Self-Injurious Behavior in Children With Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review of Behavioral Intervention Literature.

The team hunted every single-case study on behavioral fixes for self-injury in kids with autism or other delays. They kept only papers that showed each child’s data over time. In the end, 46 studies with 66 kids met the rules.

The review asked one question: do behavioral plans lower SIB in young children with developmental disabilities?

Seventy-eight percent of the kids had clear drops in SIB after the plan started. Most studies used rewards, task changes, or brief restraints. No single method stood out as the magic piece.

Matson et al. (2008) said the same thing a decade earlier: behavioral tricks work, but proof is thin. The new review adds stricter rules and more kids, so it updates the older message.

Foti et al. (2015) push for medical checks plus behavior plans. This review sticks to behavior-only papers, so the two views sit side-by-side, not against each other.

Sasson et al. (2018) ran a matching review for inappropriate sexual behavior instead of SIB. Both find gains, yet neither can name one best tactic. Together they warn: assess first, then pick from the toolbox.

You can tell parents that most kids with autism or DD do better with a behavioral plan, but you will still need to test functions and mix tools. Track each child daily; the evidence is strong for the package, not for one single move.