Category Archives for "Autism Behavioral Solutions"
Headbanging, self-harming behavior, stimming, meltdowns.
Q&A: Whenever Son Gets Frustrated, He Uses Some Inappropriate Words
I have a question regarding my son who is nine-years-old and has high functioning autism. Whenever he gets frustrated, he uses inappropriate words. For example, he doesn’t like to take a bath. If I say, “You should go to the bathtub before the timer goes off,” he says, “I’ll break the timer.” If the bus […]
Continue readingWhat is Vocal Stimming in Children with Autism?
Stimming, which is a nickname for “self-stimulatory behavior” is a repetitive behavior such as head banging, hand flapping, rocking, or making noises or sounds that helps a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to self-soothe. In the case of vocal stimming (or verbal stimming), the child might make noises such as groaning, grunting, high- pitched […]
Continue readingVicarious Reinforcement: its Uses for Children with Autism
If you’re an autism parent, it’s likely you have come across the term “vicarious reinforcement”. But what does it mean? Well, reinforcement in psychology involves recognizing and rewarding good behavior to motivate such behavior to be repeated. So, vicarious reinforcement is about a person’s tendency to copy the behaviors they have witnessed others being rewarded […]
Continue readingRepetitive Behavior in Children with Autism: Explained
Repetitive and restrictive behavior are among the main symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). However, the mechanisms behind repetitive behaviors in autism have proven quite challenging to understand. Although some experts suggest that these behaviors in children with ASD result from an attention deficit, others are convinced children with autism have abnormalities in the motor […]
Continue readingWhat is the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)?
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is a type of behavioral therapy based on methods used in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Founded on the Denver Model, which is used to assist older children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ESDM is an early intervention program for children ranging from 12 months to 4 years. Toddlers learn and […]
Continue reading3 Steps to Stay Calm During Your Child’s Meltdown
Most children on the autism spectrum have experienced several meltdowns. As parents, and we all know it’s nothing near like a tantrum of a neurotypical child. No way near at all. The meltdowns range from the calm ones where the child tends to stay in one place, maybe just screaming, to the more tantrum-like, where […]
Continue readingManaging Autism Meltdowns, Tantrums and Aggression
To an outsider, a child with autism having a meltdown might appear like a child having a temper tantrum, but the circumstances are often more complex than what meets the eye. Those who have cared for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will know a meltdown is handled differently and with intimate knowledge of […]
Continue readingHelp: How Can I Stop a Child From Headbanging?
Headbanging may be a scary and upsetting thing to watch your child do. It is considered a self-injurious behavior (SIB), but SIB’s and/or headbanging are NOT considered a core symptom of autism, although children with autism are at greater risk of SIB’s such as head-banging. It is also important to note that just because your […]
Continue readingStimming, Hand Flapping and Other Self Stimulatory Behaviors in Autism
If you’re an autism parent, it is likely you’ve seen your child present repetitive self stimulatory behaviours such as hand flapping, spinning, and shaking. These behaviors can be worrying if they’re not fully understood and questions running through your mind might be: why does stimming happen and how can it be managed? In this guide […]
Continue readingCalming Self-Injurious Behavior with a Simple Touch
The hardest part of treating people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is observing self-injurious behavior. It is especially difficult for the individual’s family and carers to witness them hurting themselves with such aggression when they do not always understand the reason or cause of the trigger. Therefore, I take my clients’ needs very seriously, and […]
Continue readingTop Ways to Interrupt the Meltdown Cycle
Meltdowns are often caused by sensory issues. The world is often too loud, too bright, too stinky, or too silent. Even if a meltdown is triggered by something else, adrenaline will heighten our senses more. This is a natural survival instinct, but people with autism go into survival mode more often. This leads to a […]
Continue readingExpert Ways to Help Tame Tantrums and Manage Meltdowns
Every parent has experienced the embarrassment, frustration, and exhaustion of a child’s temper tantrum. It doesn’t matter what is the diagnosis or developmental stage—and it happens to both the novice and most experienced parents. Inevitably, if you have a child, you will find yourself trying to manage behavioral outbursts. If you’re a parent of a […]
Continue readingHELP: My 20-Year-Old Son Cannot Control Meltdowns
I have a 20-year-old son with Asperger’s syndrome. He has just started the workforce and tried college but failed all of his classes. He was recently laid off from his employment and is now on unemployment. He lives in his own apartment and pays his own bills. The problem I’m having is he has meltdowns almost […]
Continue readingAutism, Head Banging and other Self Harming Behavior
In a recent study it was found that as many as 30% of children on the autism spectrum engage in self-injurious behaviour like head banging or skin picking. This an alarming issue for families with children on the autism spectrum. In this guide we discuss the causes and strategies to help your child reduce self-injurious behavior. […]
Continue readingAdvice on Understanding and Calming Sensory Overload in Children
As a pediatric occupational therapist and a mother, I try my best to fully understand each child and his/her sensory needs, both at home and in my practice. Children living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) tend to experience sensory overload or adverse reactions to sensory input more frequently than typically […]
Continue readingQ and A: Head Banging Solution
Question: Why Do Children Engage in Head Banging? Answer: Headbanging and autism can be a disturbing combination. While it’s terrifying to witness as a parent, it’s important to note it’s a surprisingly common behavior in many children with autism. Up to 20 percent of babies and toddlers bang their heads purposefully. Among them, boys are […]
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