| While people with autism appear to be physically | | | | characteristics might also be the result of pain and |
| normal, there are certain repetitive body motion | | | | hypersensitivity. People with autism are typically |
| characteristics that define autism. These include | | | | sensitive to loud sounds, bright lights and certain |
| repetitive actions, self-abusive behavior, tantrums and | | | | textures. They also experience pain from touching or |
| aggressiveness. Through these behaviors, individuals | | | | hugging. To counter this pain, they engage in |
| with autism communicate their feelings and frustrations. | | | | self-abusive behaviors. Experts in the field of autism |
| Repetitive behaviors are quite common in people with | | | | believe that although autistic individuals are sensitive to |
| autism. The first signs of repetitive body motion are | | | | pain, they do not feel it when they inflict it on |
| often seen around age 2 or 3. Wringing hands, spitting, | | | | themselves. |
| making up verbal sounds and laughing for no reason | | | | Usually, there are no advanced warnings or triggers |
| are all forms of self-stimulating behavior in children with | | | | that indicate why certain body motions or behaviors |
| autism. | | | | occur when they do. What is known is that autistic |
| Research also finds that behavioral problems, like | | | | children perform best in a structured environment. |
| sudden outbursts, destructive kicking and throwing | | | | When their routine changes, they become upset. This |
| objects, could be a result of frustration in autistic | | | | could lead to self-abusive behavior and other adverse |
| children, especially if they are unable to properly | | | | reactions, such as throwing or breaking objects and |
| express themselves through communication skills or | | | | destructive kicking. |
| understand what people are saying to them. | | | | Because autistic individuals are unable to communicate |
| Often times, an autistic person can become | | | | using traditional communication skills, they turn to body |
| over-excited, which could lead to breaking objects or | | | | motions and bad behaviors to express themselves. To |
| screaming for no reason. On the other hand, more | | | | a person with autism, bad behaviors or certain body |
| destructive behaviors in autistic children often occur | | | | motions get immediate results. The negative behavior |
| when they are bored. Whatever the cause may be, | | | | is effective in getting someone’s attention so the |
| there is some message behind the behavior. Learning | | | | problem at hand can be evaluated and the desired |
| how to interpret the hidden message is the challenge | | | | result achieved. With autistic people, there is a clear link |
| faced by parents, caregivers and teachers. | | | | between behavior and communication. |
| Self-injury is often common among autistic children | | | | Behavior analysis, therapy and medications can help |
| when they are disappointed, frustrated, or confused. | | | | address the autistic causes of repetitive body motion. |
| That’s why it’s important to properly | | | | Techniques can also be followed that would reduce |
| communicate when the routine of an autistic individual | | | | incidents of repetitive body motion and self-abusive |
| is being altered. | | | | behavior, and medication and therapy are available to |
| People with autism often have difficulty perceiving | | | | address pain and hypersensitivity. The earlier a child is |
| themselves within their environment, so they often | | | | treated, the better their chances of living a more |
| exhibit certain behaviors to help them cope and feel | | | | semi-independent life. |
| secure in their surroundings. Certain body motion | | | | |