Ok- I really need advice now.....
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| Tue, 09-27-2005 - 6:16pm |
I posted last week that I thought Ian might be starting some sort of stimming behavior. I am pretty positive now. He violently shakes his head back and forth, but is getting some sort of calming benefit out of it. It is not that he does it when he is upset necessarily. He was dancing at a restaurant (to "Play That Funky Music White Boy"- it was already ready to crawl under the table!), and when the song was done he started eating again, and then started violently shaking his head. He was not crying or upset and after about 45 solid second of this violent shaking, he stopped and went back to eating again. He was not scared, upset, etc. But, after he did it he seemed quite calm and less antsy.
This behavior is now happening every day. I swear it looks like he is going to shake his head off his shoulders. What do I do? Have have a speech therapist, developmental therapist and RDI therapist for him, but nothing for sensor issues since until now it has not been much of an issue.
Do I stop Ian (he will through a fit if I try to stop him)? Do you have any coping strategies or things you do with your child that would help me address this? Before I take him for sensory help (be as so busy with classes as it is!), I was wondering if you had any thoughts or suggestions I could implement now???
Thanks!
Marisol
Mommy to Ian (2 1/2) and Ava (8 months)

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Hi Marisol,
I don't know if I have the best suggestion, but I know others here will have btdt advice. But I know misery loves company and wanted to share with you what Eric (3) is doing and what our OT suggested.
Eric's stims definitely come and go and seem to increase for a few reasons that I know about: stress, relaxation (often goes with stress!), and new developmental skills (also, stressful, probably and hence the need for relaxation.)
We just started SPED preschool and although the class is only 3 hours and it is oriented to meet his needs, I know it takes all his concentration. When he comes home now, it is stim city, including using peripheral vision more than usual and creating some visual stim by turning his head from side to side very slowly. All the better if TV is involved! (Not shaking his head, but slowly moving it slowly from side to side with his gace right in front of the tv.) He's also started twirling his hair, gone back to toe walking which he had quit, and flapping more. He is just generally over the top "stimmy." He also will fall on the floor and say, "I'm broken, fix me." So he is sort of aware of his feeling a bit off.
However, due to his new school, his speech and pragmatics have gotten much better. He has also just started pretending and now has an imaginary friend. If it were not for the stimming, I'd be in heaven with his progress! His mood is generally much better and he seems happy, despite the stimming. Eric has always had some sensory problems and our OT feels this "self OT" if you will, is just a stress reliever. She said we should not stop him unless he is hurting himself, not call attention to what he is doing, but give him more of a "sensory diet." So we go to the park and swing more. We have a mini-tramp at home that is getting a great work out. We spend some time just "running around" in the yard.
She also said to do joint compressions. An OT might have to show you how to do it, but it's kind of a relaxation, massage kind of technique. We are doing a lot of "Eric sandwhiches" where we put pillows on top of him and "squish" him. These things don't address the visual stim of head shaking, but more address Eric's need for stimulation.
I hope this gives you some ideas. But I hear you. I hate seeing Eric kind of "flip out" but this time I can see that he is not regressing in other areas, it is quite the contrary, so I am trying to be understanding. I'd be curious about other people's ideas, as Eric is so young. The visual stim thing troubles me too, so I can totally see how it would be troublesome to you.
P.S. Eric likes funk music too. We are currently also into a space fascination and the movie of choice is "Muppets from Space" which has a cool funk soundtrack!
Katherine
Since this is recent have you checked everything medical. Made sure there was no ear infection, extra fluid in ears, etc? I also know of a mom who's son did loads of head banging that got better with cranial sacral treatments.(don't get freaked. I hear it is quite mild but it is basically chiropracty for the skull).
Since it is new, and since he is so adamant about it and it is definitely an odd one, I would check all the medical stuff first.
Renee
sounds to me like he has discovered that shaking his head gives him a feeling that he likes, almost a calming effect. i wouldn't stop it personally. but maybe you can give him deep pressure on his head throughout the day. our OT showed us how and it would be hard to explain. but if it's firm, not rough i can't see it being harmful. follow your son's lead and see what he likes. my son will move my hands to the area he wants pressure.
however, if it's not the input he's seeking, it could be a visual stim. or, it could even be a vestibular thing--meaning he gets that dizzy feeling from doing it.
try to see if he is calm afterward. or is he more revved up. or does he seem dizzy. let us know, valerie
Hi Marisol,
Jack started a stim where he lies on his stomach and "scissors" his legs apart and closed (toning those muscles, LOL!) Some days it's quite a bit, and then sometimes we don't see it for weeks. Per prof. advice, we stop him immediately. I have him kinda' trained: He knows when he sees me walk over that he better stop, and he does.
