Raising awareness and understanding regarding self harm is important. A study in 2020 found that Self Injurious Behavior (often referred to as SIB) is common with individuals diagnosed with Autism, with an estimated prevalence rate of 42% cited in this article.
According to experts, these behaviors can often promote feelings of control and help relieve tension, allowing individuals to express their emotions and escape from an uncomfortable feeling. While this may be the case for individuals with clinical depression, drawing explanations for self injury among autistic populations can be more difficult, as many who engage in this behavior are unable to explain the feelings associated with it.
Autism refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and non-verbal communication. Some common presentations of self injury that autistic individuals may engage in include: hitting themselves with their hands, pulling their own hair, or scratching their own skin. In severe cases, these can occur daily or multiple times throughout every day, which negatively impacts both the child and their family’s quality of life.
Often, a BCBA will work with students and their families on developing a behavior intervention plan to help reduce the presentation of the self injurious behavior. The BCBA’s main objective, at the start, is to identify why the self injury may be occurring. The ‘why’ behind any behavioral issue is referred to as the function, and identifying the function is critical to understanding how to help autistic children get their needs met without engaging in dangerous behavior.
Managing Self Injurious Behavior
Raising awareness and understanding regarding self harm is important. A study in 2020 found that Self Injurious Behavior (often referred to as SIB) is common with individuals diagnosed with Autism, with an estimated prevalence rate of 42% cited in this article.
According to experts, these behaviors can often promote feelings of control and help relieve tension, allowing individuals to express their emotions and escape from an uncomfortable feeling. While this may be the case for individuals with clinical depression, drawing explanations for self injury among autistic populations can be more difficult, as many who engage in this behavior are unable to explain the feelings associated with it.
Autism refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and non-verbal communication. Some common presentations of self injury that autistic individuals may engage in include: hitting themselves with their hands, pulling their own hair, or scratching their own skin. In severe cases, these can occur daily or multiple times throughout every day, which negatively impacts both the child and their family’s quality of life.
Often, a BCBA will work with students and their families on developing a behavior intervention plan to help reduce the presentation of the self injurious behavior. The BCBA’s main objective, at the start, is to identify why the self injury may be occurring. The ‘why’ behind any behavioral issue is referred to as the function, and identifying the function is critical to understanding how to help autistic children get their needs met without engaging in dangerous behavior.
