Biting

[Trishmomof4]

Shelby has a bad habit of biting herself. To the point of bruising her hands and arms. She bites when she is frustrated, angry, or even excited. I have been putting sweat bands on her arms and gloves with the fingers cut off no her hands to keep her from bruising but I was wondering if anyone has any ideas that might help her stop this behavior.

TIA

[Brandon's Mom]

Brandon used to have problems with biting himself as well (and occassionally other people). He can't use his left arm/hand as anything but an assist because of his Cerebral Palsy, so his left wrist was most commonly his target. He would bite down on it so hard that he not only would break the skin and bruise it, but we literally could not pull it out of his mouth.

His psychiatrist ended up putting him on a medication but I can't remember what she gave him, so sorry. I know it was a med used for aggression and OCD. The medication helped, he stayed on it for about 6 months and when he was weaned he did not return to the biting.

I know some of the other people who've had kids with biting issues have given them objects such as washcloths, latex tubes, etc.... to chew on instead. We tried that with Brandon but we never could convince him to bite on the objects rather than himself.

[Trishmomof4]

I know some of the other people who've had kids with biting issues have given them objects such as washcloths, latex tubes, etc.... to chew on instead. We tried that with Brandon but we never could convince him to bite on the objects rather than himself.


That is our problem too giving her an object doesn't help at all and I am past the point of frustration over this it has been going on for years and I tell her doctor about and he says it is something a lot of kids with CP do. I just hate that she is obviously hurting herself and of course the looks I get becuase of it are not welcome either.

[glad2beadam's mom!]

Adam is biting himself some too, although he does understand it when we tell him to stop. He also wants to put two fingers in his mouth on his left hand, sometimes he bites on them too. He has never broken the skin, thankfully! We are constantly trying to break this self stimulating behavior. Sometimes I feel like it's a loosing battle. It used to be scratching for Adam...now he's stopped scratching and started the biting thing! One little boy at his school does it so much they put fingerless gloves on him...I really don't want to resort to this. I know from other parents that often kids like ours will move from one self stimulating behavior to another. :(

[lisa6wks]

There is a medication named Naltrexone that is usually used for treating alcoholism but is now being used for treating children with autism who engage in self injurious behaviors. You might want to ask your doctor about it if you think it has gotten to the point where you are ready to try medication. I have had no experience with it as yet.

Lisa

[Trishmomof4]

Thank you Jennifer and Lisa for your helpful replies Lisa I will definitely write the name of that med down and ask her ped about it to see what he thinks. I really am not sure I want to medicate her but I also don't want her to continue biting she has gotten so bad that she is bruising through the gloves and she has these knots on the back of her left hand where she has bitten so hard.