Therefore, a change in routine can be enough to tip the scales in sensory input and cause meltdown. An autistic person’s brain is already in hyperdrive when senses come in. A kind stranger approached the child and gave gentle, simple commands to help calm the child as well as provide sensitivity and respect.Ī meltdown is scary and lonely. The inputs from the airport barraged the senses with sounds, smells, sights… and the brain was already in overdrive in trying to filter out all of those senses so the child could function. The delay broke the routine and expectation and caused stress to the child, who already felt stress from being in a different situation. There was a tale of a child struggling at an airport because of a flight delay. You may have read or heard about children with autism having meltdowns and kind strangers responding with appropriate support. Since you have experience with autism, you can offer help to that person in distress. Meltdowns can look like any of these actions: withdrawal (where the person zones out, stares into space, and/or has body parts do repetitive movements) or outward distress (crying uncontrollably, screaming, stomping, curling up into a ball, growling, etc.). However, a meltdown can look quite different in another person. You may be very used to meltdowns that your child or adult child (or friend, or coworker) may have. Especially when the cause of the meltdown is unknown. Like a seizure, it can happen out of nowhere, and it can be very frightening and traumatic for the autistic person (as well as others around them).

However, there comes a point where none of these suggestions is helpful, and a meltdown still occurs. Trainers will teach the need for scheduling and routine. Speakers will express the process of transition.

Articles will explain why we cannot handle change. There are many sources out there that will tell you why we do what we do. For many with autism, the unknown can trigger a loss of control. One of the biggest fears a person can have is loss of control of self.

Autism calming sensory meltdown remedy