Hi there, I used to be a head banger! I did it for years. I did it every night to fall asleep and sometimes I would count how many times I did it, well over a hundred times most of the time. My father did it and so did my brother. I am 28 years old now and still have a desire to do it every once and a while. Mostly when I am sick.
I do not have autism. I dont think anyway. I suspect my dd has a form of asd, but, my suspisions are mainly because she has sensory issues and I am always torn between asd and just plain sensory dysfunction. Its a hard line to draw between the two.
As a kid I had a lot of weird things going on, they seem like OCD things. Like, I HATED a camping trip I took in 6th grade and every time I touched my sleeping bag after I came home I washed my hands until they were raw. I redid my homework over and over until my handwriting was perfect. I can go on and on. I am still like this as an adult, I hate it. I am also very anxious. I think the behaviors I have go hand in hand with anxiety.
Overall though, I am a pretty normal person. I had friends in school, my best friend and I are still as close as we were in fourth grade. I had a high school sweetheart. You would have never thought anything was "wrong" with me.
To this day I still need a repetitive movement to fall asleep. I just rub my feet together now. Its like a soothing need. I wouldnt be too worried about the head banging. It never hurt me and if I tried to make myself stop, I would not sleep. From what I understand, its not that uncommon either?
The best book around, IMHO, about Asperger's is Asperger Syndrome by Tony Attwood. I believe if you google his name, he also has a site. Welcome.Thanks for that link, alwaysworried2. I didn't know there was a name for it (rhythmic movement disorder).
You also mentioned rubbing your feet together while falling asleep. My son does this. I always thought it was because his skin itched (he has dry, sensitive skin). It never occurred to me that it might be a soothing, repetitive movement, even though it seems obvious now that you mention it.
Getting back to the original question, if you need help identifying sensory issues that might be resulting in head banging, here's an online checklist:
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processin g-disorder-checklist.html
I found this on a google search:
http://www.babysleepimprover.com/sleep-head-banging.html
:)
hi
i am not poaching here but i have lot of information in one place you dont have to join i will open it for you then you can have a look at you leisure
shell
The head banging thing could just be an anxiety or sensory issue. You can have either or both and not have ASD. My oldest son likes to throw himself into the wall for sensory input. My youngest likes to swing his head into the wall at night while going to sleep. I padded the wall...best i could do in that situation.I am taking my son (9) into a pediatric neuro today. His regular doctor has indicated he might have a mild form of autism due to some behavior issues we've had for the last nine years. He bangs his head on his headboard every night. He is not awake when he does this, nor does he usually remember it. He does not want to be away from me for very long at all. He would be attached to my hip if he could be. Although he goes to his dad's EOW, he would rather not go because it means being away from me. He does VERY well in school, no problems at all there.
His regular dr noticed when she was examining him that his hands were never still. He is very "high strung", never sitting still for any period of time, although in school he does not have a problem with it.
I guess I'm just looking for some direction as this is all new to me and I have no idea what to think.
Please go to www.childbrain.com and take their PDD questionnaire. The few signs you mention might or might not be red flags. It's hard to tell from your post. There is also a topic on the first page of threads for "Newbies" and it has a ton of information - including the diagnostic criteria for autism. There are also several "tests" you can take as well to see where your child falls.
I guess I just don't see how the doctor is saying that - but you didn't get specific in your post as to what behavior problems you are having at home. Is he holding it together at school? Is he social? Does he have friends who come over and/or who he calls? Does he have repetitive behaviors or obsessions about certain topics?
Welcome to the forum - there are lots of people here who can give you great support and info!
Welcome to the forum. Kids with autism who function well in school are usually diagnosed with Aspergers. Unlike other forms of autism, Aspergers does not involve delays in language development. How was your son's language development?
Anyhow, in addition to the childbrain test that snoopywoman posted above, you might try filling out the Asperger checklists below. Only a professional can make the diagnosis, but these checklists will help you know what to look for, so you can answer the evaluators questions better.
Good luck with everything.
Diagnostic checklists - Asperger
http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aspergerscaleAttwood.htm l - Australian Scale for Asperger Syndrome, for primary school children
Diagnostic checklists from the book "Parenting Your Asperger Child":
http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/skill -builder/51750.html - Part 1, Difficulty with Reciprocal Social Interactions
http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/skill -builder/51751.html - Part 2, Impairments in Language Skills
http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/skill -builder/51755.html - Part 3, Sensory Sensitivities
http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/skill -builder/51752.html - Part 4, Narrow range of interests and insistence on set routines
http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/skill -builder/51754.html - Part 5 - Cognitive Issues (including mind-blindness)
Diagnostic checklists/tests - ADHD:
Oh my... the more I see about Aspergers... he fits most of the profile. He only scored a 46 on the PPD test.
What concerns me the most is his banging his head on his headboard at night. I'm afraid there are going to be aftereffects from this eventually. He hits it pretty hard until I go in there and make him stop. He bumps his head when he's sitting in the car or when he's in a chair watching TV.
He does not want to be away from me for any extended period of time.
The Asperger's profile I can answer yes to almost all of them...
Thanks so much for your help. I'll check out the other info for newbies.
Lisa
Snoopywoman,
He has absolutely no problems in school.. very social, loves to play, makes friends easily. Is involved in sports (to the point of an obsession almost).
Repetitive behaviors - yes
Hi, Beach,
First, I hope you are not too surprised about possible Aspies'. My dd was dx'd as ASD (spectrum diorder) by her school at 6 yrs and I felt like I was to blame for not having caught on earlier ...
Headbanging doesn ot have to be an ASD symptom, necessarily, however ... I am an adoptive mom, and many, many post-institutional kids head-bang as a self-soothing behavior, and it can take years to get over it. I do think some kids, especially those with anxiety issues, pick up behaviors like that, anyhow.
Good luck with the ped. neuro!