Dr. Robin Friedlander, MD, FRCPC, Child Psychiatrist, Vancouver

discusses causes and Diagnosis of Behavioural problems Autism

Autism and Behaviour

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental difference that can affect communication, social interaction, sensory processing, flexibility, and behaviour. Behaviour in autistic people is often best understood as communication or a response to the environment, rather than simply as “good” or “bad” behaviour.

Common behavioural patterns can include:

Repetitive behaviours: hand-flapping, rocking, pacing, repeating words, or arranging objects.
Meltdowns: intense reactions that may occur when someone is overwhelmed by sensory input, demands, frustration, or changes in routine.
Shutdowns: becoming quiet, withdrawn, unresponsive, or unable to communicate when overwhelmed.
Difficulty with changes: distress when routines, expectations, or familiar environments change unexpectedly.
Sensory-related behaviours: covering ears, avoiding certain textures, seeking movement or pressure, or becoming distressed by lights, sounds, smells, or touch.
Communication-related behaviours: challenging behaviour may occur when a person cannot express pain, discomfort, needs, emotions, or wants effectively.
Restricted or highly focused interests: spending significant amounts of time engaged with particular topics or activities.

Dr. Robin Friedlander, MD, FRCPC, Child Psychiatrist, Vancouver

discusses Autism Diagnosis and Early Treatment

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition. It can affect communication, sensory processing, social interaction, routines, and how someone responds to their environment.
Behaviour is often a form of communication. Behaviours such as withdrawal, aggression, repetitive movements, refusal, or emotional outbursts may occur when someone is overwhelmed, unable to communicate a need, experiencing sensory discomfort, or dealing with a change in routine.
Mental health refers to conditions such as anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma-related difficulties, or eating disorders. Autistic people can experience these conditions, sometimes at higher rates than non-autistic people.
Behavioural changes can be a sign of distress. A sudden change in behaviour should not automatically be considered “bad behaviour”; it can be useful to look for pain, sleep problems, sensory overload, communication difficulties, medication effects, bullying, environmental changes, anxiety, or other sources of distress.
Support is usually most effective when it addresses the underlying need, rather than simply trying to suppress the behaviour. This might involve predictable routines, sensory accommodations, communication supports, emotional-regulation strategies, and appropriate mental-health care.

Dr. Robin Friedlander, MD, FRCPC, Child Psychiatrist, Vancouver

discusses causes and diagnosis of Autism Diagnosis and Early Treatment

Dr. Robin Friedlander, MD, FRCPC, Child Psychiatrist, Vancouver

discusses causes and diagnosis of Helping Children With Autism Improve Social Interaction Skills

Dr. Robin Friedlander, MD, FRCPC, Child Psychiatrist, Vancouver

discusses causes and diagnosis of Sleep Disorders and Autism

Dr. Robin Friedlander, MD, FRCPC, Child Psychiatrist, Vancouver

discusses causes and diagnosis of Treatment for Sleep Disorders with Autism

Understanding behaviour

A useful approach is to ask:

What happened before the behaviour? → What did the person do? → What happened afterward?

For example, if a child repeatedly leaves a noisy classroom, the behaviour may be an attempt to escape overwhelming noise rather than deliberate disobedience.

Helpful strategies can include:

Using clear, predictable language.
Providing visual schedules or advance warnings about changes.
Identifying and reducing sensory triggers where possible.
Teaching alternative ways to communicate needs.
Allowing appropriate breaks and recovery time.
Reinforcing desired behaviours rather than relying primarily on punishment.
Looking for possible causes such as anxiety, pain, fatigue, hunger, communication difficulties, or sensory overload.

Dr. Robin Friedlander, MD, FRCPC, Child Psychiatrist, Vancouver

discusses causes and diagnosis of What is Autism?

Common nutrition considerations include:

Selective eating: Focus on gradually expanding foods while keeping familiar “safe” foods available.
Protein and calories: Include foods such as eggs, yogurt, cheese, beans, tofu, meat, fish, or nut/seed butters when tolerated.
Fruits and vegetables: Offer different colors, textures, and preparations without forcing them.
Fiber and fluids: Helpful for constipation, which can be common.
Iron, vitamin D, calcium, B12, and other nutrients: Restricted diets can increase the risk of deficiencies, so supplementation is best based on dietary assessment or medical testing.
Sensory needs: Temperature, smell, texture, appearance, and predictability can strongly affect food acceptance.
Gluten-free/casein-free diets: Evidence does not support routinely using these to improve core autism characteristics, and unnecessary restriction can make nutritional adequacy harder.