Behaviours of Concern and Autism

Causes

According to the Social Care Institute for Excellence (2010) behaviours of concern are often caused as much by the way someone is supported - or not supported - as by their disability.

In addition, some autistic people may 

• struggle to understand what is happening around them or struggle to communicate what they want or need
• struggle to understand what is happening around them or struggle to communicate their emotional and physical needs
• feel they have no control over what happens to them or the chance to make choices about what they want to do
• be in pain or discomfort as a result of  physical problems such as ear ache, tooth ache or stomach ache
• have sensory processing differences which can cause an aversion to particular smells or tastes, noise, lighting, or heat. These differences can also cause difficulties knowing where their bodies are in space
• be reacting to change or unfamiliar situations or events. Many autistic individuals find it difficult to cope with change of any kind, however trivial
• not be comfortable in social situations, such as having to meet new people or answer questions
• be asked to do more than they can cope with, such as a task that is too difficult, too long, or uninteresting
• want something they can’t have, such as access to a preferred activity or toy
• be being bullied, which may make them more aggressive or withdrawn
• be reacting to the side effects of medications or other interventions
• once in a while, be tired, fed up or just having an ‘off day’.

Some behaviours of concern may have been learnt. For example, if parents or teachers pay attention to or give-in to behaviours of concern in order to avoid further outbursts, a child may continue that behaviour. So, if the child is excluded from classroom activities (and is therefore able to avoid situations they dislike), they may continue that behaviour.

Some behaviours of concern may have several causes and these causes may occur at the same time, making it harder to work out what is going on.  For example an adult may be responding to physical pain but may also be responding to the reactions of the other people around them because they have learnt that this get results. 

Other issues such as parental stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, money or housing worries can all have an effect on parents and carers which may worsen the child’s behaviours.  In such cases, individuals and families will need support to deal with these issues.

Updated

21 Sep 2022