From Strugglingteens.com Essays UnplugTips For Parents To Help Students With Autism Get Off Electronics by Elizabeth Roberts, PsyD Director of Clinical Support Services The College Internship Program swilliams@cipworldwide.org www.cipworldwide.org The problem Spending excessive time with electronic technology can be an issue for all students - with or without autism. But individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at particularly high risk for two big quagmires--spending too much time on video games and other electronic technology and being unable to disengage. Both generate a cascade of negative consequences including increased social isolation and family conflict and decreased opportunities to socialize and practice social skills. Academics, hygiene, and physical health can also deteriorate. A perfect storm In individuals with ASD, many powerful reasons converge to make a perfect storm. Perseveration, inflexibility, and cognitive rigidity are hallmark features of ASD. Video games and other media are intensely rewarding. They allow users to self-soothe and self-regulate, boost self-esteem with welcome experiences of competency, and place little demand on (weak) social skills. The fast pace and intensely stimulating nature of video games appeal to individuals with ASD who also have attention deficits. These factors set the stage for compulsive use and overuse. The family suffers Parents try lecturing and logic, begging and pleading, threats and guilt. They feel angry, confused and inadequate in these face of these spiraling, no-win scenarios. They are bewildered by the tantrums, tears, defiance, and near panic, they see in their son or daughter. Family relationships are undermined by the increased strife and reduced social opportunities, which affect the entire family. What to do? First, adjust your beliefs
Help your son or daughter choose 1-3 items from the list
Pair natural incentives with chosen leisure activities
And here's the punchline: Flip the status quo. Parents should take ownership of the electronics both literally and with the use of parent control systems. Explain to your child or teen that he/she will earn controlled access by participating in the new, chosen activities. For example, if your son or daughter agrees to try swimming twice a week, then he/she earns access to preferred electronics X number of minutes per week. Finalize the deal, but keep the upper hand. Do you need some help? Many parents easily set up a behavioral program on their own. Some parents seek out the support of a behaviorally oriented psychologist or other mental health professional if they're not sure they can do it on their own. Wrapping up Tired of arguing? Have you noticed it doesn't work? Positive, reward-based approaches that systematically enhance another's motivation to establish new habits and behaviors are easier, more effective and a lot more fun. This approach and can work for anyone you'd like to help-- typically developing students or otherwise. Give it a try. Links: Parental controls over electronic technology Nintendo Game Systems: Wii, Nintendo DS X-Box 360 Playstation Game Systems: Playstation, Vita Apple Products: iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch Bibliography MacMullin, JA, Lunsky, Y, Weiss, JA (2016) Plugged in: Electronics use in youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Autism vol. 20(1) 45-54. © Copyright 2012 by Woodbury Reports, Inc. |