Are Tantrums a Sign of Autism?

All children throw tantrums sooner or later. They're the perfect outlet for all that frustration a child feels about not being able to communicate what she wants--or just because the world is so big, complex and confusing when you're that young. But sometimes that tantrum isn't just a tantrum. Sometimes a tantrum--or a repeated number of tantrums--can be a sign of autism.

Length

• Normally, a child with autism will throw longer tantrums that may last well over an hour.

Intensity

• The intensity of the tantrum will be greater than that of a non-autistic child. The autistic child may even not notice you when you're trying to calm her down, and she very likely will not pay any attention to most common calming techniques.

Age

• There is no age limit on tantrums in autistic children. Instead of ending as the child ages, they may even become worse, especially during puberty.

Differences

• The differences to look for include the length and intensity of the tantrums, as well as their frequency and self-injurious behaviors that may be included.

Causes

• The most common reasons autistic children throw tantrums are communication issues, sensory issues or just simple over-stimulation.

Solutions

• The three best ways to help calm an autistic child having a tantrum are removing the child from the environment (if the environment is causing the problem), deep pressure (hugging, holding) and rocking or other movement.