Autism Meltdown: Here’s What Every Autism Parent or Teacher Needs to Know About Meltdowns
Autism meltdowns are often talked about by parents, teachers, and therapists, but what are they? In this blog post, we’ll be looking at what every autism parent or teacher needs to know about meltdowns.
What is an autism meltdown?
A meltdown is a physical reaction to an overloaded or overwhelmed brain. Too much information to process from sensory or cognitive stimuli triggers the autonomic nervous system, which then thinks that the person is in danger. This results in the distressed behaviors we see when a child, teen, or adult with autism cries, lashes out, or self-injures.
The autonomic nervous system is the branch of the nervous system that controls the bodily functions that happen without conscious thought, such as breathing, body temperature, heart rate, and the fight-or-flight response.
What is an autism meltdown like?
A meltdown is a really frightening and overwhelming experience for the individual who is having one. It can also be scary or upsetting for other children in your classroom or family to observe.
What is the difference between a tantrum and an autistic meltdown?
You may have heard some people use these two terms interchangeably, but a tantrum and a meltdown are actually two very different things.
A tantrum is a deliberate attempt to get something in particular or to gain control over a person or situation. A meltdown is an involuntary response of the autonomic nervous system.
When someone has a temper tantrum, they are in full control of their behavior and can stop whenever they want to. However, when someone has a meltdown, they temporarily lose control of their behavior and are unable to stop themselves from crying or lashing out.
Many children with autism have both meltdowns and temper tantrums. It’s important for kids with autism and their peers to think about and understand the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown. One way to help them do that is with my Tantrum or Meltdown Cards.
Signs and symptoms of an autism meltdown
In some cases, there can be warning signs that an individual with autism is about to have a meltdown or is likely to have one later in the day. These will vary from person to person.
You might notice that the individual seems tense, agitated, anxious, or withdrawn. They might, for example, be vocal stimming or motor stimming more than usual. Another warning sign could be a particular change in behavior specific to that person.
A meltdown can start quietly and build up over a certain length of time or it can happen suddenly. During a meltdown a child with autism might cry, scream, shout, lash out, kick, or bite. They might self-injure or harm others.
Do kids with Autism grow out of meltdowns?
Meltdowns are not just maladaptive behaviors. As your student or child with autism enters adolescence, you may notice that their meltdowns seem to get worse.
Teenagers with autism may experience meltdowns more frequently than they did as a child. Autism meltdowns can last longer and become more intense in teenagers. These changes can be due to a variety of factors including:
Increased anxiety
Stress
Lack of sleep/need for more sleep
Hormonal changes
Physical growing pains
School pressures
Increase in physical strength, particularly in boys.
What triggers autism meltdowns?
Meltdowns can be triggered by any sensory or cognitive stimuli which overwhelm the brain.
Sensory stimuli (or input) includes sound, touch, taste, sight, smell, sensations of movement (vestibular) and where the body feels in space (proprioception), and also internal sensations such as hunger and thirst (interoception).
The autistic brain processes sensory input differently. Where most people can easily tune out minor sounds, smells, and sensations — such as background noise, the scent of perfume, or the feeling of their own clothes touching their skin — individuals with autism often cannot. Research suggests that this is because the autistic brain does not habituate (get used to) some stimuli.
It’s easy to imagine how a brain that’s trying to process lots of different sensory inputs all at once could easily become overwhelmed.
Some examples of sensory stimuli which could trigger, or contribute to, an autism meltdown are:
Auditory input (sounds) such as machines, voices, or music. (This can depend on the pitch, frequency, and volume of the noise.)
Tactile input (touch) such as the different textures of clothing, or being touched by people.
Visual input such as patterns, busy places, or lights that are too bright.
Olfactory input such as the smell of food, perfume, people, or animals.
Gustatory input (taste) such as the flavor of foods, drinks, and medicines.
Input from movement, such as travel or exercise, that is too much or too fast.
Cognitive stimuli (or input) can be anything that requires the brain to process information. Some examples of cognitive stimuli which could trigger, or contribute to, an autism meltdown are:
Too much information to process or work out.
Too many thoughts to process simultaneously.
Being subject to a continuous flow of information from TV, films, or social media.
Anxiety during an activity or in anticipation of something that will happen in the future.
If you need to quickly alert other people to a child’s individual triggers it might be helpful to use Fight, Flight or Freeze Trigger Cards when moving around your school. or out and about in the community.
How long does an autistic meltdown last?
A sensory or cognitive meltdown can last anywhere from just ten minutes to an hour, or even longer. How long a meltdown lasts depends on factors such as the triggers, the situation, the activity, the surrounding environment, previous stimuli and stressors, and the people involved.
If you’re with someone who is experiencing a meltdown, keeping yourself calm and removing further triggers are two ways you can help reduce the duration of the meltdown.
What to do when an autistic student or child has a meltdown
A child who is overwhelmed or overloaded by stimuli doesn’t need your judgment or discipline, they need your care and compassion. When a kids with autism is having a meltdown, you should:
Stay calm.
Stay quiet to avoid adding to their auditory overload
Move slowly. (Sudden movements might make them feel as though they are in danger and therefore cause them to become aggressive in order to defend themselves.)
Keep others away.
Give the individual space.
Don’t touch the person without permission.
Try to Imagine yourself in the shoes of the child who is having a meltdown. Think about how you would feel and react if you were overwhelmed.
How do you calm an autistic child during a meltdown?
How best to calm a child who is experiencing a meltdown depends on their personal preferences.Some ideas for what might be calming are:
Soft cushions
Something to rock on
Something to jump on
Comforting smells
A drink of water
Calm, slow music
Singing softly
A weighted vest or blanket
Space to move
Peace and quiet
Autism meltdown strategies
Figure out what triggers the individual’s meltdowns
Try to figure out exactly what sensory or cognitive stimuli are causing the child with autism to become overwhelmed. Could it be bright lights? Busy places? Anxiety? You can do this by observation; through conversation with the child and their family; or by keeping a record of where and when the meltdowns occur.
Reduce and avoid triggers where possible
Once you have figured out what your students’ or child’s triggers are, the next strategy is to reduce and avoid these stimuli as much as possible. You may be able to do this by adapting the classroom or homeschool environment, adapting certain activities, giving them simple but realistic choices, and listening to their sensory needs. This is not the same as giving in to the demands of child who is tantruming.
Meltdown Related Resources to check out:
Behavior Function Chart for Autism Parents
Shop more resources HERE
I hope you’ve found the information in this post helpful! Check out more blog posts HERE
Thank you for reading!
Kirsten