According to the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC), 1 in 59 children in the US is affected by autism. Autism is characterized by behavior and social skills deficits. Autism can occur at different levels within a spectrum, and is influenced by genetics and environmental factors. Sensory sensitivities and medical issues, such as sleep disorders seizures, anxiety, and depression often accompany the condition.
Other common challenges that come along with autism are the meltdowns and tantrums. These two may both be unpredictable and unpleasant, but aside from those similarities, they are actually quite different.
Meltdown & Tantrum: What’s the Difference?
Between 12 months to 4 years old, kids are in still developing their problem-solving skills and independence. During this stage, it is normal for them to try different tactics to get things to go their way. One oft-used tactic by young children everywhere is to throw a full-blown temper tantrum in order to do what they want or have what they wish. A tantrum is a behavioral response that can be trained by the parents not to happen again, or at least not to be a common day occurrence.
Meltdowns, in contrast, happen due to overstimulation, or when the child becomes overwhelmed. When this occurs, the child loses control over his behavior and body as a response to sensory stimuli. Autistic children are more sensitive in general, and therefore, things we would consider as “normal” can be highly triggering for them. Smell, touch, hearing, vision, and taste can sometimes create a “traffic jam” in the central nervous system, making the child feel unable to process all the information input.
Tantrums and meltdowns are not the same, but are definitely related, and both cases can be managed by parents and caregivers.
Strategies to Manage Tantrums
Tantrums are related to behavior and often occur when the child is still developing language skills, emotional control and trying to understand the world around them. Your strategies should cover behavior support and skills development.
Identify the Motivation
Children will often start crying, kicking and yelling in order to get attention or a treat. Identify why they are doing it and act accordingly. It is not recommended to immediately give them what they wish since this will only reinforce negative behaviors. The first thing to do is to get the child to calm down. Leave the room if needed, and let them relax. When the child calms down, it’s time to make them understand the issue of their behavior and how to get what they want in the proper way.
Strategies to Manage Meltdowns
Meltdowns are a person’s automatic response to unpleasant sounds, smells or noises. The child is not doing it purposely, and caregivers must make sure the child doesn’t do anything dangerous while in the meltdown mode.
Identify and Remove Sensory Triggers
As a parent, you must start to notice what triggers adverse responses in your child. Be aware of your child’s sensory sensitivities Sometimes the child might feel uncomfortable in closed rooms or on a crowded bus. Avoid these situations whenever possible until you feel your child is ready to learn to handle them.
Remove Dangerous Objects
During a meltdown, the child can throw things or hit themselves and others. It is vital to keep away sharp objects, or anything that can break. The child might need to be isolated for a while to calm down, but even while he is on his own, it’s essential that you monitor him closely to prevent anyone and anything from getting harmed.
Utilize a Weighted Blanket
Gentle pressures across the body, such as a hug or a massage, are great strategies for calming down the child and reducing his anxiety. Weighted blankets deliver the same effect of a hug or massage, helping to improve the child’s body awareness and reduce the intensity of the meltdown. It is also recommended for autistic children to sleep with a weighted blanket, since gentle pressure promotes feelings of safety and comfort.
Get Noise-Canceling Headphones
If in a noisy environment, the noise-canceling headphones can help to minimize the auditory stimuli or even provide some distraction.
Protective Gear
Fluorescent lights or brilliant sunshine can be too much for your child to handle, and that’s when a good pair of sunglasses can help. You can also add some hats or caps to provide extra protection and create a level of distance from social interactions.
Crunchy Snacks
Snacks can help to distract the child and provide a calming oral proprioceptive input. Try to stick with the more nutritional snacks, and keep them away from sugary foods.
Hand Wipes
If the child accidentally touches something he doesn’t like the feel of, it is useful to have wipes to clean the hands right away so he won’t have a meltdown on the spot. Be careful with with scented wipes, since strong odors can also trigger a meltdown. Make sure the wipes you use are ones that he doesn’t mind the smell of.
Explain the Situation
Always explain to the child what you are doing and why. Surprising moves or touches can startle the child and increase the meltdown severity. A calm explanation, even though the child is not responsive, can help to avoid impulse reactions.
Overview
Meltdowns and tantrums are usually a parent’s worst nightmare, but with the right strategies, they can be managed. Since each child is different, parents and direct caregivers should try out the aforementioned tips and see which work best during an emotional crisis. Remember that you also need to keep calm, since if the child can feels your stress or frustration, the situation can get all the more complicated!