There are many potential causes of challenging behavior in people with learning disabilities. These include physical causes like untreated pain or medical issues; environmental causes such as changes in routine or unstimulating surroundings; trauma from experiences like abuse; communication difficulties that can lead to frustration; and learned behavior, where challenging actions become associated with getting needs met. It is important to consider all of these potential underlying reasons when supporting someone who displays challenging behavior.

1. Causes of Challenging Behaviour

2. Causes
Causes of challenging behaviour There are many different
reasons why a person may behave in a challenging or
difficult way:
 Physical Causes
 Environmental Causes
 Trauma
 Communication
 Learnt behaviour

3. Causes
Physical causes – Individuals
may be experiencing pain but
be unable to communicate
this. They may engage in
challenging behaviour as a way
of showing they are in
discomfort. Physical
complaints such as urine tract
infections and diabetes may
also cause people to behave in
ways that may present a
challenge.

4. Causes
Environmental causes – Individuals
with autism are particularly sensitive
to their surroundings and may become
distressed by small changes to their
environment; other individuals may
respond to unstimulating
environments by being challenging.
Other changes such as moving house
or a key worker leaving may also have
a negative impact on someone with
learning disabilities.

5. Causes
Trauma – Challenging behaviour may be a response to a
trauma the individual has experienced, for example
bereavement or abuse. People with learning disabilities are
also often stigmatised and experience bullying. If they are
unable to communicate their feelings about this they may
respond with challenging behaviour.

6. Causes
Communication – Almost all people with learning disabilities
have communication difficulties. Frustration and an inability
to get their needs met may lead to challenging behaviour. It
is important to know what an individual understands and to
match your communication style to this. It is also vital to
help people communicate, through signs and symbols where
appropriate.

7. Causes
Learnt behaviour – Individuals may learn that by using
challenging behaviour they are able to get their needs met.
For example, if a person cannot speak or sign they may find
it difficult to get help from staff and they may discover that
challenging behaviour is one way to get their help. At times,
challenging behaviours may also help them to gain other
activities or to avoid tasks/situations that the individual may
not wish to be involved in.
It is worth thinking about and exploring the above
possibilities when working with or caring for someone with
challenging behaviour.