Are there any helpful hints working with a child who has trouble with perseverating on an issue?
Answer
One particular article found that for children with autism where they have that preferred item in mind, if they perseverate on a certain item or whether it may be a particular issue, you may be able to incorporate that into their motivation. I worked with a child that would perseverate on the grounds keeping at the school that I worked at, and he would say, “Is the grass cut? Are the bushes cut? When are they coming? Is it Tuesday? Maybe they will come on a different day. I really want to see that grass being cut.” That was something that was important to him. After we did this and that, we would go down and look out the window to see if the grass was cut or not. That may not work for your particular situation. If you can incorporate a picture shaped like puzzle pieces of whatever they perseverate on, so that if they participate with what you are doing, they can build with the pieces or work with whatever it is that they perseverate on. The research article that was featured with children with a diagnosis of autism had shown that if there is an item that is one of their highly preferred items or an item that they do perseverate on, it can be used as their motivator as it is intrinsically motivating to them.
Some other ways for troubleshooting for a child that is perseverating could be in taking it back to the interest inventory. Help go over that with a parent to see if there are other likes or interests that that child has and maybe using the interest inventory to help develop some more motivators for the child.
Amy M. Schlessman, PT, DPT, DHS
Amy is an Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Program and a Center of Teaching Excellence Faculty Liaison at the University of Findlay. She is the Website Co-Chair and Zoom Committee Chair for the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Amy has been practicing as a school-based PT for over 18 years, focusing on health promotion and physical activity embedded into academics and interprofessional collaboration, while closely working with educators, administrators, therapists, and parents. Her research on pediatric health promotion was published in Pediatric Physical Therapy. Amy also published, “Recycle Bin Boogie: Move and Learn with Recyclables,” a physical activity book combining academic concepts with common household recyclables. She has presented regionally and nationally on a variety of topics related to health promotion, active learning, school-based therapy, and special education.
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