Hand Flapping...Chewing....scripting?

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Registered: 09-15-2003
Hand Flapping...Chewing....scripting?
27
Sat, 07-16-2005 - 10:30pm

Hi. My son is diagnosed with verbal dyspraxia but I suspect at some point he may receive a diagnosis somewhere on the spectrum - maybe PDDNOS or Aspergers along with the dyspraxia. I have a few questions about his quirks.

Hand flapping - Is is always a bad sign? Does anyone have a NT child that did it?
Does it look the way it sounds? My son will flap his hands (not near face though) when he likes a play activity.

Chewing - My son loves to chew on things at age 3 1/2. He will chew on his clothes, pillows or blankets. I offer him a wet washcloth, to meet this need in a slightly more socially acceptable way. I don't know if this could be a spectrum/stimulatory type behavior or if it could be a need for oral stimulation, to strengthen his weak muscles..

Scripting - My son does what I refer to as scripting. He repeats extended segements of books or videos. Again, does anyone have a NT child that did this?

Hyperlexic - Is anyone else's child reading?

He does have lots of strengths. He is very connected with family members. We already get plenty of services.....my questions are more about my attempt to figure out his true diagnosis. I am a chronic over analyzer and worrier.

Thanks for any input.

Chrissy

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 4:26am

Dear Chrissy,

Your son does sound exactly like my son was at that age except the eating, Malcolm has never been all that rigid about food. Malcolm is now 8 and dx'ed PDD-NOS, although considered borderline currently. You should know that we didn't get ASD dx until he was 6 and half, before that developmental delay, anxiety disorder, sensory integration dysfunction. We didn't find brushing to be so helpful, but deep pressure particularly on his joints still really helps him with chewing, focus, relaxing. We give him sugarless gum as well. Upping his sensory diet does help him with loud, crowded places, also he has learned so many coping techniques and more self-awareness. He is a marvel.

Anyways, I understand the need to know and your worry, but I bigtime agree with your husband that the label is not everything. If you think there is anything you might try if you knew your son is spectrum, why not try it anyways? We've seen a huge improvement with Malcolm since his new school started practising RDI (Relationship Development Integration) with him, we do some with him as well. It is designed to be an at home program done by parents, the training is expensive but can be learned through the books. We also got great results from adding complete omegas to his diet in terms of sleep and less anxiety.

Anyways, welcome to the board. Stick around, so matter what your son's dx is! He sounds very cool. And remember to take good care of yourself as well, caring for a higher needs child can really take it out of you. Oy!

yours,

Sara
ilovemalcolm

Avatar for cathby
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 6:44am

Hi Chrissy,

Something in your last post struck a cord with me....

When new behaviors (e.g. scripting and hand flapping) develop, that's something to take to your developmental ped. The 1st time I took Jack to one he was just short of 3. (Let me add that she's a noted spectrum specialist, and has her own school for ASD kids in New York City.) She said "Not PDD", when I went back 9-months later, he was "Full bloom PDD" because of some of the behaviors that had blossomed. I was surprised how much he had "changed" and not for the better -- and while we were still receiving services -- after age 3.

I know what you mean about not taking him some places not because he would tantrum, but because he'd run around. For my DS, that's him looking for sensory input all the time.

If I was you (and I've kind of been you) I would keep looking. I wish that I'd pushed harder the 1st time. I respectfully disagree with your DH that because you are getting services, you don't need a solid dx. EG, your school district gives him OT, but doesn't do sensory stuff and you KNOW your DS needs sensory stuff (maybe not brushing -- that didn't work for us either).

Good luck,
Cathy

P.S. I have a friend in town whose DD is "apraxic" (she thinks). Although it's pretty clear to everyone else (including all her doctors) that the little girl is autistic. My own 3.5 year old nephew IS apraxic, so I've seen it close up. He's not at all like my DS. He's like a little mute adult at 3.5! He has perfect eye contact, he WANTS to play with kids and tries all the time (met with different responses, 'cause kids don't really know what to do w/ a peer who doesn't/can't talk). He doesn't have wild sensory stuff. He plays with toys wonderfully. He's basically a typical 3.5 year old -- without language (although it is now coming, after therapy.)

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 7:38am

Cathy,

Honestly, I am afraid to go back to the dev. ped with these new behaviors. I am sure you can understand. There have been other behaviors that have come and gone (mild lining things up for instance) and I guess I am hoping this will pass too. Plus, it sounds like the flapping thing could be sensory. I do think the echoing is a negative sign though. I don't know why I am afraid. In some ways a dx would be easier than the wondering and not knowing.

My SD would be happy to let me continue receiving OT at home, it is just that ds's spec. ed preschool doesn't do sensory stuff and that is where he gets OT. I guess I need to look into doing more sensory stuff at home. There are NO RDI services around here. I have requested the books from the library and will see what I can implement at home. It sounds like a great program.

Are there any books about the sensory stuff, other than the out of sync child?

Actually, I have some thoughts about taking him out of the spec. ed school in the fall and putting him in typical preschool, with loads of itinerant services (spec. ed, OT, speech). I am pretty confident he can do ok in the typical setting....at least at this age.

