Aggression in Autism
Overview
Aggression refers to behaviors that are intended to cause harm or injury to oneself or others.
- Children with ASD may exhibit various forms of
- Aggression,
- Including physical aggression (hitting, biting, kicking),
- Verbal aggression (yelling, shouting), or
- Other forms of aggression directed towards objects or the environment.
Studies have shown that approximately half of children with ASD display aggressive behaviors, with caregivers being the most frequent targets.
It is important to note that aggression in Autism is Not Intentional Or Malicious; rather, it often Stems From Difficulties In Communication, Sensory Processing, or Emotional Regulation.
It is important to note that aggression in Autism is Not Intentional Or Malicious; rather, it often Stems From Difficulties In Communication, Sensory Processing, or Emotional Regulation.
Autism And Aggression
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What Are Examples Of Aggression In Autism?
How do you treat autistic aggression?
Does aggression in autism get better with age?
Is aggression normal in autism?
Autistic children and teenagers sometimes express their emotions through aggressive behavior.
Sometimes the aggressive behavior is directed towards objects or other people.
For example, they might hit or kick people or throw objects.
Sometimes the aggressive behavior is directed towards themselves.
When children and teenagers hurt themselves, it’s called self-injurious behavior. An example is head-banging.
When autistic children and teenagers feel completely overwhelmed, they can have meltdowns,
Meltdowns are a Sign Of Distress.
Sometimes the aggressive behavior is directed towards objects or other people.
For example, they might hit or kick people or throw objects.
Sometimes the aggressive behavior is directed towards themselves.
When children and teenagers hurt themselves, it’s called self-injurious behavior. An example is head-banging.
When autistic children and teenagers feel completely overwhelmed, they can have meltdowns,
Meltdowns are a Sign Of Distress.
Responding to Aggressive Behavior from Autistic Children and Teenagers
You can’t prevent every aggressive outburst from your autistic child.
So it’s important for you to have strategies to deal with aggressive behavior when it happens.
So it’s important for you to have strategies to deal with aggressive behavior when it happens.
Stay calm
Most aggressive outbursts happen because your child has strong feelings and can’t communicate them.
By managing your own feelings and staying calm, you’re modelling good coping behavior.
And when you’re calm, it’s also easier for you to respond appropriately to your child’s needs.
This can reassure your child that they’re safe and you’re there to support them.
By managing your own feelings and staying calm, you’re modelling good coping behavior.
And when you’re calm, it’s also easier for you to respond appropriately to your child’s needs.
This can reassure your child that they’re safe and you’re there to support them.
Key points
- Staying calm can help you respond to aggressive or self-injurious behavior from autistic children or teenagers.
- If you can work out why aggressive or self-injurious behavior happens, you can plan how to avoid it in the future.
- If children or teenagers are ever in immediate or life-threatening danger, immediately call emergency services
- Health professionals can help you understand and handle aggressive or self-injurious behavior.
Limit what you say
During an aggressive outburst, your child will be feeling very stressed. It’s hard for your child to process what someone else is saying when they’re feeling stressed.
It can help to use short phrases or even just a couple of words.
For example, say ‘Sit down’ rather than ‘Lachlan, come over here and sit down’.
It can help to use short phrases or even just a couple of words.
For example, say ‘Sit down’ rather than ‘Lachlan, come over here and sit down’.
Move your child to a safer place
Where possible, try to make sure your child isn’t close to anything that could hurt them or other people – for example, shelves that could fall over or glass objects.
You might also need to get other people to move somewhere safe.
You might also need to get other people to move somewhere safe.
Consider Visual Cues
Visual cues can help in these situations. For example, you might have a picture of a quiet place in your home that your child can go to.
Pause demands or expectations
Pause any activities or tasks that might be making your child feel stressed.
Avoid giving more instructions or requests.
Also avoid talking about feelings.
You can come back to the activity or task when your child is feeling calm again.
Avoid giving more instructions or requests.
Also avoid talking about feelings.
You can come back to the activity or task when your child is feeling calm again.
Change the environment
If your child is hurting themselves because their environment is overwhelming, think about what you can change so your child feels more comfortable.
For example, you might be able to reduce noise by moving your child to a different room or giving them noise-cancelling headphones.
Or perhaps you can reduce your child’s physical discomfort by helping them change into their favourite clothes or get some fresh air.
For example, you might be able to reduce noise by moving your child to a different room or giving them noise-cancelling headphones.
Or perhaps you can reduce your child’s physical discomfort by helping them change into their favourite clothes or get some fresh air.
Remove harmful items and provide alternatives
Remove items that are causing your child harm, and give them a safer alternative.
For example, if your child is hitting their head with a book, you might swap the book for a pillow.
If your child is biting themselves, you could give them a snack or chewing toy instead.
For example, if your child is hitting their head with a book, you might swap the book for a pillow.
If your child is biting themselves, you could give them a snack or chewing toy instead.
Encourage your child to do another activity
Try to redirect your child’s attention to a preferred activity or pleasant sensory experience – for example, getting a
- Tight hug,
- Jumping on the trampoline,
- Hiding under the blankets,
- Reading a book,
- Watching a TV show,
- Lining up blocks or taking deep breaths.
Praise your child
Praise your child calmly and gently if they gradually calm down and stop the behavior with your support.
Use descriptive praise so your child knows what they did well and what they can do next time.
For example, ‘I love that you chose to jump on the trampoline instead of hitting your head when you felt upset’.
If your child is ever in immediate or life-threatening danger, call emergency services straight away.
It’s also important to get medical attention for your child if they have any serious injuries.
Use descriptive praise so your child knows what they did well and what they can do next time.
For example, ‘I love that you chose to jump on the trampoline instead of hitting your head when you felt upset’.
If your child is ever in immediate or life-threatening danger, call emergency services straight away.
It’s also important to get medical attention for your child if they have any serious injuries.
Why Autistic Children and Teenagers Behave Aggressively or Hurt Themselves
Autistic children and teenagers might behave aggressively or hurt themselves because they:
- have trouble understanding what’s happening around them – for example, what other people are saying
- have difficulty expressing their feelings or communicating their wants and needs
- are very anxious or stressed
- have sensory sensitivities, like an oversensitivity to noise or a need for stimulation
- are in pain or don’t feel well and can’t communicate how they feel
- want to escape from stressful situations or activities
- feel angry or out of control because of a change in routine or plan.
Understanding Aggressive or Self-injurious Behavior in Autistic Children and Teenagers
If you can understand why your autistic child is behaving aggressively or hurting themselves, you can develop a plan for avoiding the behavior in future.
When you’re both feeling calm, you could talk with your child about the behaviour and what they think causes it.
If your child can’t tell you what’s worrying them or doesn’t understand it themselves, you could use a diary to help you understand your child’s behavior.
Try keeping a diary of the behavior for 1-2 weeks, noting what happens before and after the behavior.
Keep the following questions in mind:
When you’re both feeling calm, you could talk with your child about the behaviour and what they think causes it.
If your child can’t tell you what’s worrying them or doesn’t understand it themselves, you could use a diary to help you understand your child’s behavior.
Try keeping a diary of the behavior for 1-2 weeks, noting what happens before and after the behavior.
Keep the following questions in mind:
- What time of the day is the behavior happening?
- What sensory input is your child dealing with?
- Is your child tired or hungry?
- What was your child doing just before the behavior – for example, getting ready for school, transitioning from one activity to another, or completing homework?
Avoiding Aggressive or Self-injurious Behavior
When you understand what’s causing your autistic child’s aggressive or self-injurious behavior, you can create an environment that helps your child to stay calm.
You can also help your child to learn skills to manage their behavior.
These strategies can help:
You can also help your child to learn skills to manage their behavior.
These strategies can help:
- Change the environment if sensory sensitivities are an issue for your child. For example, have a quiet space your child can go to, or let your child try noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs.
- Prepare for transitions or changes in routines by giving warnings and using visual schedules.
- Help your child learn to recognise, understand and manage their emotions.
- Help your child develop communication skills.
- This might include words, phrases, hand signals or cards they can use if they’re feeling upset, angry or overwhelmed.
Professional Help for Aggressive or Self-injurious Behavior
An experienced professional like a paediatrician or psychologist can help you understand and handle your child’s aggressive or self-injurious behavior.
Speaking to a professional can help if you’ve already tried a range of strategies and you’re still concerned about your child’s behavior.
Speaking to a professional can help if you’ve already tried a range of strategies and you’re still concerned about your child’s behavior.
Looking After Yourself
Looking after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally gives you the energy you need to handle your child’s challenging behaviour.
You can look after yourself by:
Your GP, a psychologist or a counsellor is a good person to talk to about this.
You can look after yourself by:
- eating well and doing some physical activity
- Trying to get enough rest or sleep
- Making time for things you enjoy
- Practising self-compassion.
Your GP, a psychologist or a counsellor is a good person to talk to about this.
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You Can Help Children Grow Beyond Their Present Limitations, Experience More Joy, and Move with More Ease by Staying Calm, Strong And Positive, and Giving them the Support they need To Cope With Their Aggressive Behavior
We’re Here For You At www.autism-parenting-support.com
We’re Here For You At www.autism-parenting-support.com
