarly, physical punishment, such as smacking, is discouraged, as it does not facilitate learning about self-control or positive behavior, and carries the risk of inadvertently worsening behavior or causing harm to the child.

Providing Downtime

Children with autism often benefit from having downtime. This is a quiet period where the child can be in a place with reduced sensory input. This can help the child to calm down, especially after a period of heightened activity or stress. Downtime can be individualized to suit the child's preferences. Some children may prefer being in a quiet room, while others might find comfort in engaging in a preferred activity. The key is to ensure that this period is relaxing and stress-free for the child.

Avoiding Stressful Situations

Planning ahead for potentially stressful situations can also be beneficial in managing behavior problems. For instance, if a child finds new environments challenging, try to avoid taking the child to new places when they are tired. Also, it can be helpful to bring along familiar items from home to provide comfort and a sense of security in unfamiliar environments.

If you have tried various strategies but are still concerned about your child's behavior, it's recommended to seek help from a pediatrician or psychologist. Professional guidance can aid in understanding and managing the behavior more effectively.

Lastly, it's important to remember that every child is different and what works for one child may not work for another. Be patient, flexible, and open to trying different approaches until you find what works best for your child. It's also beneficial to celebrate small victories along the way. This not only boosts your child's confidence but can also provide a sense of achievement in your journey of managing autism behavior problems.