I find this so stressful. Ugh.

Chrissy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 9:40am

Chrissy:

I can totally relate to being careful about environments triggering unwanted behaviors. Despite the fact that we can reason with Colin, (he is almost 6) taking him to a mall (lights, noise, movement) results in him hiding, running away from us, getting hyper manic, all sorts of lovely things. We just avoid it. Anyway, I'm posting a link that has a number of good books - many we've read or used. Colin is in an OT group this summer with 4 other boys. They are all ASD or Aspergers except him, but the only differences I see are the direct communications and sort of abstract application of some concepts. We are working on something called the "Alert Program." It is to help the boys become aware of how they are feeling (too low, just right, too excited) and then use some "tools" to get themselves feeling better or under control. Things like gum, chewing ice, pushing against the wall, stretching, hugs, etc. are very useful. You mentioned needing to hug your boy when he gets wound up. Colin is the same - that's because he requires deep joint pressure. Brushing helps him sleep, but the joint pressure helps him stay emotionally organized. If Colin does get crying hard, he ends up in my lap where I have to hug him and rock him whle he begs me to "help him to stop crying." Something funny in the wiring I guess.

DH is kind of the same about getting diagnosis, but, he is also pretty rigid (and most likely an Aspie but at least severe SID like the rest of us! LOL). I argue there are 2 reasons to know specifically what combination we are dealing with 1) Because we might then be able to tailor more effect strategies to helping DS feel more comfortable and make our lives more manageable and 2) Because without a "diagnosis," we'd have a boy who was brilliant but completely unmanagable in class, and we'd have no way to receive the kind of educational support and services that have been so vital to his older brother.

My advice is go with your gut and keep on pushing until you are comfortable with what you are doing to help your son.

Jackie

http://www.sensoryresources.com/products.asp?cid=100000

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2005
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 9:52am
I hesitate to ask, as I will sound silly but... what is brushing?
I am so at the beginning with my son in all this. He is 4 and will start special-ed preschool in August. So, thanks for the book info. I feel like I need a basic education on treatments and theropy before I jump into the details.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 11:18am

Don't worry - if you can't ask questions here and learn, what's the point?

Brushing something "invented" by woman named Willagberger for use on kids who have sensory issues. It is when you take a surgical scrub brush (it's a palm-sized grip and soft plastic bristles) and slowly and deeply rub up and down the legs, arms and back. It is recommended you do it within something called a "sensory diet" about every 2 hours.

I does feel super great, and it has a calming and organizing effect for some kids. I have to say that once we started doing this, Colin started sleeping at night. That's pretty nice after 5 years of no sleep! It seems to help kids who crave proprioceptive input, and I guess for some kids if they are sensitive to light touch, this helps them eliminate this sensitivity. Frankly, we haven't been able to do it on our older AS son, as he is too sensitive. Maybe one day....

Best of luck with all your research!

Jackie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 6:43pm

Jackie,
Thanks for the resources!

Chrissy

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Sun, 07-24-2005 - 9:20pm

>>>Scripting. What you're describing is echolalia. That is a common ASD behavior. I don't know any typicals who do that (they don't have the memory for it!)<<<

So, the fact that my not quite 3 year old can recite "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" line for line is not necessarily a good thing? lol.

I did want to ask (anyone reading this) whether you've had experience with hiding. My daughter has taken to hiding under her crib (never used except for storage), coffee table, and desk. She does this for long periods of time, until I make her come out. She even sleeps under the crib every night. I don't know why but this starting to bother me. I think, more because she just lays there when she's hiding, than the fact that she's hiding, if that makes sense. Despite all the other quirky behavior over the last year she actually made me cry with this one on Friday morning because I had this overwhelming feeling that she has some problem due to my parenting.

She hasn't been diagnosed with anything, but we start the evaluation process on Tuesday with a consultation appointment with her ped. Her specialist (chronic health issue) has already recommended that we proceed with evals.

Mary

Avatar for cathby
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
Sun, 07-24-2005 - 9:46pm

Hmmmm. Could it be a sensory-seeking thing that she likes to be in enclosed spaces? My DS's favorite thing to do is to make a little "warren" for himself and climb between the slipcover and a couch, or underneath cushions and a couch.

Does your DD respond when you call to her? Does she think it's a game or does she just enjoy the feeling of being snug in the space?

She might like one of these. DS loves it but it's really poorly made and comes apart at the seams. But just so you get the idea:

http://www.therapyshoppe.com/product.php?cat=16&id=238

Please don't cry, it's not a reflection on your parenting. Really. It's not.

Cathy

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Sun, 07-24-2005 - 11:28pm

My youngest, who was recently diagnosed as autistic, absolutely LOVES to hide...and she always has. At the age of 15 months, she used to hide in a corner with her books, just to get away from people/noise, etc. (At the time, we didn't recognize this as anything other than "cute".)

Please understand, I'm not saying your daughter is autistic. She could simply want to be alone. It's possible that she could be scared of something you're not even aware of.

Amy W.

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