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Why has my child started head banging?.
A
It may be hard to believe but
children often start head banging as a means of comfort or soothing themselves.
It can start as a brief spell of head banging and then may continue like a routine
or ritual.
Reasons for head banging
- Initially head banging
can start as a means of providing pain relief. Head banging is common in children
with ear infections or who are teething and somehow the back and forth rhythm
helps. It is thought that the head banging may also help to distract the child
from the pain. It goes without saying that you should have your child checked
out by the GP to rule out any medical condition that may be the cause of the
head banging, and before you consider it to be a behavioural issue.
- Some children also use
head banging as a means of expressing frustration. Certainly, this again is
associated with the child’s developmental stages and language development.
A child may use head banging as a means to express their frustration as they
can not yet communicate their needs and wants in a way that can be understood.
- Head banging can also
be a sign of some developmental disorders such as Autism. This is not the
only symptom of this disorder. However, if you are concerned about any aspect
of your child’s development do contact your GP or Health Visitor who
can give you help and advice.
health visitor
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