It is estimated that 15-18% of males diagnosed with autism also have aggression, but this is not something we need just to accept as there are underlying causes we can address.
To effectively manage aggressive behavior, it is essential to understand the various factors that may contribute to it. These can range from medical issues to environmental stressors and insufficient reinforcement. Identifying and addressing these root causes can help develop targeted strategies that lead to positive outcomes.
Common triggers relating to autism aggression include:
- Communication Challenges: Non-verbal or minimally verbal children may struggle to express their needs, leading to frustration.
- High Demands: Overwhelming tasks or unrealistic expectations can provoke aggression.
- Low Reinforcement: Insufficient positive feedback can create a negative cycle of behavior.
- Medical Issues: Pain or discomfort that the child cannot communicate may manifest as aggression.
Communication Challenges
Communication challenges are one of the most common and significant causes of aggression in children with autism.
When a child struggles to express their needs, wants, or feelings, frustration can build, often leading to aggressive behaviors like hitting, biting, or throwing objects. Non-verbal or minimally verbal children may find it especially difficult to communicate pain, discomfort, or emotional distress, leaving them with few alternatives to express themselves.
This frustration is compounded when those around them don’t understand their cues or needs.
You can learn how to build language in non verbal or non conversational children with my 4 step approach here. Prioritizing communication support is a critical step in fostering a calm and positive environment for children with autism.
Medical Factors
Medical issues should be among the first considerations when addressing aggressive behaviors. In a recent video blog titled “Should You Medicate a Child with Autism?”, I discussed how addressing my son Lucas’ autonomic nervous system dysfunction with medication significantly reduced his aggression. This experience highlights the importance of looking for medical reasons behind aggression. When an individual is in pain, or constipated, or hurt somewhere and unable to communicate this, aggression may go up.
There is some newer research that biting, especially biting yourself is linked to pain so it is important to rule out medical factors when dealing with aggressive behaviors.
Keeping a dedicated calendar to track serious problem behaviors and changes in medication, supplements, diet, and sleep patterns is important. These factors can all contribute to behavioral changes, and understanding them can help identify triggers. Ruling out medical problems should be an ongoing process, especially for non-verbal or minimally verbal children who may have difficulty expressing pain or discomfort. It’s crucial not to rely on a one-time medical assessment but to continuously monitor for potential health issues that could exacerbate aggressive behaviors.
Environmental Triggers
Environmental stressors can play a significant role in influencing behavior. For children with autism, overwhelming environments with excessive noise, bright lights, or other sensory stimuli can lead to aggressive reactions. Additionally, unexpected changes or transitions can trigger anxiety or frustration, leading to outbursts. As I will get into, this is why we need to track when behaviors are happening.
After tracking and noticing the types of environments that trigger aggression, we can modify the environment to reduce sensory stressors and prevent aggression. For example, providing a quieter space, using noise-canceling headphones, or dimming lights can make the environment more comfortable for the child. Understanding and adjusting these environmental factors can help create a safer and more supportive space, reducing the likelihood of aggressive incidents.
Insufficient Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is critical in behavior management, particularly for children with autism. Without adequate reinforcement, children may feel unsupported or frustrated, leading to increased aggression. Ensuring that the child receives frequent and meaningful reinforcement for positive behaviors is essential for creating a supportive environment.
The absence of sufficient reinforcement can escalate aggressive behaviors. In environments that emphasize high demands without positive reinforcement, children may struggle to communicate their needs, leading to frustration and aggression. Prioritizing reinforcement helps encourage positive behaviors and reduce negative reactions.
I often say with problem behaviors that when they are happening it often means there is too high of a demand and too low of positive reinforcement.
