Guest guest Posted September 4, 2007 Report Share Posted September 4, 2007  Hi from New Zealand. I wondered if any of you out there had an experience with or advice on head banging. I have a friend who has a 4 year old little girl with Down Syndrome (plus 2 other younger children, including a new baby) and the poor family are tearing their hair out. My son does not head bang so I can't help her but the family are just exhausted. The little girl seems to head bang most at night and obviously is not getting a good sleep herself but the noise is so loud it keeps everyone else awake too. They have had some sleep apnoea tests done but these weren't really conclusive because the little girl kept pulling the monitors off. They have spent a week, as instructed by their doctor, sleeping in the same room and getting up and stopping her head bang every time she does it and putting her back into bed. Sometimes her face gets raw because she is banging against the carpet on the floor. They are just at a loss what to do and don't appear to be getting a hell of a lot of support from the medical system over hear. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts/suggestions, I would be very grateful for any information I can pass on to the family and try and help them through a very difficult time. It has been going on for more than a year - 2 or 3 years even. Thank you (Mum to Hamish (DS) and Sam - happy 5 year old school boys) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2007 Report Share Posted September 4, 2007  I can help but be back later.. got to get kids bath and ect.... My middle kid is 9yr and head banger just like that.. progressive gotten worse... can email me off list.. cmedrano@... Head Banging  Hi from New Zealand. I wondered if any of you out there had an experience with or advice on head banging. I have a friend who has a 4 year old little girl with Down Syndrome (plus 2 other younger children, including a new baby) and the poor family are tearing their hair out. My son does not head bang so I can't help her but the family are just exhausted. The little girl seems to head bang most at night and obviously is not getting a good sleep herself but the noise is so loud it keeps everyone else awake too. They have had some sleep apnoea tests done but these weren't really conclusive because the little girl kept pulling the monitors off. They have spent a week, as instructed by their doctor, sleeping in the same room and getting up and stopping her head bang every time she does it and putting her back into bed. Sometimes her face gets raw because she is banging against the carpet on the floor. They are just at a loss what to do and don't appear to be getting a hell of a lot of support from the medical system over hear. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts/suggestions, I would be very grateful for any information I can pass on to the family and try and help them through a very difficult time. It has been going on for more than a year - 2 or 3 years even. Thank you (Mum to Hamish (DS) and Sam - happy 5 year old school boys) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2007 Report Share Posted September 4, 2007 Hi - Has a soft helmet been recommended? I wonder if that might help... -, Mom to Haley & Nikki, 5 yr twin girls, both w/DS, & , 3 1/2 yr son Gilbert wrote: > >  > > Hi from New Zealand. I wondered if any of you out there had an > experience with or advice on head banging. I have a friend who has a > 4 year old little girl with Down Syndrome (plus 2 other younger > children, including a new baby) and the poor family are tearing their > hair out. My son does not head bang so I can't help her but the > family are just exhausted. The little girl seems to head bang most at > night and obviously is not getting a good sleep herself but the noise > is so loud it keeps everyone else awake too. They have had some sleep > apnoea tests done but these weren't really conclusive because the > little girl kept pulling the monitors off. They have spent a week, as > instructed by their doctor, sleeping in the same room and getting up > and stopping her head bang every time she does it and putting her back > into bed. Sometimes her face gets raw because she is banging against > the carpet on the floor. They are just at a loss what to do and don't > appear to be getting a hell of a lot of support from the medical > system over hear. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts/suggestions, I > would be very grateful for any information I can pass on to the family > and try and help them through a very difficult time. It has been > going on for more than a year - 2 or 3 years even. Thank you > > (Mum to Hamish (DS) and Sam - happy 5 year old school boys) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2008 Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 Hi Jen, What underlying possible medical issues have you ruled out? Like have you had him seen by the ENT or dentist to rule out if any. Is he experiencing any cold, suffering from some type of allergies, etc? Does this happen after he eats? Is he doing this when he is upset when given a demand? Might have to look in the mean time for a protective gear in during these crises situation along with some type of intervention for decreasing the tendency to engage in SIB, using appropriate behavior change strategies. When planning behavior change strategies for SIB, be sure to analyze the role of sensory issues, communication efforts, boredom, frustration, and inappropriate attention-seeking. If he's in danger of hurting himself, then you might need to physically block him from the head