Autism Tantrums Not Caused by Speech Deficits in Kids

Author: Penn State
Published: 2017/05/08 - Updated: 2026/02/01
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Research, Study, Analysis
Category Topic: Autism - Related Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This peer-reviewed research from Penn State College of Medicine challenges a widespread assumption about tantrum behavior in autistic children by examining 240 participants aged 15 to 71 months. Published in the Journal of Development and Physical Disabilities, the study provides valuable evidence for parents, educators, and therapists working with autistic children, showing that language comprehension, speech clarity, and IQ together explain less than 3 percent of tantrum frequency. The findings are particularly useful because they separate speech ability from language understanding while controlling for cognitive capacity, offering families more accurate guidance about treatment priorities. Rather than waiting for speech improvements to reduce behavioral challenges, the research points families toward applied behavior analysis as a more effective intervention, potentially saving time and resources while addressing the actual sources of distress in children on the autism spectrum - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Tantrums Not Linked With Speech Deficits in Children with Autism

Speech or language impairments may not be the cause of more frequent tantrums in children with autism, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. The findings could help parents of children with autism seek out the best treatment for behavior problems.

Children with autism experience more tantrums than children without, according to the researchers, and speech therapists, preschool teachers, parents and others often blame these frequent outbursts on speech and language problems. Some children with autism spectrum disorder are not able to speak or have speech that is not clear or well-understood by others.

To investigate this correlation, the researchers studied the relationship between language and tantrum frequency in 240 children with autism between the ages of 15 and 71 months of age. The researchers, who published their results in a recent issue of the Journal of Development and Physical Disabilities, said that the children's IQ, their ability to understand language and their ability to use words and speak clearly, explained less than 3 percent of their tantrums.

"We had children in our sample with clear speech and enough intelligence to be able to communicate, and their tantrums were just as high in that group," said Cheryl D. Tierney, associate professor of pediatrics, College of Medicine, and section chief, behavior and developmental pediatrics, Penn State Children's Hospital.

Main Content

The researchers also found that children who spoke at the level of a 2-year-old with normal development had more tantrums than children with lower speech skills.

"There is a common pervasive misbelief that children with autism have more tantrum behaviors because they have difficulty communicating their wants and their needs to caregivers and other adults," Tierney explained. "The belief is that their inability to express themselves with speech and language is the driving force for these behaviors, and that if we can improve their speech and their language the behaviors will get better on their own. But we found that only a very tiny percentage of temper tantrums are caused by having the inability to communicate well with others or an inability to be understood by others."

In the study, Tierney and co-investigator Susan D. Mayes, professor of psychiatry, addressed the limitations in previous research by including a larger sample of children and capturing more measurements. They add that their study is unique because it measures IQ and it separates speech and language as different variables that might affect tantrum behavior in children with autism.

"IQ is extremely important because a child that has the mental capacity to understand and use language may display different behaviors compared to a child who doesn't have the mental capacity and comprehension to use language," Tierney said.

She also explained the difference between language and speech in the study of children with autism.

"Language is a child's ability to understand the purpose of words and to understand what is said," she said. "Speech is their ability to use their mouth, tongue, lips and jaw to form the sounds of words and make those sounds intelligible to other people."

The study doesn't answer the question of what causes tantrums in children with autism, but mood dysregulation and a low tolerance for frustration - two common traits - are likely factors that should be studied further, Tierney said.

Tierney suggests enough evidence has accumulated to shift the emphasis from improving speech to improving behavior.

"We should stop telling parents of children with autism that their child's behavior will get better once they start talking or their language improves, because we now have enough studies to show that that is unlikely to happen without additional help," she said.

That help should come in the form of applied behavior analysis, and having a well-trained and certified behavior analyst on a child's treatment team is key to improved outcomes, Tierney added.

"This form of therapy can help children with autism become more flexible and can show them how to get their needs met when they use behaviors that are more socially acceptable than having a tantrum," Tierney said.

Robin Lockridge, of the department of psychiatry, also worked on this research.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The implications of this research extend well beyond academic circles and into the daily lives of families raising autistic children. For years, parents have been told that once their child begins speaking more clearly or develops better language skills, the challenging behaviors will naturally diminish. This study dismantles that assumption with data that's hard to ignore - even children with age-appropriate speech had tantrum rates similar to those with minimal verbal skills. What makes this particularly significant is the shift it demands in how we allocate therapeutic resources. Instead of placing outsized hope in speech therapy alone, families now have scientific backing to prioritize behavioral interventions that directly address frustration tolerance and emotional regulation. The researchers point toward mood dysregulation and low frustration thresholds as more likely culprits, opening new avenues for targeted support that might actually reduce the stress both children and their caregivers experience during these difficult moments - Disabled World (DW).

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Penn State and published on 2017/05/08, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.