Another characteristic of autism is that children
affected by this disorder will become fixated on certain
repeated activities or behaviors, getting "stuck" on a
particular object or activity. Autistic children also have
difficulty adjusting to a change in routine. Because autism
affects the way a child's brain processes sensory input,
their fixation on repeated activities interferes with
imaginative play.
Physical Manifestations of Obsessive Behavior
Repeated motions, called stereotypies or
self-stimulation, set children with autism apart from other
children. Some children with autism may spend hours
flapping their arms or flicking their fingers, or rocking
back and forth. Some may suddenly freeze in one position,
while others repeat certain actions over and over - turning
lights on and off, or touching or arranging a set of
objects over and over.
Still other children may become fixated on specific
objects, developing a fascination with particular objects
and amassing collections of things such as rocks or bottle
tops.
A demand for consistency in the environment is another
manifestation of autism. Autistic children may, for
instance, insist on eating the same foods at the same
times, sitting at the same spot at the table, over and
over. A minor change in routine or in placement of a
familiar object can be very upsetting for autistic
children.
Pretend or imaginative play is an important
developmental stage, and most children use their
imaginations to pretend to feed a doll or to take on the
role of someone else. Autistic children rarely engage in
this make-believe play. Instead of pushing around a toy
car, for instance, they may instead hold it and spin the
wheels for hours.
Explanations for These Behaviors
Although great strides have been made in autism
research, there are not yet concrete explanations for these
behaviors. Researchers theorize that perhaps the sameness
and order that obsessive behaviors bring foster some
stability in a world of otherwise confusing sensory
stimulations. Autism seems to cause an imbalance in the
senses: if a child cannot process his environment through
his senses, the world is a confusing place. Routine, then,
is comforting.
Focused behaviors may help block out painful stimuli, or
perhaps these behaviors are linked to senses that work
either well or poorly. The child who smells everything, for
instance, may be using his stable sense of smell to
explore, or perhaps he is trying to stimulate and
strengthen a weak sense of smell.
One of Many Symptoms
Obsessive or repetitive behavior is but one of many
signs of autism and autism spectrum disorders. If you
suspect that your child's behavior is indicative of autism,
voice your concerns with your pediatrician, who can assist
you in further diagnosis and treatment of this
disorder.