Anxious about changes
Behaviour
Your client is anxious about changes no matter how important.
A person may be unusually anxious about even small changes to their routine or their environments. This could be large disruptions such as moving to a new environment but sometimes even small changes to schedule or routine can be very stressful.
This anxiety may manifest in small ways such as constant questioning, gestures or "self-soothing" behaviour. In more severe cases, it could lead to panic attacks or unpredictably violent behaviour.
People with autism rely on a stable, structured environment. They spend a lot of time learning the rules of their environment and will be very stressed out when you change it.
Difficulty
Your client may have problems with reading notes, sequencing, understanding time or following instructions.
People with autism rely on a stable, structured environment. They have to learn the rules explicitly and changes cause significant stress.
Related difficulties
Strategies
Other strategies include:
- Maintain predictable routine