Perseverating, or getting stuck on a topic or task, or repeating the same question or phrase over and over again, is common in Prader-Willi syndrome. Often, the repetitive behavior is provoked by anxiety as the repetition provides a level of comfort to an individual with PWS. Unfortunately, perseverating can be exhausting for parents and caregivers.
Here are some strategies to reduce perseverating:
- Try to identify the source of anxiety and provide the necessary information or reassurance to alleviate it.
- If you’re certain the individual already knows and understands the source of his or her anxiety, the following strategies can be used:
- Set limits. Try saying, “I’ve answered that question twice already. I will only answer it one more time and then we’re done.”
- Ask your loved one to repeat your answer: “What did I say?”
- Ask the repeated question back to the individual: “What do you think?”
- Remind your loved one he or she knows the answer to their question.
- If possible, simply ignore the repetition.
- Provide a visual response. Write the answer down, draw a picture, or point to something concrete (e.g. a schedule, calendar, etc.).
- Let your loved one have the “last word.”
- Avoid power struggles and ultimatums.
Reminder: If your loved one truly doesn’t really understand a question or situation, he or she might truly be repeating the question to gain understanding. In this case, you should rephrase your question or explain a situation using different words.
Keep in mind anything that raises anxiety has the potential to cause a behavior problem. Therefore, reducing or eliminating sources of anxiety will help reduce or eliminate behavior problems.
Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.