Expert: James Michael Roan - 2/11/2006

Question
We have a beautiful 5 Year old son named Christian who was diagnosed with Autism at 3 1/2 years old and most recently diagnosed with ADHD (we are trying Ritalin right now).

Christian often gets consumed with obsessive thoughts and play with unusual items such as straws, vaccum cleaners, fans and sponges.

Right now, it's straws, he carries it around all day long, flicks it against his hand and then chews on it in his mouth. He then will request a new straw, over and over again.

We are trying to limit his time with these objects but it's becoming such a huge part of his focus and attention.
How can we help Christian to stop having these obessions?  

Answer
Hi Renee;

What appear to be obsessions are part of of the autistic profile. Your son may or may not have ADHD; what often appears as an inability to focus is actually something quite different. Children on the autism spectrum are "monotropic" meaning they actually hyperfocus on certain objects or activities to the exclusion of all else. Adults with autism, such as Temple Grandin, are often able to discuss the phenomena quite clearly. The other difficulty is that individuals with autism also struggle significantly with identifying what are the important stimuli in the environment, They focus on what interests them rather than what "should" interest them.  

Remember, never seek to eliminate a behavior without planning for a replacement behavior that meets the individuals needs and at the same time is more functional and socially acceptable. The task that lies before you is too complex for this forum, but is easy once you understand the behavioral principles.

Try and Google: ("replacing nonfunctional behaviors" autism)

Kind Regards,
James