Wandering Behavior and Autism | Preventive Strategies

Wandering is a common behavior among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), referring to a child leaving a safe place—such as the home—without the parents' knowledge, exposing them to danger. Wandering in children with autism spectrum disorder is terrifying and frightening for parents and families because elopement behavior is linked to drowning, which is one of the most common causes of death among those with autism spectrum disorder. You may have heard stories of children with autism spectrum disorder wandering in recent times, yet there is no systematic information on the prevalence of this disorder in this part of the world. The first major study on wandering behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder was the one published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. More than 600 mothers and fathers of children with autism participated in the study.

The results of this study showed that 49% of parents reported that their children had attempted to wander at least once after the age of 4, and that this wandering behavior increases at the age of five and is directly correlated with the severity of autism symptoms. In addition, 26% of parents reported that their children were lost for a long time, causing them anxiety. The most common locations children wandered from were the home, stores, and the classroom or school room.

It is clear that wandering is a common behavior, but what drives some children with autism to wander? Most often, this behavior occurs for a specific goal, as half of families reported that their children intended to go to an interesting place, while at other times individuals with autism spectrum disorder may wander or elope to avoid an anxiety-provoking situation. Other reports also indicated that more than half of the children who wandered were joyful and happy, while 20% were anxious or sad.

Due to the severity and prevalence of wandering behavior, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized wandering as a separate medical diagnosis in 2011. This recognition may help insurance companies cover the costs of safety equipment, such as tracking devices, locks, and alarms, in addition to addressing this behavior in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). Also, this recognition contains an explicit urge for specialists to engage in dialogue with families and provide the necessary measures to reduce wandering behavior.

Although wandering behavior is concerning and frightening for families and dangerous for children with autism spectrum disorder, there are steps that can be taken to reduce this behavior.

1. Understand the reason. Why is your child trying to wander or run away? Perhaps they are trying to reach a specific place or they enjoy exploring. Understanding these reasons may prevent wandering behavior from occurring and give you the opportunity to allow your child to engage in activities they enjoy in a safe place.
2. Use safety and tracking devices. If your child has a phone, there are many apps such as "Find My iPhone" that allow you to know their location at any time. There are also a number of tracking devices designed for children. In addition, you can install an alarm system at home that alerts you whenever a door or window is opened.
3. Safety measures. Use pictures, stories, or whatever method your child understands to inform them of the dangers of wandering. For example, you can place a "Stop" sign or red tape next to doors and windows. Also, make sure to teach your child the various methods and strategies they should use if they get lost. About 35% of children who wander are rarely able to know or say their name, home address, or phone number. Therefore, make sure your child knows this information or carries it on a card or wristband in order to return them home safely.
4. School. If your child has previously attempted to wander, it is important that this is taken into account in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) where necessary measures are taken. You can also inform teachers and school administration to find out what safety measures are in place and what can be added to ensure your child's safety while at school.
5. Swimming training. Since the leading cause of death for people with autism spectrum disorder is drowning, enrolling children with autism spectrum disorder in swimming lessons is important. There may be clubs and coaches near you who can help.

Adapted translation..

.http://blog.stageslearning.com/blog/wandering-and-autism-6-strategies-to-prevent-wandering-behavior

Originally published in Arabic. This English version was produced with AI-assisted translation; the Arabic original remains the reference.