You're right, it is so important to try to look beyond the behavior because usually you can learn a lot about the child. It can either be their way of communicating and telling you something or an interest of theirs that you should pay attention too. No two children with Autism experience it the same. A child's senses may be more sensitive or less sensitive than typical. I have had experience with a child who did not like loud noises and was very sensitive to touch and did not like to be splashed. To me the sounds did not seem loud but for her she was very sensitive to the senses. Many times children with Autism have special interests and/or fascinations. I think that for children who have a special interest or fascination that it is important to allow them the time and space to do that as long as it is not hurting them or anyone else. Sometimes children may look like they are staring off into space when you are speaking to them and acting like they are not paying attention but they are taking in every word that you are saying. It is important to be aware of the child's particular behaviors and interests and to not jump to any conclusions. The most important thing to remember, as I stated earlier, is to remember that no two children with Autism experience it the same.

Okay I like the sound of leather lol. We had horses when I was a kid & I just loved the sound of the saddle
when I'd get on my horse. I noticed later on when we managed apts & had to have the police out a time or
two that their belts make that same noise. I know I'm wacky lol.

I heard a story about a young ASD man who got an employee placement in a recycling plant so he could hear the sound of breaking glass to his hearts content.

I agree. I think it is important to always look for the reason for the behavior, and perhaps I'd go even a step further and to always look for a variety of possible reasons for behaviors. I say this because the less obvious, sensory reasons for behaviors are often the "last ones" we would have thought of otherwise. If it is just the sound, sometimes it is possible to help extinct the behavior associated with the acquisition of that sound by providing the sound on tape. More often than not, however, there is a "quality" to the sound or to the sensory experience as a whole that cannot be duplicated so easily. A more common solution is to encourage the replacement of the sound/sensory experience with a different one that is more acceptable to the "others" in the child's environment, but still generally satisfies the child's need for stimulation. If you think about it, providing the sound on tape really falls into this category as well. Otherwise, one is just left waiting for the child to find his or her own replacement for the stim (i.e. the passing of the phase).

Note: Although the word "stimming" is not generally used to describe "sound-seeking behaviors," I tend to think that they are essentially the same sort of thing.

The same can apply to smells (which I think could be a reason, Cindy, why Marcel spreads "things" about in the hallway from time to time). I wonder if handing him appropriately "smelly stickers" as a reward for going on the pot might be an incentive to stop his current behavior?