Have you ever heard of Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? It’s a complicated neurodevelopmental condition that can bring about some unique challenges such as difficulties in social interaction, communication hiccups, repetitive behaviours, and even struggles with processing sensory information. Sometimes, folks with Autism also tend to have a narrowed range of interests and activities. It’s usually something that gets noticed in early childhood and, yep, those symptoms. They can stick around throughout a person’s entire life.
Autism vs Other Conditions:
I, myself, have a stammering (also known as stuttering) problem. People call it a speech disorder and I call/see it as a challenge. Individuals who have a stuttering problem err… challenge, know what to say but they’ll find it hard to say. When we are nervous, it is so hard for us to express what we feel even though we know what we feel and we have clear ideas about how we want to express it but we find difficulties in it because of stuttering. Individuals with autism find difficulties in sensory processing and more.
There are a few common things between autistic people and stuttering people. When you make them feel that they’re different, that’ll make them feel anxious. We all wanted to be treated normally. When I’m anxious, I find it hard to express what I wanted to say because I’d get stammering then. The kids with autism have meltdowns when they’re anxious. We’ll take a look at the meltdown and its different stages in a better way in the later part of the article.
- Autism is distinguished by difficulties with social interaction, communication, repetitive behaviours, and sensory processing, whereas ADHD is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
- Social communication disorder typically impairs pragmatic language usage and social communication abilities.
- Intellectual disability is characterized by impairments in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour.
- Stammering is generally characterized by recurrent disturbances in speech flow.
However, overlapping symptoms, such as communication and social interaction problems, may exist across various conditions. So, I hope you get the difference between autism and other conditions.
Tantrums vs Meltdowns:
Before delving into the topic of meltdowns and how to manage it when it occurs, you should understand the difference between tantrums and meltdowns. Don’t get confused between the two. The former is more of a goal oriented and kids throw tantrums to get what they want. They do it intentionally to achieve what they want and it means that they have a clear idea about what they’re doing. But that’s not the case with meltdown. When the kids are having a meltdown, they’ll not be in their control at all. They wouldn’t know what they’re doing.
A lot of people question the autistic kids’ parents on why they’re referring to tantrums as meltdowns. It’s because those people have no idea about the latter. They’ll also think that the autistic kids’ parents are just trying to excuse bad behaviour. These sensory meltdowns occur when the individuals with autism have a lot going on in their head. They have too many stimuli, too much input and they can’t regulate it. So, they just start melting down.
Distinguishing Between Typical Behavior and Sensory Overload:
If you’re the parent of an autistic child and can’t tell the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown, try the following:
When your child looks at you for confirmation, if their speech is clear and they are not slurring it, give them what they want to test them; if their bad behaviour stops, it’s simply a normal tantrum. However, if your child is having a tough time, as in, hitting themselves repeatedly, drooling or looks like they’re in pain, then most probably this is sensory meltdown. Sometimes tantrums might lead to sensory meltdowns because they’re getting worked up. Try the aforementioned tests to obtain a sense of what they are going through.
For example: Imagine a child in a grocery store: if they throw a tantrum because they want a candy bar, it’s a goal-oriented behaviour where they know what they’re doing. In contrast, if the child suddenly collapses to the floor, hitting themselves, and seems overwhelmed, it’s likely a sensory meltdown, where they’re unable to control their reactions due to sensory overload and confusion. It’s crucial for parents to recognize the difference and respond accordingly, offering support and understanding during meltdowns.
Stages of Meltdown:
There are 6 different stages of sensory meltdowns. They are calm, triggers, agitation, meltdown, re-grouping and starting over. Let’s take a brief look at these stages of meltdowns.
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Calm:
This stage depicts a rather steady and calm condition in which the individual remains composed and relaxed. During this phase, the individual may engage in normal activities without experiencing severe anxiety or agitation.
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Triggers:
Triggers are events, situations, or sensory stimuli that can provoke an adverse reaction or escalate stress levels in individuals with autism. Triggers can vary widely among individuals but may include loud noises, bright lights, unexpected changes in routine, or overwhelming sensory input.
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Agitation:
Agitation is the initial feeling of anguish or discomfort in reaction to stimuli. The individual may begin to show indicators of tension, such as increased restlessness, fidgeting, or vocalisations of discomfort. Agitation indicates the start of a rise in emotional and physiological arousal.
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Meltdown:
Meltdowns occur when an individual is overwhelmed by sensory input or emotional suffering, resulting in extreme emotional and behavioural responses. During a meltdown, the individual may feel increased levels of worry, fear, or frustration, which is frequently followed by sobbing, yelling, or other types of anguish. They may also engage in self-harming behaviours or be aggressive towards others.
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Re-grouping:
After a meltdown, individuals may gradually regain emotional and behavioural control. The re-grouping step consists of cooling down and recovering composure. During this phase, the individual may still experience tension or agitation but is gradually returning to a more stable condition.
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Starting Over:
Once the individual has fully recovered from the meltdown, they may enter a stage of starting anew, in which they resume their previous activities or habits. This stage reflects a return to normal functioning and a new beginning following the emotional turmoil of the breakdown.
How to calm down meltdowns in autistic kids?
To calm down meltdowns in autistic kids, pay attention to their gestures as they often indicate what they’re experiencing. Take proactive measures when you sense your child is heading towards a sensory meltdown. Create a calming environment where you can engage in activities that help them relax quickly. Consider playing their favorite movies, YouTube videos, songs, etc., to soothe them.
How to manage meltdowns in autistic kids?
