Decreasing Self-Injurious Behaviors in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Laura Bell

Background

• Children with ASD exhibit a unique collection of symptoms
• Deficits in socialization, communication, interests and activities
• Perseverating on a single topic or activity
• Patterns of repetitive and restrictive behaviors (stereotypies) that serve multiple functions (Heflin & Alaimo, 2007)

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• Approximately 30% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) display self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) (Soke et al, 2016)
• Increased concern in developing successful interventions for problem behaviors in ASD due to rise in diagnoses and lasting effects (Doughty & Doughty, 2008)

SIBs

• The Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R)- examines repetitive and restrictive behaviors in autism
• One of the six sub-categories is SIBs, defined as "actions that cause or have the potential to cause redness, bruising, or other injury to the body" (Lam & Aman, 2007)
• Eight behaviors within the subcategory: hits with body, hits with object, pulls hair/skin, hits against surface, picks skin, bites self, rubs/scratches, and inserts finger/object (Lam & Aman, 2007)
• SIBs cause significant impairments that can occupy waking hours and profoundly interfere with daily life
• SIBs are generally socially inappropriate and may become stigmatizing to individual