How to help a child with self-harm related to sensory issues

Written by Liau Alex

When children with autism face sensory issues, self-injurious behaviors become a major concern. Consider behaviors like head banging or biting, actions that cause both emotional distress and physical harm. It is crucial to tackle this problem head on, exploring effective solutions.
Self-harm becomes a way of expressing inner turmoil, especially when associated with delicate sensory issues. Unfortunately, usual approaches often fail to understand SIB related to sensory challenges. This puts parents and caregivers on a difficult journey in search of effective strategies.

Dealing with SIB related to sensory issues requires more than a quick fix: it requires a thoughtful plan. This article aims to share practical advice, highlighting why it is crucial to actively address these challenges.

Find out what makes your child uncomfortable

Finding out the things that bother your child is the first step. It’s like discovering hidden discomforts that could cause self-harm. Work with your child to understand these triggers, making the process a collaborative effort.

Offer different sensory experiences

To counter self-harm, offer alternative sensory experiences. Try different things your child can touch, hear or see to comfort them. Make their environment more comfortable by introducing tools and adjustments that meet their sensory needs.

Helping your child manage their emotions

Empower your child to manage their emotions by introducing coping strategies. Simple breathing exercises can be a calming journey for them. Encourage creative activities as means of emotional expression, creating a toolbox of coping mechanisms.

Build a Strong Support System

To combat self-harm, a strong support system is essential. Family and friends become the backbone of a loving circle, providing understanding and encouragement. Additionally, seek help from professionals who can offer tailor-made solutions, ensuring a holistic approach.

Helping your child with self-harm related to sensory issues involves understanding, collaboration and support. By identifying triggers together, providing alternative stimulation, teaching coping strategies, and fostering a strong support network, you create a foundation for your child to navigate their sensory world with resilience and attentiveness.

If your child is self-harming and you need expert help, Nurture Pods is here for you. We specialize in working with children with special needs. Our goal is simple: we create personalized plans to help each child in the best way possible.

What Makes Nurture Pods Special: A Complete Approach

Nurture Pods is different because we use proven methods that really work. Our goal is to ensure that each plan is designed specifically for your child. We are committed to providing comprehensive and effective assistance. We know that every child is unique and our goal is to help them grow and develop as much as possible.

Goals of Nurture Pods:

• Personal projects: We believe it is important to develop plans tailored to your child’s specific needs.
• Proven methods: Our methods are based on what has proven to work, thus guaranteeing the effectiveness of our assistance.
• Complete development: Nurture Pods wants to help children develop in every way: physically, mentally and emotionally.
• Full support: We offer a variety of support services because we know that helping children requires a comprehensive and varied approach.

In your journey to support your child, Nurture Pods is there with expertise and care to address the challenges of self-harming behaviors.

About the author

Liau Alex received his degree in Psychology from the National University of Singapore and specializes in childhood disorders, particularly learning and behavioral difficulties. He has many years of experience working with children with a wide range of learning and behavioral problems, many of whom have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

As an author, Alex has two titles published by Future Horizons Inc. (USA), the global leader in autism and sensory resources. Schools around the world have used his books for inclusive education and parent training for children with special needs. Titles under his name include School Shadow Guidelines (2015) and A Parent’s Guide to Early Intervention (2021).

Alex received training in Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) in Australia and then traveled to the United States, where he completed training in Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) under the guidance of Dr. Steven Gutstein and by Dr. Rachel Sheely. He has given presentations in Australia, Houston and Singapore and has also been invited to participate in media interviews. Additionally, he has worked with clients around the world including China, Taiwan, Australia, UK and USA.