Abstract
Answer C. Challenging behaviours are often the result of poor or inappropriate support
The term ‘challenging behaviour’ is used to describe a constellation of behaviours that frequently occur in people with developmental disorders including autism. These behaviours include:
Self-injury Severe levels of habitual behaviours such as rocking or head banging Aggression towards others Destruction of property and verbal aggression
In the past, it was considered that challenging behaviours were a ‘part of autism’ by many professionals and that nothing could alter such behaviour. However, it is now clear that challenging behaviours are often the result of poor or inappropriate support. They may also occur as a result of underlying medical issues, such as pain and anxiety, that have not been recognised and/or appropriately managed.
InnovAiT article: Autism in adults. DOI: