Autistic meltdown

Autistic meltdown describes an intense, often uncontrollable response to an overwhelming situation experienced by some autistic individuals. Irritability or tantrum is the term used historically to describe the behavior. Angry outbursts in autistic people have been referred to as meltdowns which manifest as an intense reaction. They often decrease in number and intensity with age but may escalate with age in some cases.

There is no scientifically agreed upon distinction between a meltdown and a tantrum. In the literature, the terms are often used interchangeably or depending on the population being studied. Temper tantrums are developmentally normal, but for neurotypical children, their frequency decreases as the child ages; in autistic children, however, meltdowns can persist longer, and in a third of cases, they worsen as the child ages.

Luke Beardon states that an autistic meltdown is an "intense response to overwhelm". The distinction between a tantrum and a meltdown as tantrums being primarily verbal (screaming, crying) and meltdowns having a physical component (such as violent behaviour), is not broadly agreed upon. Autistic meltdowns are not manipulative and arise from acute distress. Autistic people often forget details of what happened during their meltdowns.

Meltdowns can be misunderstood by first responders and law enforcement, potentially leading to situation escalation. Recognizing the difference between meltdowns and typical tantrums is crucial for appropriate response and support.