What to do about an autistic student who is spitting?

Question

Positively we have tried social stories but he still does it occasionally. It seems to be linked to doing something he doesn't want to do- leave the playground or start a worksheet.

I have been advised to try using lots more positive rewards for when he doesn't spit and does comply with requests. I am able to do this but other staff members don't agree and have more punative ideas for the behavior (a mask). I would appreciate any ideas people have.

Answer 1

As well as what others have said, if he is deliberately spitting at you, one way of dealing with it is to get a book or something, and when you know he is going to start spitting pretend to read it. This has two effects- it ensures that spit doesn't go on your face (health hazard) and it stops him from getting a reaction off you- even a negative reaction can be very rewarding to an ASD student.

Answer 2

the mask idea is a great one because of the potential health hazard of the spit.  talk to the principal.

Answer 3

I believe a mask would be illegal!  Are you a special ed teacher?  What does his SE teacher suggest?  I am sure he has doctors and specialists who work with him and his family!  Just try and keep him far enough from other students so he doesn't spit on them! Like in the front row! I mask would be mean and counterproductive!!

Answer 4

,All behaviour is a form of communication.....yes even spitting! He will know that this is gaining your attention more than anything else. Even if you are the best actor he will still sense the stress that this is causing. They do have a sixth sense for this! Visuals, reinforcements all the usual strategies will help in some way. The only way of stopping it is FINDING the cause. There is something that is triggering this, it is usually fear and great anxiety....your job, and it can be a challenge, is to find out WHAT! Keeping detailed observations A.B.C s time of day, who was there, what they were wearing, clothes and perfume, what they were saying, noises in the room scraping of chairs, someones voice, what happened before school, what is happening after school........it can take a while but usually a pattern usually emerges pretty quickly. Good luck, it will all make sense soon ...because you want it to!

Answer 5

A mask?! What are you going to do, wrestle it on to him? That's just setting yourself up for a power struggle you cannot win (or will win at very great costs) Plus, he's getting exactly what he wants...while you are distracted from the masking, he's NOT doing a worksheet, he's NOT going into the building from recess. HE is winning the power struggle. Take that struggle away!

My daughter didn't like transitions. She hated coming in from recess because it was loud and messy and people were everywhere. So she had a visual schedule for while she was on the playground, an assistant would take her in a few minutes early, offering her a chance to be first at the water fountain and to get back to the room to settle in while still quiet.

She often disliked worksheets because the rules were stupid and because she never got to draw or write what SHE wanted. I mean, imagine if you were typing in an email and someone was over your shoulder saying "Now, you need to write about your great aunt Ruth, and don't forget to capitalize your proper nouns." After a while it would really hack you off, yes?

There have been other great suggestions, so I'll sum up. Call an IEP meeting to request a functional behavior assessment.  This should be done by someone who is experienced with autism and trained, not by a few teachers who are offended and have no special ed training. Even sped teachers aren't always trained in autistic behaviors and how to manage them. All IEP team members need to follow this, and anyone not on the team should NOT be dealing with the child, not allowed to reward or punish.

Keep up the good work. Positive reactions while ignoring negative behaviors (or not allowing them to work) Realize that there are DIFFERENT reasons for the spitting, and you'll have to address each circumstance and fix it, rather than just eliminating the behavior. Good luck!

Answer 6

Make him wear a clown's head like that burger king idiot on TV, spit all you want in it... Remember, if an adult were to spit on another adult it can be considered assult. Best break that habit now or start liking the idea of being arrested later.