A sensory meltdown is when your kid is trying really hard to deal with everything around them but the situation is overwhelming and they’re not coping. So, the reason that conceptualizing a meltdown is very helpful is because it can avoid a lot of common traps of things that don’t help.
For example: If a meltdown is caused because your kid is trying too hard to do something and running out of energy and losing everything, then there’s absolutely no point in asking them a lot of things (or a lot of information) which you thought might calm them, but it will not be helpful.
During these kinds of situations, like I already mentioned before, try to make them watch/listen/do what they like. That will cool them down mostly. Then, establish predictable routines and environments to reduce uncertainty and anxiety. Use visual schedules, timers, and transition cues to help the individual anticipate and prepare for changes. Provide sensory tools like chewing tubes and use therapressure brush and make some strategies to help regulate sensory input and manage arousal levels. This may include offering noise-cancelling headphones, sunglasses, weighted blankets, or fidget toys to help the individual modulate sensory stimuli. These are some of the common ways to manage meltdowns.
Let’s look at how autistic children will behave during the various stages of meltdowns and how you should respond to them.
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Calm:
- Observe: Identify triggers (loud noises, crowds) and keep a log to recognize patterns.
- Collaborate: Share a crisis plan with caregivers and professionals outlining support strategies.
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Triggers:
- Become a detective: Watch for early signs of agitation like fidgeting or withdrawal.
- Proactive intervention: Offer sensory breaks, redirect attention, or adjust the environment.
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Agitation:
- Stay calm: Your calmness is contagious! Use a soothing voice and offer reassurance.
- Equip them: Provide calming tools like noise-cancelling headphones or fidget toys. You can also give them chewing tubes to calm them down. Therapressure brush is a better option to calm them down.
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Meltdown:
- Validate their feelings: Acknowledge their distress and avoid pushing them further.
- Create a safe space: Offer a quiet, familiar environment for them to retreat.
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Re-grouping:
- Positive reinforcement: Praise their efforts and offer comfort after the meltdown subsides.
- Seek professional help: Consult therapists or specialists for personalized strategies.
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Starting Over:
- Establish routines: Predictable schedules reduce anxiety and meltdowns.
- Teach coping skills: Deep breathing, hand gestures, or guided imagery for self-regulation.
Remember: By understanding and supporting your child through each stage of a meltdown, you can empower them to navigate sensory overload and find their calm.
During this time, it is critical to offer support and empathy to help the individual return to their normal activities seamlessly. It’s crucial to emphasize that not everyone with autism has meltdowns, and the severity and duration of those who do might vary greatly. Understanding and recognizing the stages of meltdowns can help caregivers and support professionals respond appropriately and provide the necessary support and intervention to assist persons with autism in effectively managing their emotions and regulating their sensory experiences. Some parents of autistic kids have reported that their kids used to reach out to them and apologize for what they did, once they become calm.
Chewing Tubes:
Chewing tubes offer oral sensory input and tactile stimulation, aiding in regulating sensory processing and promoting self-soothing. When individuals with autism experience sensory overload or emotional distress during a meltdown, chewing on a chewing tube can provide a calming and organizing effect by delivering proprioceptive input to the jaw muscles. This can help decrease anxiety, enhance focus, and relieve tension during moments of distress.
Since, I have a few acquaintances who have autistic kids, I’ve seen them using the B-Arm OPT chewing tube. It seems a bit different from the other chewing tubes that we see in the market. It has a string and a cord lock. I was wondering why the chewing tubes should have these accessories and what difference does it make? Out of curiosity, I blatantly asked my acquaintance about it. Then the parents said, “When the kids are having a meltdown, we can’t expect them to hold the chewing tube for a long time and chew it, right?” I was like, “yes, of course”.
This B-Arm chewing tube addresses this issue by giving string and cord lock. With the help of these two additional parts, you can just hang this in your kid’s neck and now they could chew it without even holding it. Also, since it is hanging in your kid’s neck, they can chew it whenever they need and feel like doing. When I heard this, I was stunned. I mean, come on! Perhaps, this seems simple but the impact of it is very high. Sometimes, these small changes make a huge difference and this chewing tube is indeed cut about the edge than other chewing tubes. I can vouch for that, since I’ve seen those kids using it and the improvement is insane. It is available on Amazon, Flipkart and B-Arm.
Chewing tubes aid sensory processing, promote oral motor development, and serve as a self-regulation strategy for individuals with autism, reducing anxiety, increasing focus, and managing sensory overload while offering a safe outlet for inappropriate chewing behaviours.
Therapressure Brush:
I’ve noticed my acquaintances using therapressure brushes too with their autistic kids, and they’ve observed significant improvements in sensory regulation and calmness. These brushes seem to provide deep pressure input to the skin, which can have a calming and grounding effect on the nervous system. During a meltdown, individuals with autism may benefit from using a therapressure brush to engage in deep pressure massage techniques, such as brushing or rolling, on specific areas of the body.
This can help regulate arousal levels, decrease sensory sensitivity, and promote relaxation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Additionally, they’ve mentioned using the therapressure brush for treating cradle cap in infants, finding that the gentle bristles help to loosen and remove flakes, leaving the scalp clean and healthy. This product is available on Amazon, Flipkart and B-Arm.
By offering sensory input and tactile stimulation, these two products by B-Arm can help individuals manage sensory meltdowns more effectively and promote emotional regulation and coping skills during moments of distress.
Autism can be managed in multiple ways and these are a few ways in that. If you’re a parent and your kids have autism, we hope that this helps you in managing them. Check out B-Arm’s website for these sensory products, and like my acquaintances, I’m sure that you will benefit from using their products.
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