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![]() This approach is sometimes appropriate and even necessary. ![]() ![]() Many parents go to great pains to protect their children by avoiding agitating situations. This can help you determine what’s triggering his fears. Because your son may have difficulty communicating, it’s important to observe his behavior for these signs of distress. Other signs of extreme distress can include yelling, crying, clinging and general agitation. He might become fearful of birthday parties after being frightened by a balloon that popped unexpectedly. Instead, he may show his fear with extreme avoidance of a situation.įor example, he might refuse to go to school after a fire drill. Perhaps – like many individuals with autism – your son also has difficulty telling you what’s scaring him. It’s common for children with ASD and anxiety to become extremely frightened in response to sensory stimuli. Many occupational therapists who specialize in autism receive special training in this area. If this is the case, and if your son’s fears are exclusively triggered by sensory stimuli, then his symptoms may be best addressed by a sensory-focused intervention. ![]() I recommend that you begin by consulting an occupational therapist who can assess whether your son’s extreme sensitivities to noises are part of a broader sensory processing disorder. You describe a number of fears that may be related to sensory sensitivities. Cognitive-behavioral approaches are well-established, evidenced-based treatments that have become the gold standard of psychosocial treatments for anxiety. My own research and that of my colleagues has demonstrated the helpfulness of modifying cognitive-behavioral approaches to address the special needs of those who have autism. These approaches include cognitive behavior therapy, or CBT. Often, these individuals are helped by the same or similar strategies that work well in treating anxiety in the general population. These can range from a debilitating fear of, say, spiders or the dark to chronic anxiety about making mistakes or being late.įortunately, recent research suggests that anxiety in children and adults who have autism is quite treatable. They can interfere with functioning across home, community and school settings.Īlthough your son’s reaction sounds more severe than most, many people with autism struggle with a range of fears, phobias and worries. Anxiety symptoms and reactions are very common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It certainly sounds like your family is experiencing a very difficult situation. Reaven’s conducted research on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in adolescents with autism, with the support of an Autism Speaks research grant.Įditor’s note: The following information is not meant to diagnose or treat and should not take the place of personal consultation, as appropriate, with a qualified healthcare professional and/or behavioral therapist. This week’s “Got Questions?” answer is by Judy Reaven, a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado, in Denver. Dr.
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