1. The Basics of Autism
Spectrum Disorders
Training Series
Regional Autism Advisory Council of
Southwest Ohio (RAAC-SWO)
Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Task Force

2. Adult Training Series
Modules
Module One: Autism Defined, Autism Prevalence
and Primary Characteristics
Module Two: Physical Characteristics of Autism
Module Three: Cognition and Learning in Autism
Module Four: Autism and Sensory Differences
y
Module Five: Communication and Autism

3. Adult Training Series
Modules
Module
M dul Six: Behavior Challenges and Autism
B h i Ch ll n s nd
Module Seven: Understanding Behavior in Persons
with Autism
Module Eight: Functional Behavior Assessment
Module Nine: Autism and Leisure Skills to Teach
Module Ten: Special Issues of Adolescence and
Adulthood
Ad l h d
Module Eleven: Safety and Autism

4. The next few slides will
introduce some of the
physical challenges of people
with ASD
ith

5. Pain Differences
Even if the person can talk, they may not be able to
tell you when they are sick or in pain.
y y p
The person may not seem to notice cuts or bruises or
other injuries.
j
The person may seem to be only slightly
uncomfortable even with major injuries.
j j
The person may seem slightly ill even with a serious
illness.

6. Possible Signs of Pain
The
Th person may have new behaviors that are
h b h i h
different or unusual:
They may be quieter than usual or may be very
still.
They may try to hurt or hit themselves.
They may try to hurt someone else.

7. Big Idea
If a person with ASD acts as if they
don t
don't feel well pay very close
well,
attention. Any sudden, dramatic
change in behavior should be
considered a possible sign of pain or
illness.
illness

8. Stomach or Digestion Problems
St h Di ti P bl
It is believed that up to 70% of all people with ASD
have some type of stomach or digestion problems.
Some people may have reflux or heartburn.
Some people may have problems with constipation.
Some people may have problems with frequent
diarrhea.

9. Stomach or Digestion Problems
St h Di ti P bl
If the person has stomach or digestion problems
they may have behaviors because they are
uncomfortable.
They may not be able to tell you when their
stomach hurts.
- Sometimes the way to tell that the person has
stomach pain is if they are bent over or have
difficulty standing up straight when they are
walking.

10. Eating Problems
Some people with ASD are very picky eaters.
l i hA D i k
Some reasons for being picky are:
because they don’t l k the way the food feels in
b h d ’ like h h f df l
their mouth.
because the smell of the f
m f food m y bother them.
may m
because they don’t like the sound the food makes
when they chew it.
because they have reflux and that makes them not
want to eat.

11. Eating Problems Continued
Some people with ASD seem to be always hungry.
w th
They may seem to be hungry because they don’t
feel full even if they have eaten a lot of food.
Some people may be hungry because of a
medicine they are taking.
Some people eat because they d ’ h
l b h don’t have a lot
l
of other things to do with their time.

12. Eating Problems Continued
Some people eat things that are not food. This is
p p g
called pica.
ll d
This is a very dangerous behavior.
The things they eat are things that we might
think would taste awful.
We don’t understand why they eat these
things.
things
Usually an expert is needed to work on this
behavior.
We
W need to watch the person carefully to
d h h f ll
keep them from eating these items.

13. Sleep Problems
Some people with autism h
S l ith ti have a h d ti
hard time sleeping.
l i
Some have a hard time falling asleep.
Some wake up during the n ght.
dur ng night.
Some have severe sleep apnea that causes them
to have a hard time breathing.

14. Sleep Problems Continued
If they are awake at night, they may wander around.
night around
This can be dangerous.
If they do not sleep at night, they may fall asleep
n ght,
during the day.
They may be grouchy during the day because they
are tired
tired.

15. Ideas to Help with Sleep Problems
Be sure to have a regular bedtime routine
routine.
Make sure that activities before bedtime are
calming activities
activities.
Report sleep problems to their doctor
because it may be a sign of illness
illness.
Sleep environment may affect the way they
sleep (i n is li ht t mp
sl p (i.e. noise, light, temperature, bed
t b d
clothing, etc.)

16. Seizures
Some people with ASD have seizures
seizures.
Some people with ASD may not develop seizures
until they are teenagers or adults
adults.
If a person has seizures and is on medicine to
stop seizures, it is important that they always
seizures
take their medication.
If a seizure lasts for more five minutes you need
to call 911.