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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

SN children

Arm Flapping, always ASD??

27 replies

SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 17:24

Is arm flapping always a sign of ASD? I ask because DS has always arm flapped and he is 9 now. It happens when he gets excited mainly. I looked it up on the net and every page is about ASD. Reading up on it, he has a few signs, such as the arm flapping, loses control when angry, self harms (bites his arms) uncontrolable crying. he is very bright and is advanced in reading and spelling. The consulant noted that he can be very stubbom (sp?) at times.
We have an appointment at CAMHs on thursday, should I mention this??

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nikkie · 24/02/2007 17:31

Don't think its a sign by itself but when combined with other stuff.Anything you are concerned about write down then take to the appointment.

Blossomhill · 24/02/2007 17:34

My dd with it has always done this. I think it definitely can be but has to be alongside other symptoms. How is ds socially? IICR you said he has lots of friends and interacts well?

onlyjoking9329 · 24/02/2007 17:45

well i have one arm flapper out of three with autism, the other two could never co-ordinate jumping/flapping.
finger flickers, flappers , toe walkers are all things that ASD kids might do, but i have also seem these things in NT children.
how is he with social stuff, OCD rules and literal thinking?

pinkchampagne · 24/02/2007 17:50

My DS hand flaps, but it is more a wave than a flap IYSWIM?
I have heard that it can be a sign of AS & also it is common in dyspraxic children.
I wouldn't worry about hand flapping too much if there weren't too many other concerns, but if you have worries about DS, it's worth mentioning it.

SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 17:51

He is very socialable, he has friends, though he did find it hard to make friends at his new school in september. He does prefer to stay in on the computer than play outside or go to the park etc. He has CP too, and I am sure that someone mentioned that children with CP can display ASD traits but it not be true ASD IYKWIM

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SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 17:52

Ita full on flap, like a bird. With his hands involved too.

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pinkchampagne · 24/02/2007 17:53

My DS doesn't have a dx, but I he ticks all the boxes for dyspraxia & possibly some AS symptoms. I have lots of other concerns with him though. The hand flapping is a fairly recent thing.

pinkchampagne · 24/02/2007 17:54

Worth mentioning, but it could well be nothing to worry about.

SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 17:55

this was a thread from the other week, when he lost control completely.

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pinkchampagne · 24/02/2007 17:59

Poor you, that sounds very frightening.

SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 18:01

He blows up like that quite regularly, though normally its all directed at DH.

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pinkchampagne · 24/02/2007 18:03

Oh dear, that sounds very hard. Have you mentioned it to the consultant before?

SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 18:07

The consulant thinks he has ODD. TBH I don't think he does.

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SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 18:12

I have noticed that the Arm flapping is getting worse, he does it lots now

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onlyjoking9329 · 24/02/2007 18:16

my sons flapping & jumping is most evident when he is excited, EG he has just flapped throughout watching you've been framed

pinkchampagne · 24/02/2007 18:17

My DS flaps most when excited too!

SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 18:17

DS has just arm flapped while watching DH playing a computer game....

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SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 18:18

he does the jumping too if standing

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onlyjoking9329 · 24/02/2007 18:23

my ds used to jump and flap like mad when thomas the sodding tank engine was on.

SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 18:25

lol DS did that too. He just came up to me, and started jumping and flapping, when he thought he might get the PC from me... he said he was excited...

He also chews his clothes as well as bites his arms.

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onlyjoking9329 · 24/02/2007 18:31

thing is to be honest i don't think there are many behaviors that are exclusive to ASD (except perhaps the window & floor licking)i think the difference is that NT kids move on fairly quickly, my kids seem stuck, IYKWIM

SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 18:32

He is 9 now, so should he have outgrown it by now??
Should I mention it to CAMHs??

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onlyjoking9329 · 24/02/2007 18:42

well iwould mention any concerns that you have, write them down for reference, my DS is almost 10, he has flapped since he was 2 1/2, i think he alway will to be honest.

PeachyClair · 24/02/2007 18:43

Nah my NT kid licks windows too- usually at the deli [grrrrr]

Flapping can be a sign of frustration, hyper stimulation, energy or just fun! As he has CP, does he find it hard to get outa nd burn the energy off? Could it be that?

They do ask about flapping when they start to lean towards ASD, but only breifly and as a part of many things. Its not on the triad of imapirments which they use or anything significant like that. DS1 (as) does it, whilst DS3 (ASD) doesn't, DS2 (NT copies ds1 and does it)

SparklyGothKat · 24/02/2007 18:46

ok, will mentioned it. I was just wondering if arm flapping can be a sign of anything else, or just ASD

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