Autistic Behaviors

Frequently occurring features of an autistic person include a state of anxiety, the need for structure and planning, social misunderstandings and difficulty making choices. Autistic children often have a literal understanding of what is said. An underachieving autistic child told by a teacher to pull his socks up is likely to do just that and unwittingly incur the wrath of the adult.

Sensory overload is another feature that often manifests in autism. For example the flickering of a fluorescent light that goes unnoticed by most may be an annoyance to an autistic child. The child may be sensitive to noises, the feel of some materials against their skin, or the amount of pressure placed on areas of their body. These sensory overloads mean the child can be highly distractible or stressed and can lead to behaviors like covering their ears, screaming, spinning or rocking, hiding under a table, or even self-injury.

There are many strategies for helping an autistic child but the best ones are based on understanding the individual. Be aware of the common causes and triggers for their stress and try to reduce them or divert the child from them. There should be opportunities for the child to take a time out from stressful situations. Autistic children often have some level of obsession about a topic. It might be a type of toy, or a subject like geography or dinosaurs. Use this focus to distract and calm the child when they become stressed.