Autistic meltdown is a term that has been used to describe an intense and uncontrollable response to an overwhelming situation in some people on the autism spectrum. Irritability or tantrum is the term used historically to describe the behavior.
Angry outbursts in people with autism have been referred to as meltdowns which manifest as an intense reaction.[1] They are linked to maturity and may escalate with age.[2]
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.[1][page needed][3][page needed][4][5] 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.[2]
Luke Beardon states that an autistic meltdown is an "intense response to overwhelm".[6] 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.[7][8] Autistic meltdowns are not manipulative and arise from distress.[9]
Meltdowns can be misinterpreted by first responders and law enforcement officers, leading to escalation of situations.[6]: 2033–2034