Finger movements

[confusedandworried321]

I've recently noticed my DS (age 3 and a half) makes some funny finger movements, usually just when walking/standing around waiting. He seems to hold the tip of his index finger or sometimes middle finger and thumb together, sort of like an "ok" sign, or as if he's making shadow puppets. Occasionally he also uses the middle finger to pull the top of the index finger back, as if he's stretching it. Sorry it's really hard to explain, I don't have a photo but will try and take one tomorrow to include.

My first thought was finger posturing, which I didn't even know was a concern relating to autism until recently!

Does anyone else's child do this? My DH also fiddles with his fingers a lot, slightly differently. He's not autistic. But I do have some (minor ish, mostly) concerns about DS and autism. We are waiting to see a community paed, but that won't be until middle of next year.

Like you I'd never heard of finger posturing before until I read it in a previous post. My son used to do a similar thing when he was younger, he would cross his fingers on both hands and keep them that way alot and although I noticed it I never thought anymore about it, just saw it as one of those things kids do that you can't explain.
He is older now and hasn't done it for years, he doesn't have autism or any other special needs.
I am no expert of course but on its own I wouldn't see it as any concern 🙂

Thank you Chlochlo52. Good to hear others have done it! I do have some concerns about autism but they come and go, it's mainly "quirks" rather than anything concrete as DS doesn't have any delays and his communication seems just fine to me. So hopefully it's just something he's doing/trying out.

My son was very similar, I think it's something we all worry about, my son was on the later side of average when he started talking, I went through a phase of thinking he didn't react to pain the same way others did and for several years he was obsessed with spinning wheels on toy cars/his tricycle/anything else with wheels but it didn't mean anything. Normal toddler behaviour can often mimic signs/symptoms of something but I think a lot of the time as parents we overthink it 🙂

Thank you. Yes I hope so! My DS' speech has always been fine and if anything he was slightly ahead, but he does a few quirky little things! Mainly noise related, he is constantly singing/humming/making sound effects when he's playing. It drives me nuts and I do worry that it's some form of stimming. So when I noticed the finger thing recently I couldn't help but worry.

@confusedandworried321 my DS has a similar behaviour ... humming and finger movements, otherwise he is a social and communicative toddler. He is 1.5 years old. How is your DS doing now? I am so worried and cant stop googling

@worriedfistimemum sorry to hear you’re worried too.

If your little boy is only 1.5 years old I would honestly say just relax. It’s very difficult to tell whether anything is or isn’t unusual at that age.

My DS is 6 now and I do think he is either autistic or has ADHD. He hasn’t been diagnosed with anything as it’s only now becoming clear that he is “different” at school, it’s very hard to tell when children are younger.

The finger movements though, I have since noticed LOADS of children doing the exact same thing, so I can’t believe I worried about it so much at the time!

@Confusedandworried321 Thank you very much for the reply..So the finger movements resolved? I am so worried because my DS is always speaking words again and again, does these finger movements and even sometimes flap his hands .. I cant help but to worry and sometimes even cry ..

No, my DS still sometimes does the finger postures, quite often actually. It's mainly where he uses the middle finger to pull the top of the index finger back, as if he's stretching it. As mentioned in my post above though, I see SO many children doing this, of different ages. So that doesn't worry me.

The main indicator for my DS possibly being neurodivergent is how he is in school. It's minor things but added up together, they suggest to me that he's not "typical".

Your DS is only 1.5, honestly it would be very difficult to indicate autism, or not, at this age, unless he's missed milestones. At that age my DS was chatting, pointing, sharing plenty. There were no indicators, other than the fact that he was a late walker, which I think can be associated with autism but only very sporadically, plenty of autistic children walk early or on time, and plenty of neurotypical children walk late.

@Confusedandworried321 I am really thankful for your time and answers. My DS seems very similar he points, says about 20 words, plays social games, hi 5, wave bye bye, and tries to talk alot.. his only late milestone is walking as he just started to walk! + the repetitive finger movements ... If you do not mind sharing with me what were the stages that your DS went through and what are the areas that worry you the most now?, e.g. activity, social interaction, comprehension..

My DS developed normally. He started being sensitive to very loud noises age around 2.5. This is nowhere near as bad now but he still has slight sensory issues with loud noises.

