For kids with disability as serious as autism, they face a range of hurdles besides experiencing strain and nervousness which do turn out to be a life-long concern. Kids with special needs who suffer from prolonged anxiousness experience the intensity as they age and which turns out to be a prominent behavioural pattern. When stress and anxiety hits, it often triggers a time-out paralysis that causes the mind to stop functioning for that period.
According to experts at special children schools, the younger ones tend to experience lot of strain and uneasiness at some point in time in their lives, which is what a few of us, as teachers, can relate to. I remember a friend suffering from similar concerns which began early on in life and this stayed to a point when the family had to seek medical assistance. From what I learnt last, the symptoms are under control but constant medical intervention is imperative to keep recurring effects at bay.
I knew someone suffering Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and hence, inherently suffered from spouts of anxiety. This is what I am personally sensitive to because as a teacher at a mentally retarded school, I am able to pick on signs, and further, identify the source. This helps me break it down with children in a way that their worries are kept at a low point.
As a teacher, I can naturally spot if something is likely to trigger anxiousness in an autistic child. Hence, to ensure that the problem does not alarmingly affect the child, it is essential to get a grip of what is causing this. If not tackled on time, this can further lead to development of habits such as refusing to do a task or not adhering to activities planned out for the day. At times, I find it difficult to spot students who are distressed as they find the knack to cover it up. This does not imply that the problem does not exist - it does. However, as a teacher, It is my duty to teach them ways to handle their feelings independently.