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COMPULSIVE FINGER TWIDDLING in 5 yr. old son
I posted this subject last August and am now writing an update.
My son is 5 1/2 now and is still exhibiting the same odd behavior that he has engaged in since he was three. For about thirty to forty-five minutes a day total, five minutes or so at at time, he goes alone to a room in the house and walks back and forth while making an odd and repetetive motion with his hands, arms and fingers close in front of his face. He holds both arms up at eye level and moves them up and down while waving his fingers. While he does this, he scrunches up his face. His movements, including the scrunching up of his face are always done in exactly the same way.
He finds it very comforting to do this. He says he "HAS TO" do it and that he uses him imagination when he does it - he appears lost in another world when he does this but I wouldn't say it's involuntary - more compulsive - like an obsession - a very comforting compulsive behavior. If he's watching a video, he will engage in this behavior in another room for a few minutes then take a break and watch the video then resume his behavior - he really enjoys doing it. When I ask him what he is thinking about when he does it, he says it's "violent" but when I ask him what he means by that he describes action figures fighting - that type of violence. He says it always has a good or happy ending.
He is in kindergarten now and does not engage in this behavior at school, however, within a half hour or so of getting home, he'll launch into doing it. If there are other children over playing, he'll go into another room alone and do it. He's figured out that it's weird so he knows to try to hide it. He will do it in public very occasionally when I take him out(if he's grown tired and bored of shopping, for example) and people will look at him and then me with a questioning look.
In every other way he is an absolutely normal, healthy, and bright child. He does well at school and has a very cheerful personality. He's 5 1/2 and is learning how to read. He truly is a joy! I just can't help wonder what this compulsive behavior is all about and how I should react to it. If I suggest he do something else, he resents it and tells me not to look at him.
Please help!!
My son is 5 1/2 now and is still exhibiting the same odd behavior that he has engaged in since he was three. For about thirty to forty-five minutes a day total, five minutes or so at at time, he goes alone to a room in the house and walks back and forth while making an odd and repetetive motion with his hands, arms and fingers close in front of his face. He holds both arms up at eye level and moves them up and down while waving his fingers. While he does this, he scrunches up his face. His movements, including the scrunching up of his face are always done in exactly the same way.
He finds it very comforting to do this. He says he "HAS TO" do it and that he uses him imagination when he does it - he appears lost in another world when he does this but I wouldn't say it's involuntary - more compulsive - like an obsession - a very comforting compulsive behavior. If he's watching a video, he will engage in this behavior in another room for a few minutes then take a break and watch the video then resume his behavior - he really enjoys doing it. When I ask him what he is thinking about when he does it, he says it's "violent" but when I ask him what he means by that he describes action figures fighting - that type of violence. He says it always has a good or happy ending.
He is in kindergarten now and does not engage in this behavior at school, however, within a half hour or so of getting home, he'll launch into doing it. If there are other children over playing, he'll go into another room alone and do it. He's figured out that it's weird so he knows to try to hide it. He will do it in public very occasionally when I take him out(if he's grown tired and bored of shopping, for example) and people will look at him and then me with a questioning look.
In every other way he is an absolutely normal, healthy, and bright child. He does well at school and has a very cheerful personality. He's 5 1/2 and is learning how to read. He truly is a joy! I just can't help wonder what this compulsive behavior is all about and how I should react to it. If I suggest he do something else, he resents it and tells me not to look at him.
Please help!!
The behavior you describe is classic repetitive behaviors, it's called fingerflicking and is associated with a PDD, not OCD, sorry Doc. By the way you describe your child, I would say he is on the very mild side of Asperger's Syndrome. Your child is likely to be very bright. He recognizes that this behavior is calming for him and is able to articulate that, which is great. These behaviors are called self stimulatory behaviors. We all have them, although they manifest themselves in socially unacceptable ways with autistic kids. However, your child is capable of understanding that they are not socially acceptable, again great! Continue to let him do them as they help him to cope with the social demands which make him uncomfortable. In the meantime, have him evaluated for AS and celebrate the fact that you are likely to have a very very bright little guy who will just need some help with his social skills going forward. He may not seem to need help now, but as he grows and social relationships become more complicated (middle school), he will need some skills to help him cope. I would bet bottom dollar that he has an IQ over 120.
i noticed that you said that in every other way your son is"absolutely normal, healthy, and bright". you should be happy that he is instead of being worried about his obsesive complusive acts. if your son feels that he is weird as you stated and therefore hides his manarisims in public it is only because you make him feel that way by adressing the situation and making it an issue. let the kid be a kid and i am sure he,ll grow out of it. and who cares if others give you a questioning look let them raise their own kids.
i STILL cannot get my post up! My credit card is fine, but your system won't accept. PLEASE HELP
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There is every indication that this behavior is symptomatic of an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. In this condition, intrusive thoughts are disturbibng, making the child uncomfortable. In order to dispel the discomfort, the child engages in the compulsions - i.e., ritualized behaviors that the child feels compelled to perform. The behaviors do have the effect of letting the child feel relaxed - that is why they are so powerful. It would be sensible to arrange an evaluation with a child psychologist or other pediatric mental health professional and see if it makes sense to address the condition. If it does not interfere with your son's daily mastery of his various challenges relevant to his stage of development, there may not be a need to intervene.
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