7/25/2023 0 Comments Signs of autism meltdownWhen a person with autism experiences too much sensory stimulation, their central nervous system is overwhelmed and unable to process all of the input. Tantrums can lead to meltdowns, so it can be hard to tell the difference between the two outbursts (and respond appropriately) if you’re not attuned to your child’s sensory signals.įor more information on sensory processing, check out Harkla’s article here. Meltdowns are reactions to feeling overwhelmed and are often seen as a result of sensory overstimulation (check out our YouTube video below). These will sometimes be referred to as autism outbursts, but we will refer to it solely as an autism meltdown in this article. What is an autism meltdown? A meltdown is when the child loses control over his behavior and can only be calmed down by a parent, or when he reaches the point of exhaustion. Autism Meltdowns Come from Overwhelm or Overstimulation While a tantrum isn't a meltdown, they are related and can be difficult to decipher, especially if you aren't the direct caregiver to the child. They can be impulsive in their reactions and, if not addressed appropriately, persistent outbursts (maladaptive responses to problems/not getting his way) can result in social-emotional difficulties as they get older. When parents “give in” to tantrum outbursts, children are more likely to repeat the behavior the next time they are denied what they want or need.Ĭhildren who exhibit frequent tantrum outbursts have difficulty regulating emotions associated with anxiety and anger. The tantrums will resolve when the child either gets what he wants or when he realizes that his outburst will not result in getting his way. When children tantrum, they continue to be in control of their behavior and can adjust the level of the tantrum based on the feedback they receive from adults around them. This anxiety and lack of control often result in tantrums when it all gets to be too much to manage.Ī hallmark of a tantrum is that the behavior will usually persist if the child gains attention for his behavior, but will subside when ignored. Toddlers are developing an understanding of their world, and it’s often anxiety-producing.The prefrontal cortex of the brain has not yet developed - this is the brain center responsible for emotional regulation and social behavior - so they do not have the ability to regulate!.Emerging, developing language skills make communicating wants/needs frustrating.Emerging desire to become independent, but limited motor skills and cognitive skills (planning, organization, execution) make it impossible to actually BE independent. When you look at why temper tantrums occur at this stage, it is important to consider typical development and why toddlers are so easily frustrated: In fact, this “terrible twos” stage is typically experienced between 12 months through 4 years old! This occurs when young children are developing problem-solving skills and beginning to assert their independence. Parents observe many tantrums during the “terrible twos”.
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