Repetetive humming

[LaTrucha]

DD has a habit or repetitively humming, or mmore like droning, when she is concentrating on something like drawing, or doing something humdrum like the walk back from school, or when she is tired. She has done this since she was very tiny and she is now nearly 5. It is often very loud. It's clearly some kind of zoning out technique.

I'm not worried about it as I know she can stop it when she is at school (the teacher has asked). I am more interested to know why she does it, and if anyone else's DC does it and will it ever stop!

Is she ok in other aspects of her development? It sounds like a sort of verbal tic.

I meant to say...I had a verbal tick when I was about 6 or 7....I used to say "Zzz" a bit like a bee! It went eventually!

Yes, she's fine. We just had parent's evening and the teacher has no concerns. DD stopped doing the noise when it was made clear she couldn't do it at school.

I never imagined it would last as long as it has. One day maybe I'll miss it!

My DS is 10 on Monday and he sings all the time to himself, his teacher commented on it at parents evening. He said he will stop when asked but if he concentrates he starts again, he has given him a target of stopping by Christmas. Teacher did then comment that he has an unbelievably eclectic repertoire goes from 60's all the way to present day

At least that's something. DD tends to pick one phrase from a song, say 'London Bridge is Falling down' and do that over and over, with or without words, really slowly and really loudly.

DD does exactly the same, but also if she is a bit stressed or overwhelmed. I don't know if she does it at school, I have never thought to ask!

We still remember my tic fondly. Funny thing is, when I start thinking about it..even now I get the urge to do it! Sometimes I indulge myself in a little "Zzz" and hope nobody hears!

Ahh. That's nie. I try to let her do it at ome because I know sh'es not allowed to at school and she's good about it. It's just so loud sometimes that I have to ask her to stop. So, if she's colouring at the kitchen table while I cook and listen to the radio, she will drown out the radio!

Oh my goodness, your daughter's 'noise' sounds identical to my dd's! so much so that I had to check I hadn't written your post!!! dd is 2.5 and has been doing this errrrrrrrrrrrr pretty much since she started making noises! yes, it's always and only when concentrating (drawing, doing a button up, gluing things, sand play etc). I was hoping she may outgrow it by school age! She is a good speaker now and we encourage her to talk to us/ explain what she's doing in place of the noise but she invariably reverts back to it. I have noticed it gets louder if there's lots of background noise so assume she is using it to focus and block out the rest. I put it down to dd being pretty spirited and energetic so I think it's a real effort for her to focus. Amusingly other children pkaying nearby notice it and join in, often in harmony. I am so pleased to have found someone else who lives with The Noise!

It must be something like that.

I did ask her when she was smaller why she did it. I can't remember exactly what she said, but it was along the lines that it was part of being her. I feel bad if I ask her to stop. It's her house, right? It is just so loud at times. At least she can stop it at achool.

One day I'll realise she doesn't do it anymore and I'll miss it. It used to be the 'BA-LA-MOR-EEE' bit of the Balamory theme tune. For about a year. I don't miss that!

Yes it doesn't bother me at home but when we are out she does get some strange looks!
Oh yes, we had singing Ballamory over and over at the top of her voice but she's now moved onto 'tip me up and pour me out' on repeat.. or reciting bits of stories in funny voices.

My family looked upon it as a cute weirdness about me...they'd laugh about it but in a kind way. They did ask me to stop but in a "Oh come on Mrs! Leave it out! kind of way.

I see it rather like a vocal habit similar to biting nails. If you hassle them too much they'll get anxious but a little reminder when they do do it, is a good thing. It has to stop at some point it's just her learning the self control. Martial arts could help her as it is very disciplined and children learn to control their bodies very well.

My dd4 has one this since she was 2. When I have asked her why she does it, she told me that it was because she was happy! She is doing it less frequently now, so maybe she will grow out of it eventually!

The other problem with it is that it really winds up two-year old DS!

Nice to know she's not the only one. Thanks.

Humming child. My DS, 7, hums contently and loudly until his is attention is taken away from whatever he maybe doing. It is hard to not stop him aa it can be quite a painful sound to hear and be ever so loud too. The noise range slightly from car engine to what I can only describe as some kind of tribal ritual harmony. There are never any words just noises. I realise this may be to block other noise, but when everything else is almost completely silent why does this happen? He is on the pathway for an autism review and I understand from this it could be a stim. Problem I have os that I do not wish to stop him, but my partner works from home and this noise is highly distracting. What do I do? I’ve tried to get him to recognise and decrease the volume or to change activity but I’m worried this could be harmful to him mentally.