1. Harry Myers, PhD; dad to Matthew
Autistic as a
Trauma
Patient
Harry Myers, PhD; dad to Matthew

2. Presentation Focus
Persons with autism who require full-time support for daily living; will require lifelong living assistance
Do not have the needed social skills to navigate alone away from their home or caregiver
Limited communications skills
Limited cognitive awareness
Limited ability to follow basic safety precautions
Limited ability to seek help

3. Presentation Background
26 year old autistic adult son (requires full-time support)
23 ½ years experience with autism (son and others)
Numerous clinical, social and educational interventions attempted
Earlier years – a “runner”
Earlier years – drawn to animals; now, total fear - phobia
Earlier years – one ED visit – fearful; combative; sedated
Slight propensity to self-injury

4. What Scares Us (the Parents) the Most…
Unintended, unexpected and abrupt separation
Accident
Large social event
Community emergency
Self “walking off”
Encountering strangers
Encountering police
Injured and separated visit to the ED
Severe injury – trauma care needed
Above occurring during respite care

5. Spaceship Trauma Bay Big, bright, strange lights Unusually warm
Very strange “bed”
Overabundance of very strange looking equipment
Overabundance of cables, wires and cords
Strange sounds
Surrounded by aliens! Muffled voices; foreign language
Cutting off the clothes I wear every day
Touching me – like really touching me
Best to resist and defend myself

6. Potential Trauma Bay Issues - Numerous
Limited communication skills
Receptive language
Expressive language
Unique expressive words – e.g.: CVS?
Misinterpretation
Echolalia
May be very rapid, very loud, higher pitch when overly stressed
Shouting; ranting – again stress induced

7. Sensory issues Light Sight Sound Touch Smell Too bright; too low
Wrong spectrum
Flashing – slow to very, very fast
Sight
Fixation
Avoids eye contact, or fixation on eye contact
Sound
Too loud; too low
Wrong sound
Music, television, other source; personal listening devices
Touch
Pressure sensitive – usually for the better, but not human
Quick to push away
Smell
Broad and unique sensitivity

8. Other unique issues Self injurious Uncontrolled, continuous movements
Many ways of manifestation – head banging
Can be severe
Concern: may very much, even aggressively, pick at a wound
Uncontrolled, continuous movements
Rocking
Jerking
Hand movement
Socialization
Odd or different demeanor – may seek isolation
Toileting issues
Eating – drinking issues
ADD; ADHD; PDD; PDD-NOS: parents don’t care about DSM?

9. What Might Help
Awareness that unusual or odd behavior and speech is first sign the patient has special needs
Communication – attempt to establish basic communications.
Key words or phrases being spoken – interpretation difficulty
Key openings may be hidden in the echolalia – listen
Stressed voice; counting; alphabet – very nervous, may be near out of control
If possible, have parent or guardian assist with care
If not present, can they be contacted by cell
If first time in trauma – patient may present new, unknown behavior not known to parent or care giver

10. Sight fixation may indicate a concern or interest
Reaching to an object or person, may be concern or interest
Lighting – avoidance or fixation
Pressure sensory – just don’t hold hand, apply pressure
Item to hold and manipulate – something that “belongs to them,” really like hand sensory input
Don’t be surprised if not overly affected by procedures that cause discomfort or even low degree of pain
BUT – be very careful – strength, agility; fear driven reaction
Reaction to medication; even sedatives or greater
Unknown current regiment

11. Thank you!
Questions