Not all autistic behaviors exhibited are bad behaviors, but some are inclined to be deemed as unacceptable behaviors. Most autistic children also seem to have compulsive disorders that range from extreme to mild. These behaviors, depending on the severity and compulsion, may require modifications.
Autistic Compulsive Hand Flapping
Keith has the compulsion to flap his hands and fling his arms around while doing so. It is apparent that Keith does this when he is put in a situation where he is in close proximity to other children, like in the lunch line at school. Although this is not an aggressive behavior, it is one that is brought on by stress. Therefore, it could lead to an aggravated situation, if he were not allowed to exert his anxiety through the hand flapping motion. On the other hand, this situation could be harmful to other students who inadvertently get in the way of Keith’s hands.
The modification for this particular autistic behavior, was to allow Keith to continue to flap his hands, but he had to keep his hands down by his side. In this instance, Keith was still able to deal with his anxiety in the situation, but the threat to students standing near-by, had been reduced. Although the compulsion to fling his arms around still existed, a gentle reminder was all that was needed to get him to put his arms down to his sides.
Autistic Obsessive Behavior
Claire was obsessed with video tapes. She carried a very large sports duffel bag, full of video tapes everywhere she went. Claire was very obsessive about the video tapes, if they were taken away, the results were severe. The fits of rage often led to banging her head on the floor or wall.
To modify this behavior, the bag was gradually scaled down. The reduction in the size of bag, was only accomplished through offering Claire something she really loved. In this case, it was ice-cream. Claire was told that she could take as many videos, as would fit in the smaller bag, even if it didn‘t zip. When she had the bag full, and could leave the others behind without getting upset, then she could go for ice-cream.
It took Claire almost a week before she accepted the modification that had been offered. Immediately upon her consent, she was taken for ice cream. With continually modifying the size of the bag, by the end of the year, Claire was down to one video tape carried in a small purse, and no other concessions had to be made.
Treating Behaviors Like Habits
Compulsive, obsessive, autistic behaviors, could be handled as if they were a habit. In most cases, when you are trying to break a bad habit, you replace the habit with one that isn’t considered to be as bad. After success has been reached through each down-grading, eventually you will come up with a modified behavior/habit, that is non-offensive, and socially acceptable.