Tools to help assess self-injurious behaviors

ABC Chart

Self-injurious Behaviors
HEAD-BANGING, HAND-BITING, AND EXCESSIVE SELFRUBBING AND SCRATCHING

Motivation Assessment Scale (MAS)

Strengths and Needs List Checklists Tally Charts

SCRATCHING SELF-INJURIOUS BEHAVIOURS

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Self-injurious Behaviours
Self-injurious behaviors are one of the most devastating behaviors exhibited by people with developmental disabilities. The most common forms of these

ASD is a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain function, affecting development of the persons communication and social interaction skills. It is characterized by:
SOCIAL IMPAIRMENTS COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES REPETITIVE BEHAVIOURS

behaviors include: head-banging, hand-biting, and excessive self-rubbing and scratching. There are many possible reasons why a person may engage in

Scratching - Causes

self-injurious behaviour, ranging from biochemical to the social environment. Most Severe

Hall mark feature of ASD is impaired social interaction. During infancy, a baby with ASD may be unresponsive to develop or focus

Mild Forms If a person with autism is constantly scratching themselves they may need more tactile stimulation. Using sensory stimulation brush, - Head corduroy pants and embroidered rubbing patches have ridges that can be helpful run - Occasional fingers over. The idea here is something that contact with surface is tactilely interesting that they can handle in when public and still be considered appropriate. rocking Swimming can be useful as it helps to be able to feel as the water goes over the entire surface of the skin.

- Finger sucking - Nail picking

- Thigh slapping - Orifice poking

- Eye poking - Hair pulling - Selfscratching - Selfpinching

- Chronic rumination - Frequent arm biting - Violent head banging

Other explanations look at more social causes, such as communication, attention-seeking or avoidance. Autism can be characterized by social deficits or communication difficulties. For example, it can act as a way of communicating a need, whether that is for attention or gaining something tangible. In case if they are asked to intently on one item for long periods of time. do something they do not want to do, engaging in a harmful behavior such as this can help the individual Children with ASD fail to respond to their names and escape from the experience. It is important to acknowledge the frustration that a person must feel is their often avoid eye contact with other people. They have feelings are not understood, or if they are struggling to interpret the intentions of other people. An expression difficulty understanding social cues, such as tone of of this sheer frustration might come out as self-harm. A person with autism can experience these feelings but lack the emotional capacity to express it.
voice or facial expressions. They also engage in repetitive movements such as rocking, twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging.

Options for Decreasing Scratching

Gentle reminders such as Hands in lap, please or Be gentle, or Take good care of your skin. Distraction. Keeping hands occupied while holding textured items, squishy balls, or a laminated photo. Those who are compulsive pickers have responded well with strategy of putting a thin layer of glue on the palm of their hand and allowing them to peel the dried glue from their hand. Long-sleeved shirts and waist down.