Helping Ds with compulsions...

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Registered: 03-27-2003
Helping Ds with compulsions...
2
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 2:15pm

Hey all. We've been struggling lately with two compulsions Sam exhibits regularly that we can't seem to get a handle on.

The first occurs less often lately but is still annoying and weirds me out a bit. He likes to crack his neck. He tilts his chin up and rotates it in little circles and the joint where his spine meets his skulls makes little cracking noises. It gives me the willies. Psych. MD doesn't think it's a tic and suggested deep pressure OT stuff. Well we do that all the time for many things and sensory diets....etc have never really helped with this kind of thing any hoo. Deep pressure really helps keep him focused and is a more socially acceptable way of seeking the input he's looking for but doesn't seem to stop him from cracking his neck at times when he's seated and not otherwise occupied (during homework time, in class, watching tv...etc.)

Then there's the hands down the pants thing. Touchy subject matter coming up....

We chose not to circumsize our boys. As a result Sam gets extra sensory input in that area...so to speak...and I think it really distracts him. He says he's sticky. I think he sometimes pulls at his foreskin to the point that there are small fissures in the skin. Not big enough to see, but that just makes that area feel more uncomfortable and he feels the need to touch it more. I seem to recall this being a big issue around the house last year at this time. We wrote up a contract and he agreed to wash his hands each time he was seen handling himself outside of the bathroom or his own bedroom. That seemed to help then and he wasn't doing it in school at all. Now he says he can't help it and is doing it in school too. Which is not ok. We've talked about it. I've told him that it isn't socially accepted or appropriate. I've told him that he can do that in the bathroom; he says he can't wait that long....sigh. He had a full on screaming fit this morn. when I told him to wash his hands. Blaming me, saying that he can't stop, it's my fault somehow and he just HAS to do it.

He'll stop what he's doing at times to "adjust" himself so giving him a ball, playdough, squishy isn't really helpful. I'm sure the sensation he's feeling has something to do with hormones. There are changes going on...I could go on about how that area matures as boys get older but I'll just leave it at that. There's no medical issue, no infection, rash...etc.

Any ideas? I know the hands in the pants thing is a normal boy issue. But I think this has gotten a bit out of hand ;)

TIA......Chrystee

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Registered: 01-29-2004
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 3:46pm

Chrystee,
Reading your post made a light bulb go off in my head. My son, Sravan, was not circumcised. He constantly ajusts his underpants, so they don't touch. I got him 4 size bigger to address this issue, but it is still a problem. I am worried too. He will not put his hand inside though and I still think he needs to wash his hands (given his sensory problem and peeing). Hugs to you and I have no clue. I did get a book on puberty showing what is acceptable and what is not. You might want to get the hand wash (99% germ killing one). I have put one in Sravan's lunch bag and one on his desk.

take care,
Anandhi

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Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 3:46pm

Hi Chrystee,
My son does tic, and I could see him doing those things. Wether they be compulsive, or a tic, it doesn't really matter which. Either way, he just can't stop or help himself.

When my son exhibits a socially unexeptional tic, I try to figure out a way for him to replace that tic with something else. Like I have been working on his belching tic with doing a small ribbit like a frog. Its not quite so loud and he can keep his mouth closed so others don't notice it as much.

Ask him what he thinks he can do instead, but also satisfy that urge he gets.

Good luck :)

Lainie