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mysterious_misfit
Deinonychus
Joined: Apr 25, 2008
Age: 26
Posts: 377
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 Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:32 am Post subject: he's flapping |
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I've posted a few times about my baby, who is now ten months old. I have suspected he is Aspie for a while now. Well, he started flapping his arms a few days ago, so that pretty much seals the deal I guess. God he is so cute!  He has also been walking for a few weeks, so he really doesn't have any motor delays. |
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ryry85
Snowy Owl
Joined: Jun 13, 2008
Posts: 141
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| Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:37 am Post subject: |
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| how does flapping his arms make him an aspie? |
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Pundit23
Blue Jay
Joined: Apr 07, 2008
Posts: 79
Location: Look Behind You.
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| Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:09 am Post subject: |
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Ry, I wouldn't say it's a major sign, but it's a pretty common one.
The corrolation between arm flapping (and we're talking frequently, not just for kicks and giggles) and auties is like the corrolation between the people who've seen David Bowie's Labyrinth and people who like David Bowie: not everyone will be a fan, but it's quite frequently the case.
Fortunately, it's one of those things that are often outgrown after the early years.
MM, take lots of pictures, and don't treat him too different imo -- not "until you know for sure," I'm talking about on and on, depending on whether it manifests. I dont know what AS child rearing books say, but I'm really glad my parents didn't suspect my brain at an early age, because then I grew up with the mindset that I was just like everyone else, which has really helped me in the acceptance process now.
I mean like, it's eventually going to become apparent and unavoidable, aspies doesn't go unnoticed in peer groups (or do, ironically, thinking about my invisible experiences)...
What I'm trying to say is, don't treat him like a carton of eggs! 
That's what my dad has been doing since we found out several months ago, and I strongly feel that I would be totally helpless if he'd been doing that earlier on in my life. |
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mysterious_misfit
Deinonychus
Joined: Apr 25, 2008
Age: 26
Posts: 377
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| Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:10 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, I don't treat him differently than his brother. Like yesterday we went to a 4th of July parade, even though I know he hates noise. And he did get scared by the fire trucks and marching bands, but he hugged me and I hugged him, and he got through it without crying. I would like to expose him to as many novel situations and people as possible, like socializing a puppy.  |
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mysterious_misfit
Deinonychus
Joined: Apr 25, 2008
Age: 26
Posts: 377
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| Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| ryry85 wrote: | | how does flapping his arms make him an aspie? |
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equinn
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 20, 2007
Posts: 652
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| Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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He is a bit young to identify him as an aspie.
10 months old? I know kids who get excited and flap their hands and grew up fine. It's more of a sensory issue but not necessarily autism. |
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katrine
Phoenix
Joined: Nov 24, 2006
Posts: 550
Location: Copenhagen
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:40 am Post subject: |
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| I agree with Equinn. All my kids flapped their arms at that age! I have one autie and two (relatively) NTs. |
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mysterious_misfit
Deinonychus
Joined: Apr 25, 2008
Age: 26
Posts: 377
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:28 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the feedback everyone. |
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jaleb
one cool mom
Joined: Dec 05, 2006
Age: 36
Posts: 2922
Location: Kentucky
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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lots of young kids flap their arms, but they usually grow out of by age 2. For whatever reason, neither of my AS boys flapped their arms until they were 2, I guess they didn't have the motor coordination! My oldest quit doing it around age 6 or so, and my youngest 4 1/2 still does it!
_________________
NT mom of two ASD boys
"Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is
fighting some kind of battle". |
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FatherOfTwo
Butterfly
Joined: Jul 02, 2008
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:37 am Post subject: |
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Hello,
yes, I agree with the other comments.
I could be wrong, but I would wait until your son is at least 2 years old before you start thinking about autism. 10 months old is VERY young.
My 3 year old autistic son does love to hand flap and does it all the time. My 5 year old son with aspergers hand flaps only if he is very excited or very upset.
Look for other signs like, delayed speech, failure to respond to his name or commands, failure to make eye contact or interact with you or others in general. But again, most of these things aren't that unusual until age 2 or so. |
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equinn
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 20, 2007
Posts: 652
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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I have to tell you that I've never been more aware of flapping since I've frequented this site and been involved in autism due to my son's issues. Now, I'm aware of my own "flapping" I do when I'm in pain, or something is traumatic or I'm nervous. I'm so aware, that I don't do it. I stop myself. Weird or what?
I'm sure I'm not on the spectrum, yet I do it too. I would not see flapping as a sign of autism UNLESS it was combined with spinning objects, swaying or rocking etc. It's very apparent if you see a child with autism flap, not ouf excitement, but more as a stim, a calming tool.
I tried to think about why I flapped my hands and when, and it's almost like a need to jump out of your skin/environment as if you could shake it off, out of your hands, whatever is confusing/hurting you (maybe this is different than an autism stimming). When I'm in a hurry, competely stressed or ovewhelmed I've done this. I'm very aware of it now, and so I stop myself because it makes me worse-more vulnerable and confused and distressed. Therefore, I think kids that are flapping should be DISCOURAGED! They should be made aware that they are even doing it, and be redirected. Once I became aware myself, I could control it. When you stop the flapping, you're able to utilize coping strategies much better. It's almost as if the flapping sends you deeper into yourself, into this lost state, and it's harder to focus on what you need to do.
2 cents or my relevation, enlightenment, epiphany.
equinn |
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