22. Responsive Communication with Individuals who present with Distressed Or Aggressive Behaviours

It is a mistake to label difficult to manage behaviour as challenging behaviour. Think of it, rather, as distress behaviour triggered by sensory overload. In an effort to reduce the sensory overload they are experiencing, the person may direct their distress behaviour at you, because they (rightly or wrongly) see you as the cause of their sensory overload. Try to establish contact with the person by using their sounds before moving into their personal space. Let the person know (by gesture or simple l