It definitely is a sensory thing and is meeting some kind of need for Ian, so I'd talk with an OT to find out better ways to meet the need. I think that "head shaking" (a la Stevie Wonder) isn't uncommon in our kids... And not that stimming is in and of itself so terrible. But one like that is really visible to other people and therefore not so great.
Take care,
Cathy
Marisol,
ITA with Renee, to rule of medical stuff, Added bonus of seeing the doc: You can ask if s/he thinks this is safe behaviour (if you are lucky, he may do it in the office). If the doc thinks it's OK, ignore the rest of this post and let him calm himself in his chosen manner.
Check if he is keeping his eyes open or closed while shaking his head.
If his eyes are open, it may be a visual stim. Try getting some of those lighted twirly toys for him to hold and look at.
If closed: probably vestibular (motion) as Val suggested. Try a sit&spin, or mini trampoline, if you have one.
GL and HTH
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Hi Marisol
I lurk on this board frequently (I post on the hypotonia board), my DS does not have an official dx but does have sensory issues, hypotonia, and speech delay. I feel in my heart that he is on the spectrum, but I have been repeatedly told no by docs, therapists etc. (I will keep pushing the issue though) Anyway, when I read your original post, you could have been describing Owen - he has had this head shaking behavior since he was about 4 months old (now 15 months)
He shakes his head so violently that I am convinced he is scrambling his brains - he also hums while he does this. He primarily does this in the car, stroller, and in bed, but it will creep up at other times occasionally. It is worse when he is teething, sick or has an ear infection. All of his docs and therapists have said to redirect (he also fusses if you try to overtly stop him, but if I can distract him he responds better)
We have an appt. tommorrow and I plan to bring this behavior up again - I also want to push for an eval. but I think they will say he is too young. Our ped. has seen him do this, and he said it is definately not a "normal" behavior, but as long as I can distract him out of it than to let him go and redirect if possible. I just hate it - the shaking is so violent.
I am sorry I do not have any great advice for you - but I completely understand how you feel and how upsetting it is to watch the kids do this. You are the first person I have "met" who is also dealing w/ this particular behavior. If you have time, please let me know what you find out
Jenny
BTW I was interested in Paula's post about whether your sons eyes are open or closed during this behavior - I think Owen's are open, but not 100% sure I plan on watching tommorrow, maybe I can get some better insight as to why he does this. One other thing, I have found that toys w/ some vibration (mild) help him to stop shaking esp. in the car
My 8yo DS (moderate autism) frequently hums while shaking his head from side to side. At first it was very disconcerting, but over many years I've gotten used to it.
My basic rule of thumb is that it's not hurting him and is giving him peace in such a frightenting, confusing world :-)
I'd no sooner give up my caffeine crutch than remove his stimming crutch
Jenny,
I wanted to pick up on something you said, and this is not a criticism of you, but a point I want to make to everyone:
>>Our ped. has seen him do this, and he said it is definately not a "normal" behavior, but as long as I can distract him out of it than to let him go and redirect if possible.<<
Well, of course it's not *normal* behaviour. We all know that. However it seems to impart a beneficial effect on the child, so the question is not if it is normal, but if it is physically *harmful*? I.e. will it actually "scramble his brains"?
If it is not harmful, I say to let him do it, if it is; redirect.
I don't see why people get so hung up on making kids with non-standard brain pathologies act 'normal'.
OK I'm off my soapbox.
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Paula,
My son does some stimming. He jumps and flaps when excited and he does this skipping/pacing/mumbling thing. We never used to redirect him at all. I felt kind of like you do. But now Kyle is 10yrs old and he does this stimming at school. The stimming is harming him socially. That to me is a good reason to stop the stimming behavior. I know am second guessing our decisions about stimming when he was younger. KWIM?
Samantha
Smnatha,
We could get into a whole loooooong discussion about this, and I definitely think age is a factor. What may be acceptable behaviour for a 3yo may not be so acceptable for a 10yo. However a 10yo can usually be reasoned with more easily than a 3yo.
It raises a slew of issues such as:
When to tell a kids s/he is nonstandard?
How to tell them?
How to teach them to deal with it and the world?
But onto the more specific issue of stims: I think stims should not be altogether removed, but if possible replaced by a more socially acceptable version -at least in public.
Also, I strongly believe in sensory therapy as a way to gradually reduce the *need* to stim.
I do understand that there is an element of social acceptability and "fitting in" here, (-althought I rebel against it! LOL).
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
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