Child asylum seekers in distress

A human rights inquiry has heard conditions at the Christmas Island immigration detention centre are causing children to wet their beds, bite themselves and bang their heads.

Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs visited the centre earlier in March.

The majority of the 315 children there have been detained for six to eight months.

"Most of the children were visibly distressed," Professor Triggs said on Monday, adding some told the inquiry team "this place is hell".

They had no school to attend, nowhere to play and frequently saw adults self harming.

Paediatrician Karen Zwi said it was clear the harsh conditions were taking a toll on the development of children.

She noted instances of children biting themselves and banging their heads.

Several of the children had speech developmental delays and regression such as bed wetting.