Kleefstra
Challenging Behaviour in Kleefstra Syndrome
In August 2015, members of the Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and the Kleefstra Syndrome Support Group (led by Fiona & Chris Heslehurst) teamed up with families at the Kleefstra syndrome conference. During this event, parents' experiences of their children with Kleefstra syndrome were captured on film and six short films were produced. In this fifth video, parents describe their experiences of behaviours that challenge.
Some parents report that their children with Kleefstra syndrome experience behavioural difficulties, but very little research has been conducted into this area. Common difficulties include:
• Aggressive behaviours towards others (including biting, hair pulling and hitting)
• Unpredictable mood swings
• Struggling to adapt to changes in routine
For more information on understanding challenging behaviour, go to the Key Topics area of this website and select 'Challenging Behaviour' in the drop down box. Watch this space for information on assessment and intervention in Kleefstra syndrome!
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) provided funding for these films in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, Cerebra, and UNIQUE. You can also watch a short film of parent introductions for children with Kleefstra Syndrome, and a short film about social skills, mood, communication and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Kleefstra syndrome. Keep an eye out for updates about the upcoming 2017 Kleefstra Family Conference on kleefstra.org.