Question about sensory therapy for those who have autistic children who are head-bangers?

Question

Have you tried sensory therapy to help with the headbanging? How well did it work to solve the problem? Did it reduce the problem? Did it get rid of the problem altogether? How long did it take until you saw results? Did you have to do sensory activities with your child at home in addition to the therapy that your child got with a sensory therapist? How often did/does your child go for therapy?

Answer 1

First thing you need to understand with autisitc children what works today may not work tomorrow.  Autistic children's needs change daily.  My son has all kinds of sensory activities at school and at home.  We worked for years to find what works to motivate, to calm and to help him concentrate.  There is not a one size fits all with sensory.

Answer 2

The faster you come to the understanding that ASD is 24/7 the better you will be able to assist your child.  Therapies at school at an office at home - need to be connected.

I for one have seen some good outside therapists BUT I have seen many who while they may be well intentioned - really just will provide services as long as you still have money or insurance thus you may think your child is MORE impaired than he or she is.   Not all mind you but there are some so pay attention.

Answer 3

I have a child who used to bang.

We did use OT, both the somatis as well as the willabarger technique.

It worked quite well, soothing many of her dangerous self stims

It did not get rid of the banging all together, but it has diminished in frequency as well as duration. It is often a light tapping, just to stim a bit before she moves on.

We did everything at home, OT often three or four times a day.

She went for therapy whenever she plateau'ed on the somatis CD's.