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Post by kellyds on May 2, 2009 12:55:10 GMT -5
Joshua flaps his hands. He has other autistic behaviors (string dangling and rocking), but people at the Down syndrome clinic don't think he's autistic because he comes to me for comfort, asks for hugs, copies what I'm doing, and so forth.
I forgot to ask if there was anything I could do to discourage the hand flapping. It's his usual response to anything anyone says to him. He starts flapping his hands and then answers. Or, when I'm feeding him, he'll flap his hands between bites. I've nicely told him, "You don't need to move your hands like that. Let's fold them here on your high chair tray", but he doesn't get it.
Any ideas on discouraging this? I don't mind right now, but this won't be accepted socially as he grows older and I'd like to help him minimize it if he can.
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Post by kg91207 on May 2, 2009 13:37:13 GMT -5
It sounds like you've started verbally redirecting him well, do you do a hand over hand redirection? Each time he does it I would just gently guide his hands to his lap or tray. Then continue feeding or talking to him. I think it just takes lots of repetition!
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Post by Jodi on May 2, 2009 17:07:31 GMT -5
Kelly - does Joshua feed himself? Just curious. Ryan was a mess when he started feeding himself, but with practice he got a whole lot better. Anyway, my thought was maybe if his hands were busy with the activity of eating, he might not do that. It might just be a phase too. Ryan did some stim-type things when he was younger that he has since stopped.
Jodi
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on May 2, 2009 17:57:54 GMT -5
Sure he's not signing excited? Brook did this till I figured out she was excited for dinner
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Post by CC on May 2, 2009 21:29:34 GMT -5
My boy has the dual DX of DS and ASD but has never flapped. I was thinking the same as someone else said here, does he feed himself? Might be he is just excited about the food and maybe if he was keeping his hands busy feeding himself this might stop, just a thought. Just throwing this out there, not saying your son has the dual DX but not all DS clinics are experienced with the Dual. If you are comfortable that your DS clinic is then fine but if not you may want to find a Doc that is experience with both CC ~
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Post by momofrussell on May 2, 2009 21:52:43 GMT -5
Well you can have autistic behaviors with DS and NOT be Autistic!!! Russell flaps, dangles, wiggles, twirls, spins, etc... AND he has Autism... he doesn't come to me for comfort... doesn't engage with me... doesn't do what your child is doing. So, if your child can copy, engage, point, guesture, etc.... probably doesn't have "classic autism" but that doesn't mean there might (or might not be) some autistic behaviors and/or sensory things going on..... I think the stimming and sensory issues go hand and hand lots of times... they sure do for us!!! So, maybe there is a way to "feed" his sensory needs so he isn't getting stimulated by flapping??? Do you have an OT that you can ask about a sensory diet or other things you can do? A.
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