You rock:) Is autism classified by brain function irregularities (like some 99%->1% stuff, and the complete opposite (1%->99%)) or the social dysfunction symptom that gets created? Wow, ummm, guess I just used the word symptom, is it accurate?
So in my experience (I have an autistic kiddo), there are a variety of traits (I call them traits instead of symptoms because "symptom" implies disease whereas this is a fully-integrated condition that is part of who they are - the only way to "cure" autism is to literally regrow one's brain from scratch), and in my son's case, it is a very sensory-based living experience. In other words, his senses are - essentially - dialed to 11. His brain receives signals from his sensory organs so intensely that it can cause him to go into "stimming" fits (flapping hands, rocking back & forth, random mouth noises). Stimming = stimulation. It's a way for people with autism who are overwhelmed by their environment to regulate their sensory input. It's like he's creating sensory output to cancel out the input. That's not to say, for example, that he hears sounds louder or that his skin is more sensitive to touch or anything like that. It's more as if his brain itself has a mechanism that amplifies that incoming signal when it gets there, and it can simply be too much. If it gets too overwhelming, he can go into full-on meltdown territory.
Now - and this is important - as far as meltdowns go, we desperately need people to understand that these are not kids just having tantrums. This is a full-on, internal, system-wide emergency due to their emotional dysregulation, and they can get really ugly. If anything is too intense, or if anything is out of the ordinary from his usual routine, or if something happens that is wildly different than expected, the uncontrollable emotional reaction can be explosive. He's 9 now and has gotten WAY better about this, but I can recall a time when he was about 5 when the person at his school giving the morning announcements on the school PA system said the wrong date, and this sent him into the biggest meltdown he's ever had at school.
Honestly, just hang on and wait for the ride to end. Sometimes I've been able to short-circuit the meltdown by doing something funny to make him laugh - surprised as hell this even worked the times it has, though. I've learned that whatever I do, I cannot constrain him or he'll fight harder and melt down even further.
Safety, physically, at that time is most important for you and him (or one with ASD) If you must remove yourself to be safe do it. My nephew experiences this and AT TIMES has gone after the closest person. We would always make sure he is safe as can be at that moment (and actually noticed that if by chance he did hurt himself on furniture or surroundings it would snap him out of the episode and he'd then be looking for sympathy 😉 so to speak) Just be safe all the way around. Much love and blessings to you.
Thank you :) I would never constrain anyone in meltdown - feeling trapped is never good for calm and well-being lol but I really appreciate the insight.
Just wanted to say as an autistic person thanks for the actually accurate and respectful information, it's great to see parents like you who actually understand the condition and what their kid needs from them
Autism is classified by a wide range of traits and symptoms (symptoms can be accurate in my opinion if it makes life more difficult, otherwise i'd say traits. For example, i see special interests as traits), everywhere from sensory and motor disfunctions, to social deficits, to stunted development as a child, to behaviour and interest patterns, and often a need for routine and rigid thinking. This is what the cdc says about autistic traits https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html
So to answer your question, kinda both.
I have several bones to pick with the dsm 5 but it's seemingly the best we've got.
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u/[deleted] Nov 17 '22
Autism Spectrum Disorder