DS "Watching shows in his head"

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
DS "Watching shows in his head"
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Thu, 02-22-2007 - 9:17am

I am wondering whether to be amused of concerned about this. I have mentioned before that Eric (4) has a rather annoying stim of grinding his teeth while making what I call humming "bird noises." The dentist says the grinding is now affecting his teeth, they are still baby teeth, the we need a solution before his permanent ones come it.

I'm just hoping it will pass, like other stims. Neurologist suggests injecting botox, he says grinding in the daytime is a really hard habit to break. I'm sorry, I'm not injecting botox. I really like our neuro, but we do at times disagree and this is one of them.

Anyway, I asked Eric why he grinds his teeth. He said, it feels good. I said, like when you twirl your hair or walk on your toes, he said, "yeh, like that." Then he offered, when I do this, I am also "watching shows in my head." OK. So I get the stim part and I'm not doing anything about that. Tried various chew substitutes to no avail.

But the "watching shows" part, what do you think of that? Whenever I catch him doing this (which is whenever he has "down" time, riding in car, watching tv, basically any time he is not talking) I ask "what show are you watching?" And he always has a very specific answer. Sometimes when I have asked him to do something, he'll say "wait, I'm at a good part." Then two seconds later, "ok, it's over, I turned it off."

Should I worry about this or what? I mean, he is an imaginative kid and he can "turn it off" so he says.

What do you think? Or do you have ideas about the grinding thing, other than botox!

Katherine

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2006
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 12:19pm

My gut feeling about the "watching shows in his head" is that if it were me, I would not do anything to discourage that.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 1:30pm

Thanks, Evelyn.

That sort was my feeling too, Temple Grandin's "thinking in pictures" and all...

I'm not discouraging it. I do worry at times that he spends a bit too much time in his on little world, but like you say, he can "turn it off."

I do actually find it sort of interesting. I really believe him, I think he actually is "seeing" what he is talking about.

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 1:57pm

Don't dentist give you some kind of plate to put in your mouth at night when you grind your teeth? I thought they did, but of course I could be wrong. Its not the first time lol.

Maybe ask another dentist about this?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 3:02pm

Yes, the dentist could give a guard for night. But he does not grind at night. He grinds during the day. MANY times a day. When I put him to bed he is usually grinding and making his humming noises. As soon as he falls asleep, the grinding and noise stops. He can't really wear a guard during the day.

Now, my DH grinds at night and wears the guard, but the sense is DS's problem is a bit different.

It's the neurologist that wants the botox, don't ask me why. The dentist said it is very rare to grind teeth during the day so much. She said if he doesn't outgrow it when he has permenant teeth and if he's wearing them down we would consider caps or something. I just hope he outgrows it!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 3:21pm
I sure hope he does poor guy. Darn, your right, he can't wear it all day. I would feel the same way about botox... YIKES!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 3:52pm

On the "Tv shows" thing I wouldn't do anything different than what you are. As long as he can turn them off and connect when you ask him too. In fact, it sounds like something I would develop to use in others areas as a skill. For instance, in writing. This would be great for developing his writing skills if he writes about his shows. You could also use them to foster more flexible and creative thinking. Get him to share the shows with you sometimes and have him think of different and alternative endings, scenes, etc.

AND big one! Social stories type stuff. Perhaps he can use this method to reinact, role play and change around different social strategies you are teaching him. He could make different TV shows for different skills.

As for the grinding.....I have a thought. Since you have said it is during these shows AND you have tried many other chewing type interventions AND you mentioned the sound it makes, I am thinking the sensory need here isn't the proprioceptive feeling in the teeth. I bet it is auditory. He is trying to drown out other noise so he can focus on his show. Try headphones with music or white noise, ear plugs, etc. Just a thought.

Renee

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Registered: 10-03-2004
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 8:54pm

Ah, yes, the movies in their heads. Both my guys do that, older and younger. They both replay films or TV shows, and also write their own. And they can replay scenes from life in their heads, too, I am pretty sure. My dh has repeated conversations I have said to him in the past word for word, ds also will correct my memory with the exact wording of past conversations. Way creepy, also totally unfair in an argument.

My personal theory is that THEY ARE BOTH ALIENS!!!!!

Sara

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Registered: 12-22-2003
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 10:11pm

This happens to be my youngest's favorite pasttime! Unfortunately, she's not so easy to snap out of it. Regardless, we don't discourage it. It's comforting to her and honestly, we find it hysterically funny! (most of the time) My favorite moments are when she assumes I'm seeing the same thing in MY head and tries to get me to script with her...except I've never seen the show/movie/game so I can't do the dialogue with her! She gets totally irritated with me and stomps off with a very dramatic "harumph!" LOL

Amy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 10:48pm

Thanks, Renee, you are a genius!

I bet you are right, it makes total sense that it is auditory. I'll also give your other suggestions a try too and report back!

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 10:52pm

Dear Amy and Sara,

Glad to know we're not alone!

Katherine

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