Hand Flapping? or something else? Autism? or something else?

My 5.5 yrs old daughter gets excited and does this weird thing with her hands.  She's done it since she was about 6 months old.  She straightens her arms out in front of her, and pumps her hands open and closed.  She does it when she's excited about something, but I don't think at any other times.  She talked very early as an infant - in full sentences by 18 months.  She plays well with other children.  In fact, she's in Kindergarten this year, and on Sunday's will usually say - "I'm looking forward to school tomorrow because I miss my friends".  All of my friends want her over for playdates because she listens to directions well and is well behaved.  I've had no issues with her Preschool or Kindergarten.  No one (teachers or administrators or doctors) have ever addressed this issue with me.  But, it has worried me for years.  I guess my fear in bringing it to someone's attention is that then it's out there, and it seems to me that there is a huge movement to give an autism/aspergers diagnosis when perhaps that's no the case.  She emotes very well.  And if you make an emotional face and ask her to guess what you're feeling, she always gets it right.  I just don't know.  I'm nervous, but perhaps paranoid.  Is it normal to get over excited and do this weird hand thingy?  Or should I take her in to see someone?

[BryansMom]

The hand flapping could just be a sign of over stimulation, nothing more. My son has Asperger's Syndrome and he does that when he sees something he thinks is really cool, is around a lot of activity, or is stressed out. But, as with most Asperger's kids, his social skills leave something to be desired.
If your child is sociable and doing well, I would say that you have nothing more than a stimulation issue. Even with Asperger's, my son has learned to control his erratic movements to means that are a little more socially acceptable.
I wouldn't worry.

Your friend,
Mariann

[mlmetkit]

Thanks Mariann,

Most of my family thinks its cute.  They all say, "Ooh look, Kaiya's excited."  But, I do worry if it will lose the "cuteness" if she continues to do it at a later age.  I asked her why she does it and she says because she likes to.  She has many friends and seems to play well with them.  During playdates at my house I will listen from the kitchen and it's always what you'd expect.  She was just with my sister's kids (aged 7 and 5) whom she only sees on occasion, and they played for hours on end without event.  She's a real mother-er to her stuffed animals, and babies.  And she will take any opportunity to climb into my lap or grab hold of my hand.  Probably worried for nothing.  I so appreciate you responding to my post!

[innerchild09]

I understand what you mean. I too flapped my hands when I was a kid. And I still do but I don't think people would say cute to an adult doing it. I know I'm kinda embarrassed but I just figured it was a habit but sometimes I wonder if I have aspergers. Not just because of the hand flapping because that alone wouldn't be enough to diagnosis it. Maybe it has to be obvios. Don't know I haven't ever been tested for aspergers or autism.

[stressedmom1122]

I have a son who has aspergers and he has a lot of trouble following directions and making friends, and is not very polite. From what you've said it does not sound like your child has aspergers. The hand thing could just be a normal thing or it could be some kind of a tic.

[teko]

It is my understanding that Children with Aspergers do not do well in socializing with their peers in varying degrees. They think very logically. They do not follow instruction well without help in learning how to. It sounds like your child does this sponaneously when excited and I would not worry about it if this is the only thing she does. If you tell a child with aspergers that looks kill, he will take you literally and hide. They do not understand slang phrases, usually very educated but have problems explaining themselves or carrying on a two sided conversation.