Challenging Behaviour Definition
Challenging behaviour refers to actions exhibited by individuals, particularly people with learning disabilities or learning difficulties, which can be challenging to manage or understand. For people with severe learning disabilities, expressing themselves through challenging behaviours might be their way of communicating their needs or emotions. Also, people with brain-related challenges, such as dementia, frequently display challenging behaviour. It’s essential to recognise that challenging behaviours are not inherently negative but often stem from an underlying cause. Understanding challenging behaviour requires a compassionate and patient approach, delving into the root cause rather than merely reacting. By promoting positive behaviours and fostering a supportive environment, carers can create a safe space for people to express themselves more constructively, ultimately improving their overall well-being.
When experiencing challenging behaviour, especially a younger child with learning disabilities, it’s crucial to remember that these actions are their primary means of communication. The child might not have the verbal or cognitive abilities to express themselves conventionally, leading to frustration or confusion. Carers and educators must look beyond the challenging behaviours and try to interpret the underlying message being conveyed.
At Leaf Complex Care, our support workers develop effective strategies to address people’s needs and emotions with patience and understanding. We are aware that encouraging and reinforcing positive behaviour while providing the needed support can significantly impact a person’s growth and development, fostering better communication and reducing challenging behaviours over time.
Types of Challenging Behaviour
We all know that each individual is unique, and our actions and reactions can be quite diverse. Challenging behaviour can manifest in various forms, impacting both the individual and those around them. For children, these behaviours can stem from multiple factors, and when a child’s behaviour becomes challenging, it can indicate underlying hardships they might encounter. Early warning signs, such as frequent outbursts or withdrawal from social interactions, may indicate the need for understanding and support.
Recognising and addressing the challenging behaviour early on can significantly improve the child’s quality of life and overall well-being, allowing them to manage their emotions and develop healthier communication skills.
To understand challenging behaviour, we must be more socially accepting and mindful of the mental health challenges and needs people experience. In the following paragraphs, we will discuss some examples of challenging behaviour:
Physical Aggression
Physical aggression involves using forceful actions that can hurt others, like hair pulling, throwing things at people, hitting, punching, or slapping. Sometimes, these actions become a learned behaviour and can be displayed by people with learning disabilities as a way to fulfil needs when individuals know that these actions might draw social attention or help them escape from a situation.
These behaviours can cause significant physical harm and are typically driven by strong emotions such as anger or frustration, leading to poorer quality of life. Finding healthier ways to cope with these feelings and communicate needs without resorting to violence is essential, fostering a safer and more compassionate environment for everyone.
Verbal Aggression
Verbal aggression is when someone communicates in a challenging way, using offensive language, screaming, shouting, making threats or using abusive speech. This kind of behaviour often involves repetitive speech and can seriously create difficulties in social interactions and the development of healthy social skills.
It poses a significant risk to relationships, leading to conflicts and emotional harm. Addressing and managing verbal aggression effectively helps to reduce challenging behaviour and promotes behaviour management to become the central practice with a focus on a more harmonious and respectful environment for everyone involved.
Self-Harm Behaviour
Self-injurious behaviour refers to any actions that lead to individuals causing harm to themselves physically. Individuals with severe learning disabilities may exhibit various examples of such behaviour, including eye-poking, hair-pulling, hand-biting, head-banging, and skin-picking.
When an adult or young child engages in self-injurious behaviour, they experience an internal conflict, trying to cope with overwhelming feelings. This challenging behaviour can be distressing for both the individual and their family members, who often feel helpless in understanding and supporting their loved ones. However, it’s crucial to remember that self-harming is not a sign of weakness but a manifestation of inner unease.
Self-harm behaviour always has underlying reasons. Both family members and carers have various approaches to address such behaviour in individuals:
Analyse the possibility of pain as a contributing cause.
Provide instruction in good communication skills to help the person express themselves better.
Prioritise the safety of the individual.
Seek guidance from a behavioural specialist to gain further insights and assistance.
In a school or care-at-home setting, carers must approach and behave with extra compassion and dedication. Encouraging open dialogue and providing a safe space to express emotions can be the first step in helping individuals recognise their own behaviour and emotions.
Disruptive Behaviour
Disruptive behaviour refers to actions or conduct that can disrupt the learning environment and negatively impact the environment. It includes various behaviours like being out-of-seat, calling out in class, and experiencing unbalanced tempers, which can distract and make it difficult for everyone involved. Additionally, swearing, screaming, or refusing to follow instructions can create tension and impact the learning process for everyone.
In more severe cases, disruptive behaviour may manifest as inappropriate sexual behaviour. This behaviour puts many young people and adults in uncomfortable social interactions. Managing disruptive behaviour requires a compassionate approach, positive behaviour support, and an understanding of the underlying reason behind such actions. Carers can help find appropriate ways to redirect and support individuals to foster a positive and harmonious environment.
