Angry outbursts in autistic people have been referred to as meltdowns that manifest as an intense reaction,[1] but such outbursts are different to true meltdowns, which always take some time to recover from.
[1][page needed][4][page needed][5][6] 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.
[3] Luke Beardon states that an autistic meltdown is an "intense response to overwhelm".
[11] Meltdowns can be misunderstood by first responders and law enforcement, potentially leading to situation escalation.
Recognizing the difference between meltdowns and typical tantrums is crucial for appropriate response and support.