FAQ'S on Autism - 2, Part II

FAQ’S on Autism – 2, Part II

In continuation with my previous article, FAQ’s on Autism – 2, Part II, I will elaborate further in the current article on few more characteristics noted in children with autism.

Stereotyped Behavior: As mentioned in the previous article, the play pattern noted in children with autism is repetitive, non exploratory, ritualistic, rigid and monotonous. Stereotypes, mannerisms, grimacing, muttering are often present. A change is not welcomed and it can evoke temper tantrums, apprehensions and panic. Few of the cases that I handled had peculiar behavior of arranging things and restricting the same led to temper tantrums. They also have strong attachments to their belongings and rooms. Temper tantrums like head banging, inconsolable crying, biting, injury to others and self, rigid posture, self isolation are also noted in many cases. Stereotypical behaviors like hand flapping, finger tapping, rocking, rolling and making sounds are common.

Mood Swings: Many children with autism exhibit sudden mood changes with burst of crying and laughing spells without any apparent reason. Few of the children that I worked with broke into an aggressive spell at the drop of a hat and within five to ten minutes were back to normal as if nothing happened. For e.g. one child with whom I had worked threw an aggressive spell and then when I told him to calm down and be quiet, he said “Be quiet, chup, hass mat” and then broke into a sudden non expected laughing spell. Unpredictability is a noted feature in many children with autism.

Sensory issues: These children very often either over respond to some stimuli or under respond to other sensory stimuli. For e.g. many children with autism have either hyper/hypo sensitivity to tactile, auditory, visual stimuli, light and pain. For e.g. a child having hyposensitivity to sound may not be able to tolerate even someone talking in the same room as he is in or can have a behavioral explosion in noisy places. They cannot perceive danger and this often results in self injury.  Some children also seek a lot of vestibular stimulation like rocking, swinging, jumping on the trampoline etc.

Other Behavioral issues: Aggression, temper tantrums as mentioned above, Hyper-kinesis (over active restlessness – hyperactivity), self injurious behavior, poor attention span, sleep disturbances, enuresis ( repeated inability to control urination) and feeding and eating problems are commonly noted among children with autism.

Associated features: children with autism often exhibit poor muscle tone, poor motor planning, food allergies/sensitivity and toe walking. Gastrointestinal problems like constipation, loose bowel, burping is often present. There is a lack of concern for personal health like bathing, brushing, combing hair. Some children have exceptional memory or calculating abilities usually beyond people of their age and mental level. For e.g. memorizing train schedule charts, a series of songs or playing tunes.

These are some of the features found in children with autism. They usually exhibit some of these if not all. The pattern and timing of occurrence of these features is not the same for every child with autism.

I would end the article on a quote by Ellen Notbohm, “Patience. Patience. Patience. Work to view my autism as a different ability rather than a disability. Look past what you may see as limitations and see the gifts autism has given me. It may be true that I’m not good at eye contact or conversation, but have you noticed that I don’t lie, cheat at games, tattle on my classmates or pass judgment on other people? Also true that I probably won’t be the next Michael Jordan. But with my attention to fine detail and capacity for extraordinary focus, I might be the next Einstein. Or Mozart. Or Van Gogh.”