Sharlet clearing throat video This vid shows the type of throat clearing I have been describing, but this is pretty mild.  When it's driving me nuts it's more like 3-5 second intervals.  But still it will give you an idea of the behavior.  Anyone else's child do it like this? Thoughts? As I described, she is watching t.v in this video, she does it most while t.v watching (which she does a lot i loath to admit) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T87zXFs4MM edited because I forgot the url Allegra39491.0786342593 I'd love to watch it, but couldn't find the link.   Well, I watched it several times.  I see some tactile sensory seeking, but couldn't find a pattern with the throat clearing.  I tried to connect it with her breathing, her finger movements, and her lip movements, but it seemed pretty random.  Does she do it equally sitting up vs. lying down? The sound was different than I expected, more of a grunt than a throat-clearing "ahem".  Maybe send a PM to speechie, and see what she thinks about the sound of it, what kind of vocal movements are involved.  Might give you a clue as to what function it serves for Sharlet. Good luck with everything. I'd say she does it more when sitting, but I think probably she gets a lot more sensory input while lying down so it's less necessary.  I agree it seems pretty random too.  It really seems related to the amount of sensory stimulation she is getting.  Like she even does it less when she is watching a t.v show she loves versus one she is less keen on.  I am pretty well convinced it's either a tic or a stim, not related to irritation.  Although she may have done it so much she now has an irritation, it wouldn't surprise me with the amount she does it. I t sounds like a growl almost.  so she does this all day randomly?  did you show it to her pedi?  How long has she started with it?She's been doing it for quite a while, but now its very frequent. Some days it is not too much, maybe 4-5 bouts over the day that will last an hour or so, with maybe 20-40 second intervals. But then sometimes it can be almost constant for a whole day with only 2-5 second intervals. Those are the days that drive me nutty. As I have said previously, it seems to correlate with her level of stimulation, ie if she is engaged physically like climbing or riding her push along trike (these things are only emerging and take all her concentration and strength) she is completely physically engaged and doesn't do it. If she is not physically engaged ie watching t.v or playing computer she does it a lot. The thing is she only has very limited endurance and drive to do physical things so most of the day she is not physically engaged, so we get lots of the throat clearing. I'm wondering if a weighted blanket while watching t.v might help. thoughts? Allegra, Just watched it and was wondering maybe she's too hyperfocused on show to "swallow" her natural drainage in her throat and does the throat clearing "ahem" when the secretions get too much. The things we just do naturally because we are in tune to our senses Sarah would try to have control over ....especially when hyperfocused on something; Examples:... like swallowing,,blinking..coughing or even throwing up(sorry) and going pee pee..ect... She holds on till her body wont allow her too no more...I know this sounds far fetched and not sure if it is related to Sharlet but I wonder if you prompted her to swallow whenever she does this if it would replace this "ahem" she does?? I am sensing a sensory thing here but not sure how to pinpoint what it is:) Maybe get her some lollypops and use them to get her in the habit of  swallowing to clear her throat......She may have just gotten used to doing this "ahem" thing to take care of her not wanting to swallow..had she a sore throat recently?? Just curious what was going on when she started doing this..if she had a sore throat it would make sense that she wouldnt want to swallow because of her memory pain from doing it....watch her closely and see if she is swallowing like we do:) and as always...Best of luck:) Does she get strep throat often? My little brother had PANDAS and one of his things was vocal tics, very tourettes like. He did it most when he was nervous or stressed out or not fully engaged. When he was doing something he liked, ie video games or reading his tics decreased dramatically. Does she seem to do it more when stressed? She's really adorable!!
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