In the journey of parenting, every parent hopes that their child can grow up healthy and happy. However, for families with children with autism, their path is often filled with more challenges and mysteries. The problem behaviors frequently displayed by autistic children often leave parents feeling confused and helpless. Today, let’s unveil the truth behind these behaviors and understand the often overlooked reasons behind them.
1. Misunderstandings and Frustrations Caused by Communication Barriers
One of the core obstacles for autistic children is the lack of social and communication skills. They struggle to accurately express their needs and emotions through verbal or non-verbal means, which often leads them to feel neglected and misunderstood. When this sense of frustration accumulates, it may manifest in the form of problem behaviors such as screaming, self-harm, or aggression towards others.
2. Excessive Sensory Sensitivity Reactions
Autistic children often exhibit a heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli such as sound, light, touch, which is different from that of typical individuals. This excessive sensitivity can make them extremely uncomfortable in everyday environments, triggering emotions like anxiety and irritability, and prompting problem behaviors as a coping mechanism. For instance, extreme aversion to a particular sound may lead a child to scream or engage in avoidance behavior.
3. Challenges of Rigid Behaviors and Habit Alterations
Autistic children often have fixed patterns of behavior and specific interests, finding comfort in repeating the same activities or following certain routines. When these habits are disrupted or changed, they may feel uneasy and confused, leading to problem behaviors. This situation is particularly common in daily life and educational settings, where changes in school curriculum or adjustments to family rules can act as triggers.
4. Insufficient Emotional Regulation Skills
Autistic children often struggle with emotional regulation. They may not be able to express and manage their feelings naturally like other children, instead resorting to extreme behaviors to release internal pressures and frustrations. This lack of emotional regulation makes them more prone to problem behaviors when facing setbacks or stress.
5. Lack of Family and Social Support
The growth of autistic children relies on the collective support of families and society. However, in reality, due to various reasons, many families may struggle to provide children with sufficient understanding and love, while society may hold biases and misunderstandings towards autistic children. This lack of support not only intensifies feelings of loneliness and helplessness in children but may also exacerbate their problem behaviors.
