One reason is that individuals with autism may not receive enough sensory input, and pinching provides a way to regulate their sensory input. Pinching can also be a way of expressing emotions or seeking attention. Pinching behavior can also be a sign of anxiety or stress.
Explain what he needs to do to get it. For example, “If you want to play video games, use nice hands. No pinching.” Catch him being good as often as you can by praising his “nice play.” Frequently remind him of his reward for good behavior.
Communication Difficulties: People with autism may have difficulty expressing their needs and emotions verbally. Pinching may be a way to communicate discomfort, frustration, or pain. Attention-Seeking: People with autism may engage in pinching behavior to get attention or to elicit a response from others.
Many things can trigger aggressive behaviors like hitting, scratching, and biting, but these are some of the most common in children with autism: Feeling very anxious or stressed. Trying to communicate. Being in physical pain.
Summary. Children with autism may resort to hitting or or acting aggressively as a nonverbal method of communication that something is not right in their environment. Signs of aggression can be displayed by a child on any part of the autism spectrum, including both verbal and nonverbal, for a variety of reasons.
Toddlers might bite, pinch or pull hair because they're excited, angry, upset or hurt. Sometimes they behave this way because they don't have words to express these feelings. Or they might do it as a way of getting your attention.
Aggression, such as hitting, biting, scratching, hair-pulling, or kicking another person, is relatively common in children on the autism spectrum. A study of children and teenagers with autism found that 68 percent had been aggressive to a caregiver, and 49 percent had been aggressive to someone else, at some point.
However, they look up to the mother or caregiver for social referencing and hover around or cling to the caregiver. Children with an ASD are not vigilant and do not look up to the caregiver for social referencing. They may not cling to the caregiver, although go up to them for succor.
Individuals with autism can also have an aversion to touch. Touch can cause a lack of emotional response or may even cause emotional stress and turmoil.
Some autistic people can experience difficulties making themselves understood, understanding what's being said to them, and understanding facial expressions and body language. This can cause considerable frustration and anxiety which may result in anger or distressed behaviour.
Put on the brakes
With kids younger than 1, simply and gently stop the offending behavior. If your baby pinches you, you can physically remove their hand. If your baby is biting you, and they don't have teeth, place two fingers in their mouth, separate their jaws, and pull them away. At the same time, say firmly, "No.
Stay slightly distanced and say, “Pinching is not allowed, use nice hands.” Then turn away or move to a different room. Alternatively, you can also remove your child from the room to take a short break from friends. Find some articles on disciplining your child the healthy way: Unicef.
For some autistic individuals, deep pressure can be calming. It can help the person balance their proprioceptive sense – this is the sense that helps a person work out where they are in space. It can be applied in two ways: Through touching someone by hugging or squeezing them.
Overall, stimming serves an important function for your autistic child. As long as it is not harmful and not causing problems socially or inhibiting learning at school or home, you don't need to do anything. You don't necessarily need to encourage it because your child will do it anyway for the reasons mentioned above.
Children with ASD often need a hug, just like other children. Sometimes they need this much more than other children. But some children don't like to be touched. Respect their personal space.
Love and affection may be felt but expressed differently
They may show love, for example, through a practical act, and tidy up for you, or iron your shirt, rather than through a more neurotypical way of looking at you and telling you or using physical affection.
Children with autism prefer their mothers to strangers and attempt to remain close to them as much as other children. However they do not engage in attention sharing behaviors such as pointing or showing objects. They also do not seem to recognize the meaning of facial expressions and emotions.
Studies have shown that more than 50% of mothers report a decreased ability to enjoy life as they face the challenges associated with raising a child with ASD. In fact, a low level of social support has been identified as the most powerful predictor of depression and anxiety in the mothers (Boyd, 2002).
Autism symptoms do not necessarily get worse at puberty, but the challenges that come with this period of development can exacerbate existing symptoms.
The only medications approved by the FDA for children with autism are Abilify and Risperdal. Both are antipsychotic medications that can help with irritability and aggression. Medication can also be helpful for kids who also have another diagnosis.
In short, many autistics, especially as children and younger adults, sometimes do (or say) things that are considered inappropriate, if not downright offensive, simply because they are unaware of how objectionable such things are to most people.
It is very typical for a child who is 2 or 3 years old to start hitting or biting to express frustration or to get something they want. Toddlers have more motor control than infants, but don't yet have a lot of language to communicate what they need or want. Frustration is normal and to be expected.