5 Ways to Calm an Angry Child with Autism

By Leo Christie, PhD

angry childOnce considered a relatively low-prevalence condition, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is currently one of the most common forms of developmental disability, dramatically emerging over the past 25 years as a primary diagnostic condition. Prevalence estimates have increased tremendously over the last two decades, from a median prevalence estimate of about 13 per 10,000 in the years between 1987 and 2004 all the way up to 200 per 10,000 in 2012. Such exponential increases have – of course – sparked heated discussions about whether we are experiencing an “epidemic” of ASD.

Among the complicating conditions that frequently accompany ASD are sensory problems that can lead to faulty information processing and further behavioral difficulties.

Colin Rhodes @ LifeHack shared the following tips for parents to manage behavioral problems:

  1. Change who’s in control by “entering and blending”
  2. Change the stimulation level
  3. Change the conversation
  4. Change mood through exercise
  5. Change the scene


For full descriptions, see http://www.lifehack.org/368575/five-techniques-calm-angry-child-with-autism-spectrum-disorder?mid=20160223&ref=mail&uid=64587&feq=daily.

Related Online Continuing Education (CE) Courses:

Autism: The New Spectrum of Diagnostics, Treatment & Nutrition is a 4-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that describes DSM-5 diagnostic changes, assessment, intervention models, dietary modifications, nutrition considerations and other theoretical interventions.

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence-Based Screening and Assessment is a 3-hour online CEU course that identifies DSM-5 diagnostic changes in the ASD diagnostic criteria, summarizes the empirically-based screening and assessment methodology in ASD and describes a comprehensive developmental approach for assessing students with ASD.

Autism Movement Therapy is a 2-hour video continuing education (CE/CEU) course that teaches professionals how to combine movement and music with positive behavior support strategies to assist individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Professional Development Resources is approved to offer continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; and by the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners.