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Head Banging, Pediatric

Ana Catarina Garnecho, MD and Yvette E. Yatchmink, MD, PhD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Head banging (HB) is defined as the hitting of head on solid object such as a wall, side of crib, mattress, or floor.

  • Tend to hit the front or side of the head

  • Usually last for 15 minu...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Dependent on multiple factors

  • Determine factors associated with behavior, including age of child, degree of parental concern, location of behavior, associated behaviors, motivations of the ch...

TREATMENT

  • Typically developing children will outgrow the habit by age 3 years.

  • Older children may need psychological/developmental follow-up to determine delay/cognition status and to determine if beha...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • Normally disappears by age 3 to 4 years

  • Jactatio capitis nocturna is usually benign and resolves by age 5 years.

  • SMD usually peaks in adolescence and then declines.

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Harris KM, Mahone EM, Singer HS. Nonautistic motor stereotypies: clinical features and longitudinal follow-up. Pediatr Neurol.  2008;38(4):267–272. [View Abstract on OvidInsigh...

CODES

ICD9

  • 307.3 Stereotypic movement disorder

  • 780.58 Sleep related movement disorder, unspecified

ICD10

  • F98.4 Stereotyped movement disorders

  • G47.69 Other sleep related movement disorders

SNOMED

  • 43954004 Hea...

FAQ

  • Q: Can HB lead to serious head injury or neurologic damage?

  • A: Typically developing children rarely bang their heads hard enough to cause bleeding or fracture. Children with significant cognitive d...

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