Abstract
Anxiety may be common for children with ASD and can present in typical and atypical ways. Atypical presentations may be sensitivity to unusual sensory stimuli or changes in routine. Anxiety may be represented in increased stereotypies for children and adolescents with ASD. If anxiety is related to self-injury, then interventions to reduce anxiety and stop self-injurious behavior should occur simultaneously. Reducing the power of triggers, such as changes in routine or uncertainty in social situations, through visual cue cards and warnings, may help reduce anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions have been effective as a treatment approach. Social skills training also has been successful in reducing anxiety. A significant amount of the research has occurred with high functioning youth, and more research with children and adolescents with lower cognitive functioning is needed.
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Nabors, L. (2020). Autism Spectrum Disorder and Anxiety in Children. In: Anxiety Management in Children with Mental and Physical Health Problems. Springer Series on Child and Family Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35606-4_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35606-4_5
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