WHAT CAN WE DO WHEN CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY OR MULTIPLE DISABILITIES SHOUT WITHOUT AN APPARENT REASON?

 

     Sometimes, children with Intellectual Disability (ID) or with Multiple Disabilities (MD), have difficulty identifying and communicating what they are feeling or what they need, and for this reason, it is often that they feel nervous and south. That is why, the first thing we need to keep in mind when we see a child with ID or MD shouting without an apparent excuse, is that he or she is traying to communicate something.

        There are different variables that might cause a child to shout. These variables depend on the nature and level of the ID or MD and can be related to different areas, such as communication, health, adaptation to the environment, or cognitive. Thus, the most common reasons why a child with ID or MD shout are:

 

CAUSES OF SHOUTING

Æ He feels hungry or sleepy and does not understand what he is feeling, nor to communicate it in a functional way. Æ He feels pain in some part of his body. Sometimes, when these children feel pain, besides shouting, they hit with their hands the part of the body that hurts. Æ Any environmental factor is bothering him. For example, some smell, the light, some noise, or some texture, among other examples. Æ He feels tired but he does not realize, or he does not know how to communicate it in a functional way. Æ Some routine changed and nobody told him in advance. Æ He has anxiety or feels scared. Æ He is anticipating an unpleasant event. For example, going to the doctor or the dentist. Æ He does not understand what you are explaining to him. Æ He feels frustrated because he cannot communicate, or you do not understand what he is trying to tell you. Æ He is mad or upset and he does not know how to communicate it. Æ He is very excited about something that he likes very much. Æ He feels nervous and shouting helps him calm down. Æ He does not know how to express his emotions. Æ He has difficulty controlling his emotions and behaviors. Æ By shouting he balances his emotions and sensations. Æ He uses echolalia. In this case, we need to find out the function of that echolalia. Æ He has shouted since he was small to bring attention or to get something, and the people of his environment reinforced that behavior.

          It is important to identify the reason why our child/student with ID or MD is shouting and help him understand that reason. At the same time, we need to teach them strategies to calm down during those situations, as well as alternative behaviors to communicate their emotions and needs properly.

What can parents and teachers do in these situations?

        When you child/student is shouting, and you do not understand why, the first thing we need to do is try to calm him down. How can we do that? Below you can see some strategies:

Æ Stay calm. Do not feel nervous, nor yell at him or tell him to calm down or shut up. Æ Show patience and empathy. Æ Tickle him softly on his arm, hands, neck, or belly. Æ Sing a calming song that he likes. Æ Go for a walk together. Æ Use a calm down kit: calming lavender playdough, calm down cards, small containers of bubbles, chewelry, weighted stuffed animals, calm down bottles, weighted blanket, soft blanket, noise cancelling headphones, kaleidoscope, liquid motion bubble timer, squishies, framed photo of family or loved ones, texture sensory balls, pinwheel, sensory bag, among other examples. Æ Use a metronome to synchronize his breathing and calm down. For children who are deaf or deaf-blind, you can play some calming beats. The child can put one hand on a speaker to feel the beats, and the other hand on his belly. This way, he can synchronize his breathing with the beats and calm down  Æ Use some breathing or mindfulness technique to help him calm down.

 

         Once our child/student is calm, we can teach him alternative behaviors to express or communicate what he needs or feels properly. Previously, it is very important to help our child or student understand why he is shouting and explain to him that the best way to express what he feels/needs, is through the proper behavior that we will teach him.

 

REMEMBER!

        Children with ID or MD do not shout to bring attention or because they are misbehaving. Most of the time, they are trying to communicate something. If you see a child with ID or MD shouting, please be tolerant, never judge him. It is not that he is spoilt or that his parents or teachers are too permissive. On the contrary, the child is having a hard time trying to understand what he is feeling and trying to communicate it. At the same time, parents and teachers are also doing their best trying to understand what the child is communicating.