Learning disability and challenging behaviour
8th November 2019
By Demi
What is a learning disability?
Learning disability is a broad term used to describe individuals with a lower intellectual ability and a significant impairment of social functioning which was onset during early childhood. A learning disability can range in severity and consequently this affects the amount of support a person requires daily.
What is challenging behaviour?
Challenging behaviour describes behaviours that may be harmful to an individual themselves or to others. These behaviours can be disruptive to a persons’ everyday life.
Some examples of challenging behaviour include:
- aggressive behaviour sometimes directed to those around them or the environment (i.e. hitting, grabbing, shouting and swearing)
- self-injurious behaviour
- disengaged from other people
- destructive behaviour
Why is it more prevalent in those with learning disabilities?
Challenging behaviours are more prevalent in those with a learning disability, particularly in those where the disability is more severe and those in hospital settings.
This can sometimes be due to the difficulty in communicating and expressing emotions. Therefore, challenging behaviours may be used in order to attract attention from those around them, to avoid demands, to communicate effectively or for sensory stimulation.
Some examples of when challenging behaviours can occur include:
- physical health problems (i.e. medical problems, pain)
- when the persons’ needs are not being met
- environment (i.e. abusive, restrictive, crowded)
- triggers in the environment (i.e. a particular noise)
- deterioration in mental health
How to manage challenging behaviour
There are a variety of ways to help manage challenging behaviour in those with learning disabilities. As mentioned above, challenging behaviour can be entirely unpredictable and caused by a number of factors, thus it is important to tailor management techniques to fit an individual’s needs.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is an approach developed to help those with learning disabilities who may present with challenging behaviours. PBS provides effective support that enables those to learn new skills in order to meet their specific needs which can help significantly reduce challenging behaviours. PBS is a proactive strategy to try and prevent challenging behaviours by providing a supportive environment that allows individuals to learn new skills in order to manage their challenging behaviours.
Other ways to help manage challenging behaviours can include:
- identify any environmental or personal triggers
- help an individual express their needs (i.e. communication techniques such a Makaton or social story boards)
- engage individuals in activities they enjoy and that are stimulating
- introduce the support of professionals if necessary
References
https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/conditions/challenging-behaviour
https://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/understanding-behaviour/keymessagespbs.html