Fixations are an issue in the Autism Room. Many of our students will get a thought stuck inside their head that they just can’t shake. It hardens like concrete and becomes an obsession. They often need help moving on so they can think about something else.

One of our little boys went through a phase where he fixated on CD players. He was verbal and would ask about the device continually. He would then check on it during transitions and want it opened. He was mainstreamed into another Special Education class for part of the afternoon, and would immediately walk to their CD player and want to change the CD that was going to be played during circle time. Every two minutes he would be back to open it again. During center time, he had access to train tracks, blocks, cars, puzzles, and tub toys, but there were days were all he could think about was that CD player.

Redirecting him became a constant chore. We tried covering the device with a blanket or blocking it from view with a book. Not helpful. We tried letting him have full access to it for a short time to see if he would grow tired of it and move on. Failure. Finally we had to remove the CD player from the room. Oh my. He had a complete meltdown. Repeatedly. For long periods of time. But eventually he stopped asking about it. One day, we were able to sneak the CD player back into the room.

My fixations are not as intense, but they still exist. I am a very sequential person, and when I’m waiting on something, I have a hard time focusing on anything else. I’ve been waiting on an answer for several weeks now, and find myself checking my phone, email, and the internet over and over every day. Most of my conversations morph into my desire for an answer.

Thinking about my autistic friend reminds me that I need to control my thoughts before they become obsessive. I can check for a response once a day. After that, I should redirect my thoughts and find joy in the present. I will strive to treat my fixation like the CD player and remove it from the room. Anybody else have an obsession that needs to go?