Behaviour and Discipline issues for children with Autism London

By  National Autistic Society Supernanny Expert 15/01/2007

Despite an estimated one in every 100 people in the UK having an autistic spectrum disorder, misconceptions about the condition are still rife in the general community. Why, with raised awareness in recent years, is it so difficult for us to understand what it means to have autism?

Part of the reason may be that there are many forms of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Also, adults and children with ASD have difficulty understanding the unwritten social rules of society - it’s easy to see how other people might misread their actions and take the wrong impression of the person and their disorder.

Parents of children with an ASD will find their needs differ dramatically from non-autistic children, and many find discipline the biggest challenge of all. Even between children with an ASD, one child’s behaviour issue may require a completely different strategy from another's. For that reason, don’t despair if some of these techniques don’t work with your child – be persistent and patient and you’ll eventually find something that works.

You can read other experiences in our related articles -  Understanding Autism - one Mum's story and Autism - a parent's perspective .

Behaviour difficulties

Traditional discipline will not work for a child with an ASD. Children with an ASD are unable to understand the consequences of their actions, so punishment is likely to make behaviour worse and cause more distress for both parent and child.

1. Safety is the first priority. Take your child out of the situation as soon as possible.
2. Find out why your child is displaying this behaviour by using a behaviour diary. If the behaviour is recurring, it is possible that your child enjoys the reaction he gets from parents or teachers. Perhaps his yelling always sees him removed from an uncomfortable situation? If so he is likely to continue, as this could be a desired outcome. Concentrate on making the situation more comfortable for him.
3. Focus on the positive. Instead of punishment, give lots of praise when he does something well and use a Reward Chart to encourage good behaviour. Use positive language in a calm voice, and rather than telling him what you don’t want him to do, direct him to what he should be doing instead. For example, instead of saying “stop pulling your sister’s hair”, say “put your hand down”.

Obsessive Behaviour

Most children go through fads, but children with ASD often display obsessive and repetitive characteristics, which can have major implications for behaviour. If a child is obsessed with a particular cartoon character, for example, they may become very distressed if the DVD stops working or they are interrupted for any reason.

Find out what the child gets out of the obsession by using a behaviour diary. For example, they may enjoy the sensory pleasure or routine of flicking their fingers, or use it as a distraction from distressing social situations...

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