Children with autism spectrum disorder often express their emotions through aggressive behavior directed at themselves and others. Aggression in children with autism may include hitting with their hands or feet, throwing objects toward or at another person, and expressions of autoaggression such as banging their head against a wall, scratching their skin, and hurting themselves in any way they can.
Understanding the causes of aggression in children with autism
It is common for children with ASD to behave aggressively, although aggression is not a symptom of the disorder. Negative emotions and anger indicate internal anxiety and frustration about social difficulties and poor communication.
To help your child, you need to determine what factors are triggering aggression in children with autism. This can be done by using an observation diary:
- Observe the child closely for 1 to 2 weeks;
- try to focus as much as possible on what happens just before the aggressive behavior;
- write down everything in great detail and analyze the information;
- emphasize the commonalities among the above; try to keep the child away from stressors.
Building a dialogue with your child is a key step in understanding his or her behavior. If there are problems with communication, help is available:
- simple, clear pictures;
- short, concise words.
Try to analyze your emotions and feelings during periods of anger and irritation and try to explain them to your child clearly and concisely, without circumlocution. For example: “My chest hurts, it’s getting hard to breathe. I want to push everyone away.” Then ask the question, “Do you feel the same way?” And if the child answers yes, repeatedly explain that these feelings should not be feared. They need to be talked about, as you are, in words.
Causes of aggression in children with ASD
Aggression in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can have different causes, and it is important to consider each child’s individual differences. The main causes of aggressive behavior may include:
- Difficulty understanding what is going on around them – children with ASD may not understand verbal or non-verbal cues, causing frustration and aggression.
- Inability to express feelings, wants and needs – if a child cannot explain their emotions, this can cause severe irritation and aggression.
- Anxiety or stress – stressful situations, such as unfamiliar places or changes in routine, can cause aggression in children with autism as a reaction to discomfort.
- Sensory sensitivity – hypersensitivity to loud noises or bright lights can trigger aggression as a defense response.
- Avoidance of unpleasant situations or activities – if a child is faced with a task or situation that causes them distress, they may display aggression to avoid it.
- Demanding attention – children with ASD may resort to aggression to get attention for themselves if other ways of communicating are ineffective for them.
- Sleep disturbances – lack of sleep can worsen a child’s emotional state, contributing to frequent outbursts of aggression.
- Cognitive inflexibility – difficulty adapting to changes or new experiences can lead to aggression in children with autism due to an inability to switch to a new situation.
- Low IQ – children with low IQs may have difficulty regulating their emotions, which increases the likelihood of aggressive outbursts.
How to deal with aggression in children with autism?
It is impossible to prevent a child with ASD from having an angry outburst. But it is necessary to know how to deal with deviant behavior:
- Stay calm
This is the first and most important thing. Most often aggression in children with autism arises because the child has accumulated psychological and emotional tension, which he does not know how to express. By controlling your reactions and remaining calm and silent, you will not add “oil to the fire”.
- Carefully weigh your words and watch your tone
During an angry outburst, a child with ASD, like any person without a developmental disability, is under a lot of stress. And it is doubly difficult for him to perceive what someone else is saying. First, he is blinded by his own emotions and need to express himself. Secondly, there are physiological difficulties in understanding other people’s speech. Therefore, if you want to calm the child, do not talk a lot. Choose short phrases and words, for example: “Sit down”, “Breathe”, “Come here”. Say them gently, without raising your voice.
- Provide a quiet, protected place for the child
For everyone’s safety, make sure that at the time of the aggression in children with autism, the child is not near anything that could be harmful to life or health, such as easily breakable, stabbing, blunt, or hard objects. Identify in advance a quiet, enclosed space where you can take your child. For example, at home it could be a tepee tent, a tent, or a specially equipped glassed-in balcony. Be prepared to ask everyone around you to leave the room or move away if you are in a public place.
If physical activity calms your child, provide a place for your child to play sports, walk, jump, and move games.
- Keep visual cues handy
You can help your child calm down by using grounding techniques, breathing, and metaphorical transference to a quiet, private place. Find something that will be effective for your son or daughter. Print colored, colorful pictures with visual cues to help your child remember what to do during an aggression episode.
Important note on how to respond to aggression
Following every whim and unconditionally giving the child whatever he or she wants can perpetuate deviant behavior and increase the risk of self-harm to get what they want. The best long-term strategy is as follows:
- Avoid aggressive outbursts and avoid situations that provoke them;
- Teach your child to express needs and emotions in a positive, friendly way;
- Ignore attacks of auto-aggression in terms of emotional involvement, do not show the child that you are frightened by it, remain visually cool and collected, act only according to the situation;
- Encourage your child when he or she expresses his or her feelings appropriately.
Seek help from an expert
An expert will help you understand the causes and pattern of aggression in children with autism and suggest methods of correction. It will be doubly productive if you have already tried the strategies suggested above.
The specialist on the basis of functional analysis will be able to find out why the child harms himself and others. After that, a plan will be drawn up with:
- techniques to reinforce positive behavior;
- strategies to reduce aggression;
- training in new stress behaviors.
Will consult with parents on how to create a calming, predictable and positive environment around the child, visual schedules and timetables that will promote a smooth transition between different activities.
