Understanding and Treating SelfInjurious Behavior in Autism by Stephen M. Edelson

Self-injurious behavior occurs in almost half of those with autism and is one of the most devastating and challenging-to-treat behaviors.There are many different forms of self-injury, such as head banging, hand biting, hair pulling, excessive scratching, and much more.With contributions from the leading experts in research and treatment, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or related developmental disabilities, and the different methods available to treat them. Medical and behavioral researchers have studied SIB for over 50 years, but many practitioners and parents are still unfamiliar with the wide range of contributing causes and treatment options.Beginning with an explanation of SIB and its various forms, the contributors outline the many possible underlying causes of self-injury, such as seizures, hormonal imbalance in teenagers, gastrointestinal conditions, allergies, and stress, and show how a m