![]() ![]() There will need to be a plan for how to cope with a meltdown, either externalised or internalised, to help restore reasonable thoughts and behaviour and for the person to regain self-control. The meltdown can also be internalised, with intense self-blame and hatred and even suicidal thoughts and actions or ‘depression attack’. The meltdown may be externalised, with an intense despair that manifests as an expression of anger, perhaps with destruction of property or aggression towards a person. Best wishes to you and your family.Those who have an ASD are prone to have a catastrophic reaction or meltdown when overly stressed, anxious or frustrated. I hope these insights and tips prove helpful. (These types of strategies can be found in Unstuck and on Target: An Executive Function Curriculum to Improve Flexibility for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.)Īlso see my previous blog on autism and food aversions, “ Encouraging Picky Eaters with Autism to Try New Foods”. So he’ll need a “Plan B” that he agrees will be acceptable. Away from mealtime, discuss how his favorite food can be his “Plan A” choice for mealtime, but that it may not always be available. So try making the new choice together at the supermarket when you’re both calm and away from the dining-room table.įinally, try to encourage flexibility around trying new foods. It will help to have your child’s “buy-in” for this. So if your son insists on, say, Honeynut Cheerios, try offering him a similar cereal such as Multigrain Cheerios. ![]() You can also build on a preferred food to gently expand a diet to include similar choices. You can try the age-old “try one bite,” or start with asking your son to just smell or lick the food the first time it’s offered. So include one or two old favorites in every meal along with any new introduction. When introducing a new food, remember that a touch of consistency can help keep things calm. You might make a visual schedule to establish a plan for mealtime or negotiate a reward that could be earned for completing a task such as trying a new food. For example, a deep breath and a break from the conversation. Use your tried-and-true coping strategies. ![]() When you sense a food-related meltdown approaching, try to defuse the situation as you would any other potential meltdown. In general, it’s important to avoid making food a chronic source of conflict. Put it all together, and meals can become emotionally loaded for everyone in the family. Just as a substitute teacher can prove extremely upsetting for children with autism, so can unexpected foods on their plates! The need for sameness that is common in ASD may also make it difficult to introduce new foods to your son’s diet. Unfortunately, it can lead to nutritional deficiencies and excessive weight gain, especially if exercise is limited. This, too, may reflect an aversion to strong tastes and textures. Research also tells us that many individuals with autism tend to have strong preferences for carbohydrates and processed foods, while rejecting fruits and vegetables. And that increases the risk of meltdowns. So it can be difficult to determine what it is about a certain food that’s so important – or upsetting – to your son. On top of this, many individuals with autism have difficulty describing what they like or dislike about certain foods. In other words, your son’s focus on food – like his other special interests – may be particularly intense. However, these natural tendencies can become exaggerated for a person with ASD. Of course, we all have food preferences and most of us find food comforting. Some even feel compelled to have certain foods in the same place on the plate or to use the same plate at each meal. Many also have strong preferences for a narrow selection of foods. These can include extreme sensitivity to change and sensory stimuli, as well as an intense focus on details.įor instance, many children and adults on the spectrum are extremely sensitive to not just flavor, but also the color, smell and texture of foods. Food overlaps with many aspects of life that challenge the coping skills of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research has backed up what you’ve experienced firsthand. Kuschner is developing and testing a cognitive behavioral treatment program that addresses the complex reasons behind narrow food choices in many individuals with autism. With the support of an Autism Speaks research grant, Dr. This week’s “Got Questions?” answer comes from psychologist Emily Kuschner, of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a member of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |