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emmaC
Blue Jay
Joined: Mar 11, 2008
Posts: 91
Location: Sweden
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 Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:24 am Post subject: Hand flapping |
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| How are you parents reacting to your autistic childs hand flapping? |
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rachel46
Snowy Owl
Joined: May 07, 2007
Posts: 172
Location: Midwest US
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:36 am Post subject: |
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My son is 11 -dx'd Aspergers. He wasn't diagnosed until around age 9 and he has always hand flapped. When he was little it wasn't a "red flag" because he always did it when he was excited and it looked cute. When he got to school we tried to let him know that it was not something most kids did and he may be teased about it. We tried to tell him to put his hands in his pockets or alwys have something in your hand, etc. He did try but sometimes he just HAD to do it -he had to do something- jump around in circles, handflap, something.
It seems to have lessened with age and he could care less if someone is looking at him while he does it. If he doesn't care -why should I?
I always am fascinated to watch him when he is doing it because it always happens when we are having a conversation about something that is very stimulating and interesting to him or if he is observing something that is really exciting (maybe a movie or a performance of some kind). He is just so overwhelmed with excitement that he has to move something on his body!
I can only relate my experience but I would say that it is most likely futile to focus on, try to stop or ostracize your child in any way for doing it. It's all part of the spectrum package of fun! |
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aspiemom1
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Jan 23, 2008
Posts: 56
Location: TN, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:39 am Post subject: |
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My son is almost 8 dx'd 2 years ago. He too has always flapped/jumped/circled. To be truthful, I love the flapping. He still at almost 8 (however, he is 4'4" and 65 lbs and looks like a very slim 10-11 year old) flaps etc whenever he is excited or when he starts to get overwhelmed. For the former, its I as a parent (aspie also) still get to see that little kid absolute joy that radiates from him when he does this. My nt almost 6 yr old does not do this, and has lost that look already even when he is utterly excited. As for the latter, well, I have my first hints that something needs to change IMMEDIATELY to help him deal with whatever is about to cause him to meltdown.
So I say STIM away.  |
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penny07960
Snowy Owl
Joined: Jun 10, 2008
Age: 44
Posts: 154
Location: US - right coast
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:51 am Post subject: |
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God I hate the word “stim”!
I do NOT believe that what we are doing is “self stimulating”. I believe we are trying to dump, i.e., burn-off, excess energy.
Just look at the two cases described above. In both it is not something that the child does when bored, but rather when excited or over-stimulated. When I am bored or tired, my “stimming” goes to zero. It is when I am ‘nervous’, or intensely involved in something that I find myself doing it.
How about the rest of you? Do you (or your kids) “stim” to stimulate yourself, or to burn off excess ‘neural’ energy?
Penny |
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Mage
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 11, 2006
Posts: 630
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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| I think I'd have to agree with you. I hand flap during and after phone calls (which I find very stressful). I also bite my hands and twirl my hair when I'm under stress, not when I'm relaxing with a book or something. |
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liloleme
Deinonychus
Joined: Jun 09, 2008
Age: 41
Posts: 310
Location: California
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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| penny07960 wrote: | God I hate the word “stim”!
I do NOT believe that what we are doing is “self stimulating”. I believe we are trying to dump, i.e., burn-off, excess energy.
Just look at the two cases described above. In both it is not something that the child does when bored, but rather when excited or over-stimulated. When I am bored or tired, my “stimming” goes to zero. It is when I am ‘nervous’, or intensely involved in something that I find myself doing it.
How about the rest of you? Do you (or your kids) “stim” to stimulate yourself, or to burn off excess ‘neural’ energy?
Penny |
Yeah....when Im calm and lying in bed Im completely motionless. When Im up and doing things I "stimm" constantly. Like right now Im rocking in my chair. I agree that its a release of energy. My kids are the same. |
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aspiemom1
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Jan 23, 2008
Posts: 56
Location: TN, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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| actually come to think about it, i think my son and i both "stim" at times even under no stress and completely calm. don know what that means or how it happens, but both of us do it alot and its not always due to stress etc. my son actually stims during his sleep (he must run his "tag" on his pillow case at night while sleeping or he is awake.) and yes this is every night, and he is completely calm and asleep. any thoughts? |
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