Nothing to worry about or something more?

[duzzlightyearsmum]

DS12 has ADHD and Autism for context, not sure it’s relevant but just in case.

Over the last couple of weeks he has started bursting out in spontaneous laughter. It lasts for around a minute on average and then he stops laughing as abruptly as it began. He says ‘why did I laugh’ or ‘why am I laughing?’

Now this could, I assume, just be part of his neurodivergence but I have heard before that this can be a form of seizure. Anyone have any experience regarding this? Obviously I will speak to his current CAMHS practitioner at his next appointment this week but wondered if anyone might be able to offer some insight or previous experience around this.

It sounds like he's just doing it because he can. My son goes into a fit of giggles for no reason sometimes . On occasion he's thinking about something he's found funny. I seriously doubt it's fit related.

Could it be a tic? Tourette’s? I’d think that before thinking of seizures.

Get him checked out.

I agree with this.

OP is your son medicated for his ADHD? Have their been any changes in his medication recently?

Hadn’t even considered Tourette’s, can’t believe it. It has been queried as a possibility before. Would make sense as you say.
Do you think I should contact a GP or stick with CAMHS? His current practitioner is a non-prescribing advisor (or similar) not sure if that makes a difference

Yes he is medicated for his ADHD but no recent changes.

I don’t think he’s doing it because he can as he doesn’t seem to be in control or have any idea what’s happening. He does plenty of other things out of choice or for effect and his reaction to them is different to this

I think there's been a thread on here before about this, and believe that it did turn out to be seizure related. Maybe have a wee look through this board? I'll see if I can find it too.

My nephew has Tourette’s, and although sometimes tics do just happen and he might not have been aware in advance, usually there’s an element of feeling a compulsion to do it. What happens if you ask your son to try to delay the laughing - like can you count to 10 and then do it? If he can but it’s really hard - kind of like trying not to blink - that might be more tic like. If he’s only really aware once he’s done it, I would be thoughtful about the link to seizures as well. It’s probably not, but I would that want that ruled out to be on the safe side.

There is a very, very rare seizure type called "gelastic seizures" which are described as laughter, with a mirthless and unnerving quality usually.

Inappropriate laughter can be a tic, or just a behavioural thing where children / young people's understanding of why they're laughing hasn't quite kept up.

If you are seeing CAMHS anyway and can get a video of the episodes, you could ask their doctors to look.