Special education girl?

Question

I have this class where i help the teachers with the special education kids, the ones in wheel chairs and cant talk, But there is this one girl that hits herself, she yells and then hits herself. It makes me wonder and sad, i dont know if she can control it or not. Can she or is it part of whats wrong with her? I hold her hand so she wont hit herself is that wrong? Does it hurt her more when i hold her hand and when she tried to hit herself? I am very intrested in this girl and cant understand y she hits herself. Also she moves back and forth A LOT!! like all the time! i was just giving u that info so u know a little bit more about her. She cant talk, she screams a lot tho especially when she is about to hit herself. Can you plz help me w/ this?

Answer 1

You know that she screams just before she hits herself - so think about being ready to replace the hitting with something else.  First when she is calm give her a bean bag or soft stuffed toy and try to teach her to toss it in a laundry basket pretty close by.  When she appears to be ready to hit herself - get the bean bag or toy in her hand and get her to play that game.

sometimes you could put some lotion on her hands to give her some sensory input.

What you mostly need to help the teacher do is to distract her with something else instead of hitting.

Answer 2

PLEASE!  Go talk with the Special Education teachers and ask them what the students condition is and if there is anything you can do to help.  I am sure the parents of this student would want people who want to help know what is happening.  Most likely it is a condition the students cannot control.

Answer 3

I think the best thing to do is ask the parents your questions. They most likely can tell you her exact problems and what should be done to help her.

In fact, the school should have asked the parents already and write what the parents said in the childs IEP plan so the school will have to help her.

Look at her IEP plan and see what it states as to what her problems are and what needs to be done to help her.

Answer 4

First you need to observe carefully and take notes on what happens right before and after she hits herself.  Then see if you notice a patterns.  

For example, if she hits herself and then goes to the bathroom afterwards, she is probably trying to communicate that she needs the bathroom.

OR

If she is asked to do something and then begins to hit herself she is probably trying to avoid doing what is asked of her.

OR

If she hits herself and then people come near her, talk to her, &/or touch her and then she stops, she is probably doing it for attention.  

First you need to identify the reason she is doing it then you can figure out how to stop, change or redirect the behavior.