Posted by:
Rebeckah
(
)
Date: December 01, 2010 02:47AM
It's not understood why. There is speculation that it is because of sensory issues -- some people with autism don't seem to feel connected with their bodies and pain helps them "connect" with their physical dimensions.
She could be expressing anger at being told something she doesn't want to hear and hurting herself because of that.
My cousin used to take our hand and dig his chin into it when he was frustrated. After we convinced him that wasn't okay, we had to teach him that he couldn't do it to himself either.
My grandson has only harmed himself once. His first day of kindergarten (when they tried to mainstream him) was so traumatic and over sensitizing to him that he sat next to the teacher's file cabinet and banged his head against it. He'd never done anything like that before. But I think the noise, movement, colors and demands were so overwhelming that banging his head was the only way he could find to block it all out. (He's doing much better this year. He was in an integrated classroom after that first disasterous week and this year he's mainstreamed with an aide and doing well.)
This page might give you a starting point on where to go for more information.
http://www.autism-help.org/behavior-self-injury-intro.htm