A new survey from the Kennedy Krieger Interactive Autism Network finds that "approximately half of parents of children with autism report that their child elopes, with the behavior peaking at age four. Among these families, nearly 50% say that their child went missing long enough to cause significant concern about safety." While the specific reasons for this are not known, parents responding to the survey with their own interpretations as follows:
o Enjoys exploring (54%)
o Heads for a favorite place (36%)
o Escapes demands/anxieties (33%)
o Pursues special topic (31%)
o Escapes sensory discomfort (27%)
As many as 40% of respondents say they are concerned that their child with autism will wander out of the house at night, and 62% say they stay away from public activities for fear that their child with autism will wander or bolt.
Our experience may be similar to that of other families: our son, Tom, was a "bolter" during his preschool and kindergarten years. He would, often without warning, run out of a classroom or wander away from a group on the playground. Sometimes we could see that his interest was piqued; at other times he would head for a favorite shop or item - or run away when told "no." Today, while he doesn't actually bolt, he does respond to stressful situations by talking about his desire to get away. His ability to communicate his feelings verbally, however, seems to have lessened his need to actually leave the scene - and his maturing understanding of the wider world means that he does understand the potential dangerous or frightening consequences of his actions.
Children with autism, of course, are often limited in their ability to express their thoughts and feelings verbally. Even high functioning children with autism, at the age of 3, 4 or 5, may not have the emotional and cognitive maturity to stop, think, and use their words. In addition, they may be unusually naive about the dangers of the wide world. When anxiety or sensory issues strike, and emotions run high, bolting may seem like the only viable option. There are increasingly frequent media stories of children with autism who wander. In some cases these children return or are returned safely, but several recent stories have told of children who have drowned in pools or been injured as a result of an "elopement" episode.
In many cases, too, the incidence of wandering doesn't end when a child becomes a teen or an adult. This reality can be very frightening, both for caregivers and for the individual on the autism spectrum when he or she is lost or frightened. All too often, too, an adult with autism who is lost and frightened can wind up in trouble with the law - or in physical danger.
Not long ago, I wrote a blog about a potential new medical code for autistic elopers. While some favor the idea, others are concerned that such a code could result in more restraint and seclusion for children with autism. Another concern is that once such a code is in place, caregivers might cease to search for the causes of bolting or wandering, assuming that it's "just part of autism."
Have you experience wandering or bolting? What are your thoughts on the subject?
More on Wandering and Autism
I’ve posted once before about my son wandering off; he’s coming on 5 now. While he is definitely more verbal than when he was at his worst with slipping away from us when in public, I don’t think he is fully aware of anything other than his intent to explore or do what HE wants to do when he wanders.
We lost him for 45 minutes last fall; he was found less than a mile away about to cross a major road without looking. (How many of us say prayers of thanks to good Samaritans, people who intervene when they see something isn’t right? I know I do.) Thanks to one such Samaritan, who pulled my son out of the road and contacted the police, we were able to get to him quickly.
His taking off is related to when he fixates on something he wants to do, MUST do, if that makes sense? At the same time though, with seemingly everything else related to autism and our son, I’m never sure if problem ‘X’ is autism or standard little boy development or something in between. He’s a mischievous little man regardless
We have high locks on our front door, but I wonder what we’re going to do when he’s tall enough to reach them? Or when he figures out he can use a footstool to open them? I remember reading someone (I’m sorry I can’t remember your name) talking about locking his sons in at night for fear of the danger they would pursue. I can see that happening as Colin gets older and am fearful.
Colin has been wearing a Project Lifesaver bracelet since December. We haven’t had to call for assistance, thankfully, but he still bolts sometimes. I may be in denial, but every time he takes off (maybe once every month-6 weeks), I’m surprised, having thought that we were getting past this problem.
How have some of you facing this dealt with it? What safety measures do you have in place?
Kris
Kris, my son is 8 and his wandering reached a high point at age 5 or so. Now he does it periodically, and one never knows when he will do it again. We have a keyed lock on our doors and we lock all of us in at night and never lose a moment’s sleep that we don’t have to. The office of children’s safety knows; they applaud us for doing whatever it takes to keep our little guy safe. His name is wilson and he is the cutest guy ever- except yours I bet. Take care, gina
All day long at my job at Care Trak I hear about children with Autism or an elderly with Alzheimers that have bolted or gotten out of the house, sometime the story ends with being happily reunited with the family and sometimes it is very bad news. It breaks my heart when it is bad news for the family. That is why I do everything I can to get the public educated about the perimeter system for thier home.
Care Trak Helps to Relieve Parent Stress When Kids “Bolt and Run.”
Caring for a child with Autism can be a daunting task for parents. Children with Autism can “bolt and run” at a moments notice. Many children with Autism are attracted to water and have no fear of real dangers.
Care Trak International created at risk people tracking in 1986 and has developed a Perimeter Systems that alarms when a child leaves a designated area determined by the parents. These parents also have the ability to track their kids up to a mile day or night inside or outside. “We have moms who become very proficient at tracking.
Hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the U.S. also use Care Trak technology as an added layer of protection. The combination of the home system with agency system offers a high level of protection.
In honor of Autism Awareness Month, Care Trak International is reducing the price of it’s Home Perimeter System $400.00. In addition a 14-day no obligation trial is available. Care Trak also protects people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
For more information go to http://www.caretrak.com or call 800-842-4537
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My son would run to “escape sensory discomfort”, and for no other reason. Change in plans…smell of bread cooking ..candy store smells…a want or need unable to express (frustration)..I guess I’m VERY lucky he has stopped doing that!! Although I believe (here I go) there are triggers for meltdowns ..chemical triggers..this time of the year when everyone is out to kill everything other than “kentucky blue”..things get bad. I cringe when I see old ladies smoking at the bus stop,way off campus gathered like lepers, because most campuses here are no smoking..yet they spray gallon upon gallon of pesticides inside and out, and those chemicals ARE harmful to the environment and anyone’s neurology. They are KNOWN mutagens, carcinogens, teratogens! Back to the subject, having a device may have helped me find him, but, in his case I never lost sight of him and the dangers were imminent..getting hit by a car and such.
The parents, educators, and local safety officials are slowly moving toward Project LifeSaver, with a few counties in Eastern KY implementing the program and sharing with other counties awareness and implenetation costs and procedures so that eventually, all counties will have this wonderful service. I am so very fortunatw that my son has not bolted…..yet.
I think as caregivers our instinct is to protect. Over time the behavior to limit children with ASD affects them in that they have no idea how to articulate open spaces and how move through them safely while fulfilling their curiosity. It’s hard not to give in to the fear that something bad could happen, but give a child some space and freedom to explore while under supervision might be what they need.
When my son was about 4 we went on holiday in Spain. We visited a show cave and afterwards went in their cafe. Suddenly he was gone. Horror the caves were badly railed off the drops deep. The guard had noticed no one.
Eventually by sheer intuition i checked a large ladies toilet in a distant part of the building, he giggled, I heard and went in and retrieved him.
This is horrible if involving a neurotypical child but dreadful when ASD is the joker in the pack, and one is in a foreign land.
My 13 y.o. doesn’t bolt, but he paces all the time. He generally makes extended circles. It’s only been a concern when we’re in crowds. We talk about expectations on outings and I try to make sure I’ve memorized what he’s wearing just in case.