What does it mean, obsessions?
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| Wed, 10-11-2006 - 12:41am |
Lurker here, I'm usually on the sensory integration dysfunction bb.
I don't know if what my ds does is obsession or not. What does it mean exactly? Like for example, for the past month or so my ds has to watch all the water drain from the bath. He likes the last part going round and round and calls it "the whirlpool". My dh didn't know this and one night pulled him out of the bath too early. He screamed and tantrumed. I explained to my dh what was going on and so he let him finish watching.
His other new thing is that he wants to save boxes and papers from our recycle basket. It is in the kitchen. When I go put something in there he says "No! I want that and takes it across to the family room and places it with the other boxes and papers he set down in a pile by the fireplace. I told him "Well, it is all going away tomorrow on trash day" But I am sure he will start another pile.
He may be interested in or do something like this for a month or two but moves onto something else. Just for your info, my dh has Asperger's and we have set up a private assessment for our son in December. Thanks!
Molly (ds, Liam 4 years and 5 months)

Sounds a litle ocd-ish to me.
Well, on the one hand my Dave (who so far isn't ASD but it something) does this with the boxes and other little obsessions. He is very rigid on certain things. He has some definite AS traits but not the whole kit and kaboodle. It perhaps is a bit OCD or something.
As for the question on obsessions, Obsessions is a vague term and when we speak of it in laymans terms it can mean alot and there can be lots of interpretations. OCD talks about "obsessions" being persistent thoughts that a person can't get out of thier head. What Liam is doing is fairly typical of ASD children or other similar children it is hard to say it is an obsession. Perhaps more of a compulsion. Cumpulsion is where you have to do something over and over or do it every time. Like checking locks, washing hands, watching water go down the drain.
Lets take a look at the DSM criteria for AS. At least this part of it.
" B. Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least of one of the following:
1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole body movements)
4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects"
As you can see the bath thing likely fits #2 and the boxes may fit #4. This is only one section of the AS criteria but you get the idea. It is that idea of insisting on sameness and routines.
Often when we are talking about "Asperger" obsessions people are talking about #1. However, you don't have to have #1 to be Asperger. They have some preoccupation with some thing that is really intense. For kids it often looks like they are only interested in one kind of toy and they may discuss it until you are crazy. THey show no interest in any other toy. Many of us will have a house full of one toy (legos, toy cars or thomas trains are pretty typically the ones for boys). They may be lined and categorized or not and every other toy collects dust unless it can be used with the one toy of interest.
Other kids or adults it may be trains, train routes, video games, elevators, electrical circuits, politics, anything really. For my daughter it is, was and always will be animals.
Point being, obsession in the usual sense or not it does fit within the criteria of AS but like Dave he could just have some traits. Honest, boxes have been daves obsession for years and years. All of them, lol. He had a big lining thing going on when he was a toddler and preschooler. He insists on sameness. Always sitting in one seat, always drinking from the blue cup. However, he has theory of mind. He understands others POV and is the social butterfly at school. The kid has more friends than he knows what to do with, so up to know I still believe he is not ASD, however it has been questioned in the past and every so often.
Hope that helps!
It was nice having coffee the other day!
Renee