Speaking by behavior : a psychological interpretation of worrying non-autistic behaviors in adults with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to present the concept of a psychological interpretation of worrying behaviors in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) who have severe speech limitations or do not speak. These behaviors were called non-autistic because they do not belong to symptomatology of autism spectrum disorders.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Psychological interpretation of worrying non-autistic behaviors in adults with ASD and ID was under qualitative research. The interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to find the meaning of worrying behaviors which were observed in of a person with ASD and ID from their perspective. In the interpretation from an external perspective, reference was made to professional experience, psychological theories and scientific research results of various problems occurring in this group of people.

FINDINGS: Four types of themes (meanings) of worrying behavior in people with ASD and ID have been found. (1) "I want – I don't want to", (2) "too much – too little", (3) "something bad happened to me", (4) "something is wrong with me". Forms and functions of worrying behavior were also descripted.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This article will be helpful for caregivers working in institutions who have taken over or will take over from parents the care of adults with ASD and ID.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: It is an original approach in non-autistic worrying behaviors in people with ASD and ID, as a way of speaking about their problems and using IPA to find their meaning.