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Autism and Medical Issues: How Medical Issues Impact Problem Behavior

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in Young Children with

Autism &/or Speech Delays

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Most of us have experience with autism and medical issues but what do you do if you have a child who doesn’t communicate and you think they might be in pain? Some children might bite when they’re in distress, and other children might become aggressive. But without the language to tell us how they feel, a child on the spectrum is unable to express what exactly hurts and their pain or medical issues may go untreated.

When Lucas was a child, one day we realized that he had little wounds all over his leg, but they weren’t mosquito bites. And the next thing we knew, he had these strange verbal tics. As a trained nurse, I thought it was related to a medical issue because it came on so suddenly, so I started counting the verbal tics. I was able to count over 500 verbal tics in a day, so I knew that this wasn’t my imagination. It did end up being an infection, and with antibiotics, his tics cleared up.

The four steps of the Turn Autism Around approach are going to help you work through any medical issues that you face:

Step one: Assess to find out what problems you need to tackle.

Step two: Make a plan to teach your child what they need to do to stay healthy.
Step three: Teach: have practice sessions helping your child learn to swallow a pill or wear a mask or whatever the goals are.
Step four: Use easy data to see if you’re making any progress in helping them. Use a calendar to document changes in behavior, medications, and doctor visits.

I really stress the importance of teaching children to identify their body parts with Mr. Potato Head. After all, how can they tell you where they hurt if they don’t know the names of their body parts?

I wrote Turn Autism Around: An Action Guide For Parents of Young Children with Early Signs of Autism for moms like me. This is the book I needed when Lucas was five and still not potty-trained, or when he was ten and still not sleeping through the night in his own bed. This book is written for you using my perspective as a mom, a nurse, an advocate, and a behavior analyst, and I hope it helps you improve your child’s life.

Disclaimer: From time to time, BBC Materials may discuss topics related to health and medicine. This information is not advice and should not be treated as medical advice. The medical information provided in the BBC Materials is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. You must not rely on the information in the BBC Materials as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment for yourself or an individual in your care as a result of any information provided in the BBC Materials. All medical information in the BBC Materials is for informational purposes only. See our full terms at www.marybarbera.com/terms-2

The conversation highlights joint attention as a cornerstone of social skills, emphasizing its significance beyond mere eye contact. Kelly elaborates on how joint attention facilitates meaningful social interactions and learning, serving as a foundational element that children must master before successfully transitioning to group learning environments.

You’ll Learn

  • The importance of keeping track of behaviors, medications, doctor visits, and medical tests as you figure out how to help your child.
  • Strategies you can use to help a child on the spectrum communicate when they’re in pain and where that pain is located.
  • Resources you can explore to help you improve your child’s eating habits, medicine consumption, and ability to talk about their body parts.

Resources

Free Workshop

Increase Talking &
Decrease Tantrums

in Young Children with

Autism &/or Speech Delays

Register for Free Training