He went through a phase of playing up at nursery age 3 - 3.5. Defiant behaviour, refusal to do what he was asked. He is like this now in school, in year 1. He chats to other children and doesn't stop when the teacher asks everyone to be quiet, she has to say his name specifically. I've noticed this in clubs too.

He has friends and is friendly with his peers. His understanding is fine, he's very clever and I think a lot of his schoolwork is too easy for him. He is what I would call non-compliant, he doesn't do things easily when people ask.

@Confusedandworried321 Super thanks .. I will watch my DS development and update this thread for others' benefit. If there is any advice from your side please let me know (e.g. stimulation, seeing Occupational Therapist, or any other useful exercise ).
@Chlochlo52

Hi I’m so hopeful you could provide a little update? @Worriedfistimemum

I provided an update on this post:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/behaviour_development/4415913-17-months-old-with-some-odd-behavior-please-help-Hand-Flaps-Finger-Movements?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Mumsnet_Watched_Thread_Notification_New_Talk&utm_medium=email

Hi,
Any update on your DS. My son does the similar ok sign. Is speech delayed too. But there are no communication problems. But I am worried about finger movements and his constant humming.

Hi @NewMum118 , I’m the original poster. My son is 10 now. He has a diagnosis of ADHD, I imagine he might also be autistic although to now the ADHD has been the most tricky to handle so he’s medicated.

Funnily enough DS also constantly hummed/made noise. I think this is pretty typical of ADHD and/or autism.

@confusedandworried321 Thankyou so much for replying. My son is 4 and does not have a diagnosis yet. ASD being ruled out multiple times and we are waiting for some more time to reconsider ADHD. Can you suggest any strategies at home for reducing this behaviour ?

I would say you cannot rule ASD out at age 4. My DS “didn’t have enough evidence for it” age 8 but I’m still unconvinced. I know of children who finally get diagnosed age 17! And of course plenty of undiagnosed adults.

I don’t I’m afraid as some behaviour associated with ADHD particularly is very difficult. My DS has all of the ODD symptoms of ADHD.

My one big tip would be don’t shout, don’t get angry. Do as much reading on parenting an ASD/ADHD child as possible, lots of books geared towards parents, podcasts and instagram pages too.

At age 4 my DS was relatively easy, at home, although he could be defiant and struggled to listen in school. At that age I think it’s a case of managing his behaviour best you can. Good luck!

@confusedandworried321 agreed. I am not personally ruling anything out. Infact people have mentioned that ADHD would be considered once he is 5. But he isn't very hyperactive or inattentive.I had a therapist mention that my son's profile fits that of possible language impairments in which sensory seeking is also common. But nothing will be diagnosed before 5. My son is 4 but not yet talking in sentences. He has not had communication delays. Non verbal communication was always good and plays very well. Other things too point to ASD not being a diagnosis hence most professionals I have consulted don't think he has ASD. But his language development, although started at the right time with no regressions, his progress is very slow. I have chalked out a plan to work on his social skills, language and behaviours at home. So for the next one year I am concentrating on that.
Ofcourse I will go on for assessments at regular intervals.

@AvaLJohnson That is also possible. There are some sensory seeking behaviours independent of any diagnosis. Some children just have sensory integration delays along with language delays but we will know for sure when he is older.

I would say you cannot rule ASD out at age 4. My DS “didn’t have enough evidence for it” age 8 but I’m still unconvinced. I know of children who finally get diagnosed age 17! And of course plenty of undiagnosed adults.

You must know us then! Couldn't even get DC2 assessed, was told by many Teachers and SENCOS that they had no concerns. They were finally diagnosed as AuDHD at 17.

@TinyMouseTheatre it’s frustrating how little some teachers/practitioners are willing to listen to parents’ concerns! They’re not experts…glad your DC finally has a diagnosis.

@confusedandworried321 One more question. Did your DS do the finger thing infront of his eyes. More like a visual thing. Of late I have noticed my son doing that. An expert since then has mentioned ADHD along with auditory processing disorder causing language delays. But I have never heard of visual stimming being done by ADHD ND kids.
My son is really confusing us.

No @NewMum118 he never did that.

What would you like to hear? It's weird behavior? Hes autistic?.maybe he doesn't know his own gender?

Yes your son is very special