Role of gastrointestinal health in managing children with autism spectrum disorder

Table 2 The different behavior changes that result from various gastrointestinal disorders

GI disorder	Behavior changes
Gastroesophageal reflux with/without ulcerations	Self-stimulatory behaviors (commonly called stimming)
	Constant eating/drinking/swallowing (grazing behavior)
	Frequent nighttime awakenings, abnormal posturing, pushing out the jaw, straining the neck, and tapping the throat, increased self-injury, and other challenging behaviors
Abdominal pain	Increased anxiety levels and emotional dysregulation, leading to outbursts and meltdowns
	Repetitive rocking and other repetitive behaviors.
	Blinking, sudden screaming, spinning, and fixed look
	Agitation: Pacing, jumping up and down
	Sleep disturbances, exacerbating the behavioral challenges and affecting overall well-being and functioning
Constipation	Tip-toe walking
	Increased irritability, restlessness, and agitation
	Abnormal sleep patterns, such as difficulties falling asleep, frequent awakenings, or restless sleep
	Daytime irritability, poor attention, fatigue, and behavioral challenges
	Reduced food intake, or avoidance of certain foods
	Toilet training problems
Diarrhea	Social withdrawal if the child is experiencing discomfort or embarrassment due to diarrhea
	Increased self-stimulatory behaviors like engagement in repetitive or self-stimulatory behaviors to self-soothe, especially during the time of discomfort
	Toilet training problems
	Change appetite with changing eating patterns or food preferences