All individuals engage in inappropriate behavior at various times but these behaviors should not reflect on the individual's worth. All individuals desire the opportunity to learn and grow. Like most people, individuals with ASD use learned behavior that serves a purpose for them. The difference occurs as the behavior creates disruptions deemed disruptive for either the person with ASD or those around the individual. Those with ASD may communicate their wants and needs through their behavior, and some of these behaviors are deemed socially inappropriate. This type of challenging behavior may severly affect the individuals daily functioning in the home or school setting.
Behavior:
Usually relates to antecedents or consequences in the immediate environment
Serves a purpose for the individual; Examples: Obtain attention, escape activity
May represent the easiest way for non-verbal students to communicate
Includes a set of similar behaviors that occur for different reasons
The question should be answered: “Why does he/she do that?” with regard to an individual's challenging behaviors.
What does the individual understand about the effect of the particular behavior?
All behaviors create some reaction.
Individuals with ASD have varying levels of understandig of the reasons particular consequences occur.
Individuals with ASD may need lots of practice before they can understand the relationship between the behavior and a particular consequence.
In different environments, the individual may need increased opportunities to generalize the new and desired behaviors.
What is the purpose of the behavior? The following is an excerpt from an interview with a Speech Pathologist:
Reactions
Desire for something
Attempt to block out something
Spontaneous event
A habit
Influences on behavior
Current physiological condition
Prior learning history
Environment
Personal belief systems
Behavioral deficits: inability to display adequate essential behaviors such as talking, dressing, reading, complying, and playing.
Common behavior deficits:
An inability to relate (ex. cannot easily connect to others)
Lack of functional language (ex. not being able to find the right word)
Sensory processing deficits
Behavioral excesses: behaviors happen too often
Common behavior excess
Self-stimulation
Resistance to change
Bizarre and challenging behavior
The effects of extreme behavior
Interferes with learning
Reduces the likelihood that the child will be able to participate in mainstream environment, and increases the likelihood that the student will need a more restrictive instructional arrangement
Reduces the likelihood that the child will be able to participate in community-based instructional activities
Increases the likelihood that parents may be forced to seek placement outside the home for their child with ASD, particularly as he gets older
