It is a joyous occasion and a significant milestone when adults become parents. Despite everything, one would suppose that the sleepless nights, exhaustion, balancing duties, and caring for the infant are still worthwhile. You’d like to see them grow up to be happy and healthy.
Tantrums are typical in children, but to onlookers who are unaware that the child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the youngster may appear to be having a temper tantrum when they are actually having a meltdown.
These circumstances are often more complicated than they appear. A meltdown is handled differently according to the child’s personality or an in-depth understanding of the child’s characteristics.
What is an autism meltdown?
A meltdown is a strong emotional reaction to sensory overload. Just imagine the frustration of it all and more so for a child with autism.
Children with autism would have more than twice the difficulty expressing themselves or letting their parents know what is bothering, hurting, or confusing to them, hence, the meltdown.
When they are overwhelmed, they have no other option except to have that meltdown. This could include intense vocal outbursts like screaming and crying and physical responses like kicking, biting, and striking.
Various factors cause meltdowns. A meltdown in a child on the spectrum might have a few distinct characteristics since it is prompted by sensory overload.
Symptoms that an autism meltdown is imminent:
- Pre-meltdown signs like verbal or physical behaviors called “rumblings”
- Starts wiYou can resolve tantrumsr self-stimulatory activities, are behaviors used to cope with an overwhelming sensory environment or relieve high levels of internal distress. Rocking, whirling, walking, repeating words, or flailing arms or hands are all forms of stimming.
- Having been exposed to an undesirable sensory input or overstimulation
One should be aware that these meltdowns don’t happen to children alone but to teens and adults who are on the spectrum. It can happen with or without an audience and often last longer than the usual temper tantrums.
Once we can differentiate a tantrum from a meltdown, we can move forward with the right strategies to deal with it.
What to do when your child has an autism meltdown?
While tantrums are borne out of frustrations and more of willful behavior, these tend to go away as children get older. The same is not true for meltdowns. Children with autism will experience it throughout their lives, well into adulthood and it may never go away.
It is therefore of utmost importance to have a greater insight on how best to handle meltdowns. While tantrums can be resolved through certain responses, the same responses can overwhelm a child during a meltdown.
But first, we must understand that a meltdown may involve aggression or violent behavior. Children with autism may become violent when an object of comfort is removed or taken away from them. They also display aggression when made to do something they don’t want.
Safety first and foremost
If you are looking for ways to calm an autistic child, don’t forget that the foremost goal is still to ensure the safety of the child and others around them. Meltdowns may be unintentional, but accidents happen that could hurt the child if they fall or hit their heads. They can also hit or bite the people around them, thus, it is a good idea to have a strategy in place to make it safe for the duration of the meltdown.
Here are other points to remember on what to do when your child is having a meltdown:
What to Do When Your Child Has Autism Meltdown
- Identify the triggers and know how to handle its effect on the child. These may be sensory, emotional, or informational. They may be overwhelmed by the loud noise from the vacuum cleaner, the blender, or any other sudden sensory triggers like bright lights.
- Removing the cause of aggression. Provide the child with something soothing or calming to them. This may be in the form of their favorite toys, activities, or food they love.
Let us not forget, however, that autistic people are unable to regulate their outbursts. Using incentives to distract them may not always succeed. A hug that soothes a child having a temper tantrum may not soothe a child experiencing an autism meltdown. Of course, each incentive is unique to your child’s personality and tastes, as only parents are aware of their child’s current inclinations.
- Giving them time and a safe space to calm down. Make a calming routine for them so they would calm down further. This practice could involve some relaxing pictures, music, a favorite soft blanket, or toy.
- An autism meltdown will happen regardless there is an audience or not. This could happen to a child even when they are alone, all because it is their response to an overload of external stimuli causing emotional explosion, one they are very uncomfortable with.
Although clinical trials for autism have improved the treatments available to adults and children with autism, it is still stressful for parents to know that their child is upset or hurting and can only express it via meltdowns.
Meltdowns are already noisy, but they tend to go to a whole other level of loud when it’s an autistic meltdown. However, that shouldn’t be the parents’ focus nor be a cause of embarrassment just because others are staring at you and your child. Remember that your child is the one who is struggling and needs your help the most.