ds 2.2 head banging - why and what to do?

[hazeyjane]

Ds 2.2 (gdd, low tone, no speech,possible genetic condition) has just started to bang his head, a lot. He does it when he is having a tantrum and is frustrated, and I kind of understand the reasons then, but the extent to which he does it frightens me, he whacked his head on the side of the sink yesterday and now has a swollen cheek, which matches the bruise on his forehead from smacking his head repeatedly on the pavement.

He also does it in other situations as well, which I don't understand as well. At singing the other day, he smacked his head on the safety glass and kept doing it laughing away. He then head butted the brick wall, he seemed to enjoy it and kept trying to get to the wall to bang his forehead aganst it. He also wanted to lick it. Is this a sensory seeking thing? I know nothing about this, I am just clutching at straws.

I know that nt children do this, but have never seen anyones dc actually do it and certainly not with the gusto that ds does, but could it be something to do with his sn? It frightens me because he also seems to have weird pain thresholds and sometimes doesn't seem to be aware that he is hurting himself.

At the moment, I try and pick him up for his own safety, but this is getting increasingly difficult, especially as he fights me when this happens, and last week I strained my neck and now can't turn my head. I try not to give him too much attention when he does it, but have to keep him safe. Is this right?

Any advice, on how to deal with it and why he may be doing it would be greatly appreciated, thankyou.

anyone?

It may well be a sensory-seeking issue, also frustration at communication difficulties. This, and the weird pain thresholds is pretty common certainly with ASD children.

You could try re-directing him to find more appropriate (and less damaging!) ways to fulfil sensory stimulation - eg trampolining (one of those little ones with the bar are good at this age), swimming, racing, jumping with you (eg limited time on sofa holding your hands). We had a bilibong (sp) thing for ds at one point, a sort of spinny thing you sit in. Anything to release energy and satiate desire for sensory stimulation really.

With communication, are you using any strategies to help with this?

Think you're spot on about not giving attention for doing this. But of course you have to keep him safe, so where possible definitely pick him up. Use a firm "no banging" when you do so, each time, but nothing more, no further attention. I know how strong and wriggly and fighty 2yo boys are, but imagine how much harder it might be if he's still doing it at 3/4/5yo... best to try and nip it in the bud asap.

I've seen this topic come up a lot over the years on this board, so I'm sure others will be along with more suggestions too.

If possible ignore, if you are worried that he is hurting himself place something soft under his head, we used a really fluffy square of blanket.
As well as being a little bit softer & cushioning the blows it was also very textured and gave him an entirly different feeling.

DS2 wasnt mobile at that age so couldnt try the trampolining etc but now he is older & mobile it def helps

Thankyou.

Communication wise, we use makaton, but ds has 2 signs he uses - pig and duck! We have just started using a system of picture cards to give him a choice between 2 things.

I think there is something sensory seeking about it, he has a few aversions to things because of the way they feel, and he likes to do things like scrape his nails in between bricks.

The trampoline suggestion is good, we have one, although he can't bounce on it, he has just started walking, but is very insteady on his feet.

I hadn't thought of putting a cushion under him, i suppose our instinct is to just stop them hurting themselves, but i will try that instead.

Something a friend mentioned with her ds who has sensory issues is that he like being bundled up in blankets, and pressure on him, I wonder if something like that would work.

Oh yes, we have a velour type throw that ds2 wraps himself in, worth a try!

also, for pressure my ds2 loves having his gymn ball rolled oer him with us pressing down on it.

Oh yes, try rolling him up in a duvet like a sausage roll. You could always add to the sensory input by playing games of pretending to put ketchup etc on him, sort of pummelling him (not too hard!) each time. Also just deep squeeze hugs, while he's got his arms by his sides so you're hugging all of him, iyswim.