banging. Otherwise, it needs to be tracked so that you can figure out exactly what he's getting out of it. If it's sensory, an alternative method of gaining that sensory input is definitely necessary. If it's an attempt to communicate that he's upset or doesn't want to do something or is frustrated, then ( you need to provide alternative methods of communication and make sure that they are available at all times. You could place a padded material when he experience this or block with your arms without looking or making eye contact with him. Until it feels like he is finished. Do not say anything. It is going to require some patience doing this but hopefully this will decrease the headbanging. Do you know of any ABA therapist in your area? How about an OT who specializes with sensory integration? Just some thoughts here in regards to this topic. Not a professional just a huge fan of ABA & SI and other interventions which has helped my son and some of my friends kiddos. Wishing you well that you will find some solution for your little one. Sounds like pain, this is his way of communicating. Irma,19,DS/ASD > > Hi everyone! > > is going through a bad time, especially with head banging, > hitting and scratching. The head banging is the most disturbing. It > seems to come in waves. He ends up with a > semi permanant bruise on his head. I know a lot of you deal with this > as well and was wondering what kinds of things you have found to help. > Some have suggested medication but I am very hesitant at this point. > He's just four and I'm hoping to discover other means. > > Thanks! > > Jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hi Jen, My Preston did the same thing. He also had a permanent green, blue, orange, yellow and purple bruise on his forehead from the age of 2 until he was about 5 years old. We took him to an ENT and he had tubes put in twice to relieve his drainage and had his adenoids removed. He had major dental work done also due to grinding his teeth down (also an effect of relieving pressure for our little ones). He is going to be 6yrs old on 2/17 and has not banged his head now for awhile but when a cold is coming on he gets very irritable and will bang his head if he is mad (still think the added pressure is really hurting him). I have tried to be there when he gets frustrated and wants to bang his head to put my foot between him and the floor. I have made the mistake of picking him up to comfort him when he is in head banging mode only to end up (me) with a cracked lip or a really sore nose. For the most part he has grown out of it and I think part of the reason for that is his ear canals have also gotten larger and the tubes have helped with drainage. It is so frustrating and I thought he would never grow out of this but he has. At one point we had considered getting him a helmet but he has such a little head and honestly we could not find one that fit him. So, we never really went that route but it was considered. I hope this passes soon for and you, T., Preston's mommy A. Thanepohn, EMT-I, EMD MCS Community Service Chairwoman, MCS Room Moms and MCS PTA Secretary www.myspace.com/jenniferemsgirl head banging Hi everyone! is going through a bad time, especially with head banging, hitting and scratching. The head banging is the most disturbing. It seems to come in waves. He ends up with a semi permanant bruise on his head. I know a lot of you deal with this as well and was wondering what kinds of things you have found to help. Some have suggested medication but I am very hesitant at this point. He's just four and I'm hoping to discover other means. Thanks! Jen ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Jen: Tori is called the Queen of the Head Bangers Club. She is a major Banger. It is actually a sensory thing, and we have been able to minimize it over the years by giving her alot of sensory input with heavy pressure. We make Tori sandwiches with a big pillow, Tori in the middle and her Dora bean bag chair on top. We just rub her hard with the bean bag and she seems to be satisfied. Our one rule is that she MUST bang it on a pillow or on her bed. When she was 4 she had a permanent lump on her forehead from banging and permanent rug burn on her nose. Now she really only bangs in the car and when music is on. It seems to really relax her. Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Dylan was about 3 to 6 years old, Dylan did get bang his head on the wall and the floor only when he was upset and have attention.. It was not often banging his head.. After he gets older, he stopped. Dylan 8 deaf, ds, adhd ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 we always try to redirect nathan, he rarely does this anymore, now its more of a rocking, finally figured out that hurts. another thing is sensory activities may help too. Also remember may be ill , ear infection or something, watch for signs of illness. shawna In a message dated 2/12/2008 9:36:34 P.M. Central Standard Time, mom_2_drew@... writes: Hi everyone! is going through a bad time, especially with head banging, hitting and scratching. The head banging is the most disturbing. It seems to come in waves. He ends up with a semi permanant bruise on his head. I know a lot of you deal with this as well and was wondering what kinds of things you have found to help. Some have suggested medication but I am very hesitant at this point. He's just four and I'm hoping to discover other means. Thanks! Jen **************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. Go to AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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