I guess I just don't understand what a "sensory issue" is. My toddler hand flaps when excited. He does this thing where he looks away and then looks back real quick and flaps for a few seconds. He does this for example, when I blow bubbles or when he is watching a show he likes. I am confused about it. His speech therapist said it could be a sensory thing? Can someone explain that to me? He is going to have an OT evaluation. Usually, it helps the individual deal with stress. Remember, that happiness is a form of stress, too. Many kids deal with the surge of emotions (good or bad) with flapping. Or with boredom.
Stop calling yourself, "dumb" lady...it just sounds...stupid
The fact that you are looking for answers automatically disqualifies you from the "dumb" category.
For my babe, yes...he definitely needs some form of sensory input and sometimes the flapping takes care of that though we are working on other ways to meet the need.
Sometimes we roll him on a big thera-ball which he loves. Sometimes we squash him with it...which he loves. Sometimes it is a big, strong hug. Sometimes the swings. It depends. When he gets really excited though...he flaps and we are trying to help him with this because later in life...it won't be as acceptable ya' know?
"Raising a Sensory Smart Child" is also an excellent book that a therapist recommended to us.[QUOTE=WIMomOf2]"Raising a Sensory Smart Child" is also an excellent book that a therapist recommended to us. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for the suggestion.
My son was doing things i thought were normal things a toddler does, turns out they are sensory issues....
crashing into pillows, distracted by outside noise - planes, lawn mowers yet would pay no attention at times if you were calling his name. Also, puts hands up to his eyes... its just the way he processes the information around him - and that is how he reacts.
I think the hand flapping may be stimming - my DS will jump up and down rapidly when gets excited or nervous.
Mommy to H -- get the book THE OUT OF SYNC CHILD. Sensory integration dysfunction is at the bottom of many of what are seen as autistic tendencies. Ask your child's OT for a quickie course in it, too.
Hand flapping can definitely be considered a "sensory" issue.
"Sensory issue" means that it pertains to one of the senses-be it touch (tactile), sound (auditory), sight (visual), smell (olfactory), taste (gustatory).
In any of these areas one may have a deficit that needs to be stimulated or if overstimulated the stumuli needs to go away.
My son has a very "needy" vestibular system. This means that he is in constant need of sensory input especially motion. He flaps his hands quite a bit and i i most definitely a sensory issue. It may also be stimulation for his peripheral vision though I do not have any evidence on that.
Many behaviors that may seem "odd" or "maladaptive" might just be meeting a sensory need.
Biting, kicking, making "odd" sounds...might be a way that the child is trying to organize himself/herself.
I hope this makes sense.
Feel free to ask more!
[QUOTE=tzoya]Mommy to H -- get the book THE OUT OF SYNC CHILD. Sensory integration dysfunction is at the bottom of many of what are seen as autistic tendencies. Ask your child's OT for a quickie course in it, too.[/QUOTE]
I actually ordered that today. Thanks!!
What do you mean by - "SID is at the bottom of many of what are seen as autistic tendencies"?
[QUOTE=camusa]Hand flapping can definitely be considered a "sensory" issue.
"Sensory issue" means that it pertains to one of the senses-be it touch (tactile), sound (auditory), sight (visual), smell (olfactory), taste (gustatory).
In any of these areas one may have a deficit that needs to be stimulated or if overstimulated the stumuli needs to go away.
My son has a very "needy" vestibular system. This means that he is in constant need of sensory input especially motion. He flaps his hands quite a bit and i i most definitely a sensory issue. It may also be stimulation for his peripheral vision though I do not have any evidence on that.
Many behaviors that may seem "odd" or "maladaptive" might just be meeting a sensory need.
Biting, kicking, making "odd" sounds...might be a way that the child is trying to organize himself/herself.
I hope this makes sense.
Feel free to ask more!
[/QUOTE]
So since he flaps does the means he needs some kind of sensory input? I am so dumb about this sensory stuff!
When our kids are growing there seem to be phases of behaviour/sensory/self calming stuff going on, they start something and then a few months/weeks/years later it stops completely. For instance my son used to spit everywhere, it was a real chore cleaning up after him but then he started to clean it up himself as we told him over and over "no spitting". Oh he would tantrum sure, big time, until one day it clicked with him that it was unacceptable behaviour, both at home and school (school helped alot with this too) and he cleaned it up. Now its stopped.......sometimes he will regress a little but it soon passes quickly.
He had a real habit of sticking out his tongue and if you didnt stick YOUR tongue back out at him he would throw a complete tantrum, he kept sticking out his tongue until he got the desired result from us!! That went on for a year....
I feel as my son has got older he has become more aware of himself, he wants to please people, get praise for good behaviour. And our son had a diagnosis of severe autism at age 3.
So I am saying hold on in there, there is hope.....our kids are amazing!
[QUOTE=NorwayMom]Completing this checklist will give you a quick overview of your child's sensory issues. The website is also worth browsing around at.
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processin g-disorder-checklist.html
My son was 7-8 years old before I finally figured out that he had sensory issues - they're not obvious unless you know what to look for, and no one is born knowing that. No such thing as a dumb question.
I second the recommendation on "Raising a Sensory Smart Child." The authors have a website that you might want to check out first:
Good luck with everything.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the links. I went over the checklist and the ONLY thing that I see that applies to him is he likes to jump a lot. And it's not constant jumping. Now I'm more confused!!!
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processin g-disorder-checklist.html
My son was 7-8 years old before I finally figured out that he had sensory issues - they're not obvious unless you know what to look for, and no one is born knowing that. No such thing as a dumb question.
I second the recommendation on "Raising a Sensory Smart Child." The authors have a website that you might want to check out first:
Good luck with everything.
On the same website there's a checklist specifically for infants and toddlers. If it still looks like your child doesn't have sensory issues, then it sounds like the hand flapping and jumping is just a symptom of general arousal.
As I understand it, kids have immature brains, with more connections, so when one area of the brain gets stimulated, it can stimulate another area of the brain to initiate movements like handflapping and jumping.
There are lots of neurotypical children who do some handflapping and jumping when excited.
[QUOTE=NorwayMom]On the same website there's a checklist specifically for infants and toddlers. If it still looks like your child doesn't have sensory issues, then it sounds like the hand flapping and jumping is just a symptom of general arousal.
As I understand it, kids have immature brains, with more connections, so when one area of the brain gets stimulated, it can stimulate another area of the brain to initiate movements like handflapping and jumping.
There are lots of neurotypical children who do some handflapping and jumping when excited.
[/QUOTE]
Hmmm....no he doesn't have any of the things on the infant/toddler checklist.
my main concerns about him are - He has a speech delay and he flaps when excited.
Copyright Autism-PDD.net