Autistic children tend to suffer from sensory overload issues that can cause meltdowns. These meltdowns can look like a typical temper tantrum to the unknowing adult. But a child with autism can act in unusual ways such as flapping their hands, repeating one word over and over, covering their ears to drown out the noise, shying away from being touched, and having trouble expressing their emotions using words.
An autistic meltdown often starts like most temper tantrums with the same forms of manipulation, anger, and loss of control. However, when a child is having a meltdown, the loss of self-control takes over and the child needs help to regain control.
Meltdowns
- During a meltdown, the child does not care who is reacting to his/her behavior or consider his/her own safety.
- They have little to no interest or involvement in the social situation surrounding them.
- A meltdown can be preceded by a silent seizure—a period of time where the child seems to be unresponsive.
- There might be complete and total loss of behavioral control.
- The child will often have a glazed-over look with dilated pupils.
Avoid Risk: When a child launches into a meltdown, it’s important to move him/her to a safe location to prevent physical harm. Since there can be little warning before a meltdown consumes a child, the potential of him/her being in a risky area such as an art room or playground is a high probability, and the last thing anyone wants is for a student to be injured on their campus.
A temper tantrum is similar to an autistic meltdown yet it is caused by a very different internal mechanism—a conscious attempt to manipulate. Whereas autistic children have no intention of manipulating those around him/her—the child is often unaware of those around—a child throwing a temper tantrum is doing it for the attention of those nearby.
Temper Tantrums
- A child throwing a temper tantrum will often look around to see if his/her behavior is affecting others in the room.
- A child throwing a tantrum will take precautions not to become injured during the outburst.
- When the situation is resolved, the tantrum will end abruptly.
- A tantrum is thrown for a specific reason, and to achieve a certain goal.
Most children will outgrow throwing temper tantrums by the time they turn three. Once they learn to use their words to communicate, the need to have a tantrum dissolves. However, autistic children can have meltdowns well into adulthood.
Additional Resources About Autism:
Resources for parents and teachers with autistic children.
Risk and Safety Management articles about autism.
What is it like for people with autism? Read WebMD’s response to that question.
