06/03/2026
Meltdown vs. Shutdown
Both can be responses to emotional, sensory, or environmental overload.
🔹 Meltdown = outward response
Crying, yelling, visible distress
🔹 Shutdown = inward response
Silence, withdrawal, reduced responsiveness
Same overload. Different response.
What helps:
• Reduce demands
• Lower sensory input
• Stay calm
• Give space
💡 In ABA, we focus on understanding the function of behavior and teaching skills that support communication, coping, and self-regulation.
The goal isn’t control—it’s understanding.
Save this if it helps. ❤️