| While people with autism appear to be physically | | | | motion characteristics might also be the result of |
| normal, there are certain repetitive body motion | | | | pain and hypersensitivity. People with autism are |
| characteristics that define autism. These include | | | | typically sensitive to loud sounds, bright lights and |
| repetitive actions, self-abusive behavior, tantrums | | | | certain textures. They also experience pain from |
| and aggressiveness. Through these behaviors, | | | | touching or hugging. To counter this pain, they |
| individuals with autism communicate their feelings | | | | engage in self-abusive behaviors. Experts in the |
| and frustrations. | | | | field of autism believe that although autistic |
| Repetitive behaviors are quite common in people | | | | individuals are sensitive to pain, they do not feel it |
| with autism. The first signs of repetitive body | | | | when they inflict it on themselves. |
| motion are often seen around age 2 or 3. | | | | Usually, there are no advanced warnings or |
| Wringing hands, spitting, making up verbal sounds | | | | triggers that indicate why certain body motions or |
| and laughing for no reason are all forms of | | | | behaviors occur when they do. What is known is |
| self-stimulating behavior in children with autism. | | | | that autistic children perform best in a structured |
| Research also finds that behavioral problems, like | | | | environment. When their routine changes, they |
| sudden outbursts, destructive kicking and throwing | | | | become upset. This could lead to self-abusive |
| objects, could be a result of frustration in autistic | | | | behavior and other adverse reactions, such as |
| children, especially if they are unable to properly | | | | throwing or breaking objects and destructive |
| express themselves through communication skills | | | | kicking. |
| or understand what people are saying to them. | | | | Because autistic individuals are unable to |
| Often times, an autistic person can become | | | | communicate using traditional communication skills, |
| over-excited, which could lead to breaking objects | | | | they turn to body motions and bad behaviors to |
| or screaming for no reason. On the other hand, | | | | express themselves. To a person with autism, |
| more destructive behaviors in autistic children | | | | bad behaviors or certain body motions get |
| often occur when they are bored. Whatever the | | | | immediate results. The negative behavior is |
| cause may be, there is some message behind the | | | | effective in getting someone's attention so the |
| behavior. Learning how to interpret the hidden | | | | problem at hand can be evaluated and the desired |
| message is the challenge faced by parents, | | | | result achieved. With autistic people, there is a |
| caregivers and teachers. | | | | clear link between behavior and communication. |
| Self-injury is often common among autistic | | | | Behavior analysis, therapy and medications can |
| children when they are disappointed, frustrated, or | | | | help address the autistic causes of repetitive body |
| confused. That's why it's important to properly | | | | motion. Techniques can also be followed that |
| communicate when the routine of an autistic | | | | would reduce incidents of repetitive body motion |
| individual is being altered. | | | | and self-abusive behavior, and medication and |
| People with autism often have difficulty perceiving | | | | therapy are available to address pain and |
| themselves within their environment, so they | | | | hypersensitivity. The earlier a child is treated, the |
| often exhibit certain behaviors to help them cope | | | | better their chances of living a more |
| and feel secure in their surroundings. Certain body | | | | semi-independent life. |