Aggressive Behavior in Autistic Children

Definition of Autism

• The Child Development Institute provides an easy-to-understand definition of autism and what the main features are. A developmental disorder of brain function, autism's three main features include impaired verbal and nonverbal communication skills, impaired social functioning and a restricted or limited number of interests.

  Autism has a wide spectrum, meaning one child with autism may present very differently than another. For example, some children with autism have highly-developed vocabularies while other autistic children are completely nonverbal. No matter how autism presents in a child, aggressive behavior is a common feature.

Types of Aggressive Behavior: Verbal Aggression

• There are two types of behavior, verbal and nonverbal (physical) aggression. While this applies to everyone, there are specific things to keep in mind when working with or parenting an autistic child.

  Verbal aggression can be directed toward anyone at any time; remember that autistic children lack social skills. The child may not understand that what they are saying is hurtful or aggressive. Furthermore, a lack of social skills may prompt an autistic child to make a statement of truth that may be considered socially taboo (e.g. pointing out a person is morbidly obese while in public). While not meant to specifically be aggressive, it can and most likely will be interpreted that way.

Types of Aggressive Behavior: Physical Aggression

• Physical aggression with autistic children can be particularly dangerous as the child may not stop despite causing themselves or someone else harm. Children with limited verbal communication skills or the inability to understand their surroundings are more likely to react physically.

  The Child Development Institute points out that the signs of autism usually appear within the first 3 years of life, a period when children still cannot verbally communicate on a complex level. While in many children, verbal communication skills improve as they get older, some autistic children are completely nonverbal, meaning they must use physical cues to communicate.

  What may look like a violent temper tantrum may be the child's only known way of telling the adult they are hungry or displeased with something. While uncovering the child's need is important, the first and foremost issue is maintaining the safety of everyone around.

Disciplining Children with Autism

• While aggressive behavior may be the child's way of communicating, it is important that autistic children learn what behavior is acceptable and what is not.

  Rachel Evans publishes an autism newsletter and provides some helpful tools in how to discipline children with autism. The first suggestion she makes is to use a sliding scale of discipline to match the behavior. For example, if the child was upset and lashed out to hit you, the consequence might be losing an hour of their favorite television show. If the child, however, has a full-blown temper tantrum in a store (e.g. yelling, kicking, hitting, biting), the consequence may be losing television privileges for a week.

  Remember that children with autism have a limited range of interests, so understanding what will have an impact on the child is important for effective discipline.

  The second suggestion provided by Evans is to be consistent; while this is true for all children, autistic kids in particular need predictable and consistent consequences to help them modify their behavior to more acceptable ways to communicate or cope.

Strategies to Avoid Aggression

• Evans provides a list of strategies to use as a parent or caretaker to help communicate with an autistic child; some of the key ones to remember are:

  1. Provide a predictable environment and routine; the more structure, the better the child will do during their day.

  2. Prepare the child ahead of time for any changes; children with autism do not adjust well to sudden changes in routine.

  3. Keep distractions to a minimum; if you are trying to have a conversation, turn off the television.

  4. Give simple and direct instructions to avoid frustration.

  5. Give the child time to process instructions; children with autism need more time.

  6. Visual aids work well with verbal and nonverbal autistic children; flash cards or picture boards (pictures of people eating, sleeping, reading, the bathroom) help the child communicate their need more quickly.

  7. Provide a safe place for the child to go if they are struggling to cope with a decision or situation; this will allow them to calm down and avoid physically or verbally attacking anyone.

  8. Before attempting to alter a behavior that you consider inappropriate, ask yourself what that behavior is for. By helping the child find better ways to get their needs met, they will be less likely to react with aggression.