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3 Year Old Self Harming

GuestGuest Member Posts: 1,968
edited June 2014 in Parents, carers and disabled parents
Hi,

I'm fairly new to the site and was just wondering if any one has experienced the same issues we are having with our three year old daugher.

Chloe has spastic quadriplegia and cannot walk or talk. We are finding that she is scratching her face so bad it bleeds when things dont go her way or if she wakes up in the night (which is becoming a large problem.

We have tried putting gloves on her hands but all she does it bite her hands so hard she makes them bleed and as a result is covered in scabs on her face and hands.

We havent really found a solution and the phsyciatrists advise hasnt helped the issue.
Chloe is a gorgeous little girl and this constant scratching and biting is beginig to scar as the wounds arent getting a chance to heal.

Has any one else experienced this or have any ideas to reduce the issue?

Paul
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Replies

  • mafalamafala Member Posts: 72 Listener
    I'm sorry to hear this. It must be very distressing. It sounds like Chloe needs to communicate something and gets angry when she can't put it across. If she has age appropriate intelligence as most CP kids have, she could be getting very frustrated from her inability to communicate. I can just imagine how that must be like to have thoughts and wishes that you can't expressed. Is she getting any regular speech and language input and being taught how to use some communication devise?
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  • pauljgordonpauljgordon Member Posts: 2
    Hi,

    I'm fairly new to the site and was just wondering if any one has experienced the same issues we are having with our three year old daugher.

    Chloe has spastic quadriplegia and cannot walk or talk. We are finding that she is scratching her face so bad it bleeds when things dont go her way or if she wakes up in the night (which is becoming a large problem.

    We have tried putting gloves on her hands but all she does it bite her hands so hard she makes them bleed and as a result is covered in scabs on her face and hands.

    We havent really found a solution and the phsyciatrists advise hasnt helped the issue.
    Chloe is a gorgeous little girl and this constant scratching and biting is beginig to scar as the wounds arent getting a chance to heal.

    Has any one else experienced this or have any ideas to reduce the issue?

    Paul
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  • pauljgordonpauljgordon Member Posts: 2
    The local speech and language therapist was seen by us about 3 times since she has been diagnosed, we expressed our concern with this and were told that resources are stretched.
    The plus side is Chloe has just started Fairfields pre school where they have on site therapists and they have began to introduce communication devices with multiple choice pictures.
    It's horrible to watch her get so frustrated. Lets hope persisting with the visual aids will help her and reduce the anger.
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  • mafalamafala Member Posts: 72 Listener
    My son got a referral to the Wolfson Centre at Great Ormond Street many years ago. They specialise in children with complex communication needs and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) aids. They can do an assessment of need and recommend specialist equipment. Your daughter is at a good age to start introducing a computer to help her communicate. They can't fund equipment, but their recommendation can help in getting funding for equipment from charities or from the local education authority. If you want more information please look at www.communicationmatters.org.uk.

    My son has speech but problems with intelligibility but he doesn't use an AAC yet. Long story. There are a couple of parents on here who know a lot more about AAC than me who might be able to advice you.
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  • chrissy16chrissy16 Member Posts: 1
    Hi Paul,

    I've just stumbled across your post from January.

    I've written various articles about a handful few pre-school kids who have self harmed and, in my experience, it's normally down to the child being frustrated and/or unable to communicate effectively. Interaction with other children with the same or similar condition may help or perhaps more one on one time with your daughter.

    Just thought I should say seeing as though it's something I've come across before.

    I hope Chloe has made some progress since your post.

    If you're interested to speak to me about my experiences with self harming children or would like to consider rasing awarness of self harming, please let me know. Prob best to email (email address removed by forum moderator)

    Hope all is getting better now

    Christina x
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  • caitlin10caitlin10 Member Posts: 6
    Hello Paul
    ive just found out my liitle girl has CP shes 10 months old now but i have been lucky enough to go on a course at my local baby group to learn Mackaton baby sign language.
    I realised when she was 2 months old something was not right and have always wanted to learn to sign and thought if her diagnosis was CP she might get frustrated later in life if her speech is effected so i did the course. I was just wondering how your little girl was now? And weather signing would be any good for her and help her frustrations?
    Hope you are all doing well

    Caitlin
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