Hi all! My name is Beth and I’m an Occupational Therapist. I’ve been practicing at BP&HT for just about a year. Before that, I was at a school for kids with autism. I’m hoping to use this space to talk about different ideas that can be used to help kids at home and at school. These may be sensory, behavioral or just some information on why kids do what they do. In case it isn’t readily apparent, I am one person. I don’t have all the answers and any suggestions will NOT work with all kids. If I ever figure out all the answers, I will let you know! Also, you are all invited to stay with me on the island I will be buying with the proceeds.

The first thing I want to talk about is stereotyped behaviors. A stereotyped behavior is a repetitive, seemingly purposeless behavior that a person engages in. Some examples include rocking, jumping, yelling, toe tapping, verbal tics, throat clearing, biting nails, hitting, etc. Stereotyped behaviors are often seen in kids with autism, but they can be seen in other people as well. If you think about it, you probably use pointless little movements throughout the day. Do you tap your toes while watching television or sit in a meeting? Do you doodle in the margins of handout or notes? These are little behaviors you do to help your system get through the day. Hopefully, they don’t interfere with your day to day life, so you don’t think about them. When they DO get in the way, that’s when you start trying to break a habit. And, I’m sure you know, it’s easier said than done.

Before you start to help a person reduce a behavior, you have to try to understand why it exists. Stereotyped behaviors may seem purposeless, but they are not. All behaviors serve a function, especially if a person cannot communicate well. When you can’t say “My head really hurts a lot,” you might scream, cry and rub or hit your head. You might also strike out at the person who is trying to teach you to tie your shoes. If you have sensitive hearing you might cover your ears and hum. If you have decreased sensation in your hands or feet you might flap your hands, jump or stomp. You should also look at how the behavior affects a person. Ask yourself “So, what?” Does the behavior cause any harm? Is it hurting someone or damaging property? Does it use up a significant amount of time? Does it cause any sort of social stigma? No? Then, so what? There are probably other behaviors or concerns that can be worked on. Yes? Then it’s time to start trying to reduce that behavior!

So, now that we know what stereotyped behaviors are, how do we reduce them? First, find the purpose of the behavior. But, how can I do that? You ask. It’s not easy, I reply. But it is possible! First, if the person whose behavior you want to reduce is verbal and can explain things, ask them flat out “Why do you do that?” Sound interested, not accusatory. Example: “Mary, I’m curious. Why do you like to hop so much?” If they can respond, even a little, you have a place to start. If the person is not verbal, or cannot explain very well, you will have to rely on observation. Get a note book (or two) and start tracking. Don’t make it difficult or time consuming. You need to make this as easy as possible on yourself. Make yourself a little chart or table with headings such as “Wake up,” “Breakfast,” “After School,” “Bedtime,” and start writing down what behaviors you see. After a week, look at it and see if you notice patterns. Try to get teachers, babysitters, etc. in on this too. You can also ask your friendly neighborhood OT for help. They may have some ready-made charts you can adapt. They may be able to help interpret your results. They should also be able to help brainstorm solutions to help reduce stereotyped behaviors.

Join me next time when we look at strategies to reduce stereotyped behaviors!