Challenging behavior is a term used to describe a range of behaviors that some people with severe learning disabilities may display when their needs are not being met. These behaviors can be harmful to the person and others around them and can stop the person from achieving things in their daily life, such as making friends or concentrating at school. Challenging behavior can include behaviors such as hurting others, self-injury, destructive behaviors, eating inedible objects, spitting, smearing, removing clothes in public, running off, and other behaviors.

Challenging behavior can be seen in people with health problems that affect communication and the brain, such as learning disabilities or dementia. Many challenging behaviors are effective ways for a person with a learning disability to control what is going on around them. It can also be a sign that something is wrong, like pain or discomfort, that the person cannot express in another way.

Living with challenging behavior can be a stressful and exhausting time for both the person with the disability and their family and friends. Effective ways to discourage challenging behaviors in a child include using a positive and constructive approach, rewarding good behaviors often, and focusing on positive aspects of the childs behavior, rather than directing attention to negative behaviors.

In summary, challenging behavior is a term used to describe a range of behaviors that some people with severe learning disabilities may display when their needs are not being met. These behaviors can be harmful to the person and others around them and can stop the person from achieving things in their daily life. Challenging behavior can be seen in people with health problems that affect communication and the brain, such as learning disabilities or dementia. Effective ways to discourage challenging behaviors in a child include using a positive and constructive approach, rewarding good behaviors often, and focusing on positive aspects of the childs behavior.