Examples of Challenging Behaviour
Challenging behaviour can be experienced across different contexts. In children, it may manifest as temper tantrums, defiance, or aggression when overwhelmed. Even in adults, challenging behaviour can emerge due to stress, communication difficulties, or unmet needs. For example, when experiencing emotional discomfort, a person may lash out verbally or turn to self-harm as a coping method.
Moreover, challenging behaviour is not limited to personal interactions alone; it can also occur in educational or workplace settings. Students might act out in class due to learning difficulties or disengagement from the material. Similarly, employees could display antagonism in their jobs if they feel undervalued or overwhelmed by the workload.
Challenging Behaviour in Children
Children displaying behaviour that challenges can be quite challenging for parents and caregivers. Sometimes, children might experience tempers when they don’t get what they want or become confrontational when feeling overwhelmed. Challenging behaviour is often a way for children to communicate their needs and emotions, even though they may not have the words to express themselves fully. Carers’ role is to understand their perspective and offer them patience, empathy, and support as they navigate their feelings and experiences.
Recognising that every child is unique and may respond differently to various situations is crucial. Some kids might act out due to changes in their routines, while others could be reacting to stressors at school or with friends. Taking the time to observe and listen to the children can provide valuable insights into the triggers of their challenging behaviour. By establishing a safe and open environment, we can encourage them to express their emotions and help them develop more adaptive coping strategies.
At Leaf Complex Care, we have in-house PBS specialist practitioners that provide valuable support and strategies for managing challenging situations effectively. With patience, consistency, and compassion, they navigate the ups and downs of challenging behaviour and help individuals grow into more emotionally resilient individuals.
Challenging Behaviour in Adults
Adult behaviour can be described as “challenging” when it puts at risk their own safety or the safety of those around them, including their carer, and when it lowers their quality of life. Furthermore, this behaviour may prevent them from engaging in everyday activities.
In adults, behaviour that challenges can be experienced as self-harm, disruptiveness, destructiveness, and aggression. As a carer, it’s essential to empathise with the reasons behind the behaviour of the person you are looking after. For example, if being in a large group triggers anxiety and agitation in the individual, the carer should arrange for a smaller gathering or provide one-on-one support.
It’s important to understand that challenging behaviours could be a way for the person to seek attention. While it’s not advisable to completely ignore them, it might be worth considering not responding directly to their behaviour. However, if their actions pose a risk to themselves or others, you must intervene calmly and responsibly.
Strategies for Addressing Challenging Behaviour
A humanised and person-centred approach can make a world of difference when managing challenging behaviour. Positive Behaviour Support is a powerful tool that focuses on understanding the root causes of challenging behaviour and tailoring strategies to meet individual needs. By taking the time to truly connect with the person, the carer is able to identify their motivations, triggers, and emotions, allowing them to develop more effective interventions.
In a person-centred approach, the emphasis is on empathy and compassion. It’s about seeing beyond the behaviour and recognising the individual’s dignity. Instead of labelling someone based on their actions, the carers strive to understand their background, experiences, and personal challenges. That way, they can develop personalised interventions that support positive change and growth. This approach encourages collaboration with the individual, their support network, and professionals, creating a holistic support system that fosters a sense of understanding, trust, and empowerment.
Some additional strategies that help people with behaviour that challenges live more fulfilled lives include:
Positive reinforcement – Carers emphasise people’s positive characteristics instead of pointing out what’s wrong. This way, they feel appreciated and motivated to keep behaving positively.
Healthy communication – Talking openly and calmly about the behaviour helps everyone understand why it’s happening in the first place. The carers listen carefully and show empathy. They can collaborate to discover a solution that works for everyone after they identify the primary cause.
Showing patience and avoiding quick judgements – Every individual has unique needs and challenges. It takes humble understanding and compassion to turn challenging behaviour around.
Leaf Complex Care Applies Humanised Approach to Address Challenging Behaviour
At Leaf Complex Care, our exceptional support workers are experts at managing challenging behaviours with a caring and human touch. Through our extensive knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) techniques, we prioritise understanding and compassion to bring out the best in the people we care for.
Our person-centred approach means that each individual’s unique needs and preferences are at the heart of everything we do. We take pride in developing tailored care packages that cater to the specific requirements of the people in our care. With dedication and empathy, our team is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of people with behaviours that challenge, providing them with the utmost care and support.
We deliver our humanised services across the UK, and our offices are located in Bristol, Slough, Somerset and Birmingham.
Contact us today and discover the full range of our services and how we can support your loved one’s needs.
