As an example, if a child is head banging into a wall, a safer initial redirection could be to head bang into a big cushion or bean bag. It is still a worrying situation for a parent and you will need to consult your doctor. There are various things that can cause children with autism to bang their head. From the perspective of applied behavior analysis, there are four functions of self-injurious behavior: Source: Functions of Self-Injurious Behavior: An Experimental Epidemiological Analysis (Iwata, B). As head banging is a sign of a child’s need for release, it can be altered with other physical activities that are not harmful to the child. Simply move him as if you were moving a piece of … Hopefully, by the end of this read, you will know a bit more about the following topics: (Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which are unlabeled ads and we’ll earn a commission if you shop through them, at no extra cost for you. Sensory Processing: Sensory Strategies for Head Banging Senses are often acutely affected in people with ASD. Any tips will be much appreciated. If aggressive behaviors are triggered by attention-seeking you may need to start a “non-contingent attention” program. (Expect him to fill in the blank). This has always been part of the routine leading up to bed. What are the 5 main types of learning difficulties in children? As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Head banging, hitting the head with a fist, banging the head on the wall or floor are all different manifestations of the same behavior. This could be their way of communicating with you that they want something or that they are upset. Sensory strategies for headbanging. Whilst we all have sensory likes and dislikes mine impact me minimally so I hadn’t given the subject much thought. 9. 22.Explain rules and ask your kid to repeat them back (if he/she is verbal) You will also receive our special needs newsletter and useful resources. In a normally developing child they occur around 6-9 months age, and generally resolve around 2-3 years with most behaviors gone by 6-8 years. Powered by Shopify. Boys are more likely than … But body-rocking and head-banging can be particularly intense in some children, including children with developmental delay, autism or blindness. 12. Your child can get both vestibular and proprioceptive sensory input from banging their head and to them, head banging feels good and helps them self-regulate. In this post, I´m going to focus on the latter. Children usually do not cause harm to themselves, but it can … Kids with autism or special needs may show a wide range of challenging behaviors such as property destruction, physical aggression towards others and, quite often too, self-injurious behavior. A tip for those situations may be to redirect him into another task or distract her with a question (Response interruption and redirection):  What was your favorite toy? Track date/time/antecedent to determine if the behavior is pain induced. If you identify transitions as a problem, there are different ways to address it, depending of your specific situation. Everyone in the house is encouraged to slow down so there is less banging and stomping around. blocking out sudden and loud … Tactile Treatment Strategies Cont. You can also read our Disclosure & Disclaimer policy here). As a neurotypical person sensory processing is not something I think about or feel. I found the sensory side of autism one of the hardest things to get my head around after my eldest was diagnosed. When giving instruction, ensure that they are clear and concise. However, people with learning difficulties may find it more difficult to learn and will require additional support in school. Your Child is Unable to Communicate Pain; Head banging may be a distraction for children who are unable to communicate pain. But if you notice your toddler does other activities like biting hands, scratching or rubbing, consult your pediatrician . If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. A Blog About Parenting: Coping Skills, Behavior Management and Special Needs. A child may be experiencing a sensory deficit or sensory overload and banging their head may help them to self-regulate. Without the ability to interpret the data properly, headbanging and other self-harming behaviours can help give some relief. Required fields are marked *, We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As a parent, there is a fine line to walk to help your child address these behaviors. How to Stop Head Banging and Strategies to Cope. Sensory strategies for headbanging. So the tips here may be a bit obvious: 24. And if you are parenting a kid with special needs, you may find the reading in the Special Needs section of this blog interesting. Many theories have been put forward to explain them. Some tips for giving replacement behavior for headbanging are: 1. 23. This strategy should only be utilized if you have been taught by someone who knows the protocol. Ways to decrease the behavior will depend on the function or reason. Some common forms of self-injurious behaviors can include head-banging, hand-biting, and scratching. During the weeks that you are implementing this non-contingent attention program, you will need to train your kid to ask for attention in appropriate ways. 2. Every story is unique. Understanding the function of this behavior is key to ensuring that the strategies you put in place are going to be successful. A social story may help. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Strategies to Stop Head Banging Injury Prevention Provide student with a helmet. You can check “Helping Children with Autism Spectrum Conditions through Everyday Transitions. This post proposes 25 tips and advice to prevent or minimize head banging in autism, adapting the strategies to the different functions of this self-injurious behavior: sensory processing issues (sensory overload and under-stimulation), attention seeking, escaping demands, frustration, and pain. Post on how to track behaviors ) behavior for headbanging are: 1 have. 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