Behavior Characteristics of Individuals With Asd

Running head: BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS 1
Behavior Characteristics of Individuals With ASD
Yadira Adame-Lopez
Brandman University: EDUU-575
March 27, 2020

BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS 2
Behavior Characteristics of Individuals With ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts 1 in 54
individuals, and 4.3 prevalence among boys as compare to girls (Maenner, Shaw, Baio, et al.
2020). Based on recent studies there is an increase in children diagnosed with ASD. This disorder
affects social communication, speech/language and behavior abilities of the individual. A global
characteristic that exists among individuals with ASD in regards to behavior is restrictive
repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities (Pratt, Hopf, & Larriba-
Quest, 2017). Learning and understanding how these behaviors look can help parents, health
professionals, service providers, and educators identify if a child might have ASD.
First, children with ASD display repetitive movements like hand flapping, rocking back
and forth, hand wringing, flicking fingers in front of eyes, and pacing. Some students will use
objects/toys to spin or line them up. Many typical children can exhibit repetitive movements but
children on the spectrum will do it over and over. According to Sarris the repetitive movements
are unusual and they appear to be non-functional (Sarris, 2013). Some individuals with
functioning ASD will have self-injurious behaviours (SIB). The physical harm can be head
banging, self-biting, self-cutting, self-choking, self-scratching, and hair pulling (Minshawi, et al.
2014). Students with lower functioning autism are at greater risk of developing more severe SIB
(Gulsrud et al., 2018).
Secondly, students with ASD have a need for sameness/routines in their daily schedule.
The student will have unnecessary adherence to routines such as eating their lunch in the same
order, or going to the restroom before recess. Children might have a need for sameness such as
playing the same game/toy every day. It can be challenging for educators working with students
on the spectrum to implement changes in the classroom because students with ASD dislike
changes in their routines. These changes can create behavior challenges for some students.
Another behavior characteristic of ASD is focused of interests. Most people have a
special interest, the difference with ASD individuals is that their interests are high restricted and
fixated with an abnormal intensity and focus (Pratt, Hopf, & Larriba-Quest, 2017). Children can
spend hours talking repeatedly about certain topics or memorizing facts about their topic of
interest. Some common topics that students may develop an interest in are schedules, a particular
video game, trains, maps, and dinosaurs.
Lastly, there are sensory issues, which are responses that an individual can have to
different sensory inputs. Sensory inputs can be visual, auditory, tactile, and taste/smell. Some
students can be very sensitive to sensory experiences and that is known as hypersensitivity
(Steinbrenner, et al. 2019). Examples of things that can trigger an overreaction are fluorescent
lights, loud noises, soft humming noises, smells and food textures. Others may be less sensitive
to sensory experiences and that is hyposensitivity. Students with hyposensitivity will have
difficulty focusing to people talking to them. They would not notice if they get hurt because they
have high tolerance to pain. Others will not be impacted by sensory experiences in weather.
There are many behavior characteristics that can be seen in individuals with ASD.
Knowing these characteristics can assist families, service providers, and educators in identifying
children with ASD. Learning some of the common causes for behaviors can help to identify why
the individual is exhibiting the behavior and providing intervention. Early intervention can help
individuals to modify, replace, or get rid of restrictive repetitive and stereotyped patterns of
behavior, interests, and activities. Which can help students be more successful in academics and
social interactions.
References
Gulsrud, A., Lin, C. E., Park, M. N., Hellemann, G., & McCracken, J. (2018). Self‐injurious
behaviours in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Journal of
Intellectual Disability Research, 62(12), 1030–1042. https://doi-
org.libproxy.chapman.edu/10.1111/jir.12490
Maenner, M.J., Shaw, K.A., Baio, J., et al. (2020). Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism
Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental
Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2016. MMWR- Surveill Summ
2020, 69, 1-12. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6904a1
Pratt, C., Hopf, R., & Larriba-Quest, K. (2017). Characteristics of individuals with an autism
spectrum disorder (ASD). The Reporter, 21(17). Retrieved
from https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/articles/characteristics-of-individuals-with-an-asd
Sarris, M. (2013). Behaviors that Puzzle: Repetitive Motions and Obsessive Interests in Autism.
Retrieved March 27, 2020, from
https://iancommunity.org/cs/challenging_behaviors/repetitive_motions_and_obsessions
Steinbrenner, J., Sam, A., Chin, J., Morgan, W., & AFIRM for Paras Team. (2019). Introduction
to ASD. FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina. Retrieved
from https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/introduction-asd
Minshawi, N., Hurwitz, S., Fodstad, J., et al. (2014). The ssociation between self-injurious
behaviors and autism spectrum disorders. Psychology Research and Behavior
Management, 7,125-136. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S44635

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What are some repetitive behaviors seen in individuals with ASD?

What are some repetitive behaviors seen in individuals with ASD?

What are some characteristics related to routines and interests seen in individuals with ASD?

What are some characteristics related to routines and interests seen in individuals with ASD?

Running head: BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS 1

Behavior Characteristics of Individuals With ASD

Brandman University: EDUU-575

March 27, 2020

Behavior Characteristics of Individuals With ASD

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts 1 in 54

(Gulsrud et al., 2018).

Another behavior characteristic of ASD is focused of interests. Most people have a

video game, trains, maps, and dinosaurs.

behaviours in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Journal of

Intellectual Disability Research, 62(12), 1030–1042. https://doi-

Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental

2020, 69, 1-12. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6904a1

spectrum disorder (ASD). The Reporter, 21(17). Retrieved

Retrieved March 27, 2020, from

to ASD. FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina. Retrieved

behaviors and autism spectrum disorders. Psychology Research and Behavior

Management, 7,125-136. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S44635

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