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MENTAL HEALTH SPOTLIGHT
Steps to enhance your assessment of autism
In your police career, you have may have been faced with potentially lethal situations. There is no question that first responders have stressful jobs. When you are stressed, your heart may beat faster, your blood pressure may increase, your breathing may change and you may start sweating and be- come increasingly alert to your surroundings.
This is essential for survival. The physical reac- tions to stress (sympathetic nervous system arous- al) are automatic and happen instantaneously
without your control. Your body prepares to take action as you feel the adrenaline rush and your muscles prepare to move. This sympathetic arousal can help with focus, but sometimes it can interfere with judgment.
Each police officer brings his or her own history and thoughts about human nature to a scene. Once you arrive, you aim to protect the community while assessing the situation. This arti- cle’s goal is to provide you with simple tips to employ when you approach a person who may have autism.
Let’s say you receive a call. You may be getting into a defen- sive state of mind. You don’t have any information about the person involved. You arrive on the scene, and you see erratic behaviors such as fast-paced waving of arms, ignoring com- mands and a lack of eye contact. These are only a few behaviors associated with autism.
In recent years, we’ve seen more media coverage on the po-
lice. As you know, incidents of miscalculation affect a com- munity’s trust in law enforcement. One such example is when police have encountered individuals with autism spectrum disorder. While you do receive training on mental health condi- tions, there are additional opportunities to learn how to prop- erly identify and deescalate those with autism.
To become more familiar with behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorders, try watching videos of police ap- proaching individuals with autism. Several videos online ana- lyze what may have been a better approach. You can also read about the disorder, talk to mental health professionals, connect with those who have relatives with an autism spectrum disor- der, or visit day therapy centers to learn from staff members. Education will empower you to make a more accurate assess- ment faster and respond in a more productive manner. Imme- diately handcuffing a person with autism will most likely lead to deteriorating behaviors.
Take these three steps when approaching any community member. Remember the acronym BED:
Breathe: If there is no imminent danger, take control of your sympathetic arousal. To do this, you need to activate your para- sympathetic system, essentially the opposite of the sympathet- ic response. Take a deep stomach breath while staying alert to the situation. This action forces the body to calm down and conserve energy. Think of an Olympic athlete competing in a triathlon who controls their breath to focus on what they want to accomplish.
Evaluate: Ask yourself, “Could this person have a mental health condition?” In the case of autism, determine the level of verbal ability and comprehension and be aware of overstimula- tion. Some signs of overstimulation include restlessness, prob- lems with focusing, not responding, stimming behaviors (e.g., hand flapping and rocking back and forth), or covering ears.
De-escalate. Use strategies to de-escalate while gathering in- formation. Some strategies include respecting personal space, using simple language in a calm voice, or using sensory objects, such as a fidget toy, as a distractor. Identify triggers and reduce overstimulation as much as possible. A typical symptom of au- tism is slowed thinking given the brain’s neuronal connections, so not giving time to process questions can trigger increased anxiety. Provide the subject a step-by-step account of what is going to happen, since individuals with autism can be triggered by the unexpected.
Community members who have autism go through their own journeys, which can include struggles with communica- tion, employment, emotional regulation and social isolation. They will be out in the community more and more given the rise in diagnosis, therapy and inclusion efforts. The steps above are a start to help you make a more accurate initial assessment and avoid unnecessary actions that can have long-term rami- fications.
Stay safe and practice these steps to help with your assess- ment of autism and maintaining community safety.
Dr. Erika Liljedahl is a clinical neuropsychologist and is depart- ment chair of the online master’s degree programs forensic psy- chology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has presented nationally and internationally on various disabilities.
DR. ERIKA LILJEDAHL
36 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ APRIL 2020