I would appreciate any help on a child Im working with who has Global developmental delay, I would like some more info on certain behaviours I have noticed...

[Nixz]

He will turn his head from side to side, continuously and with increasing speed, to the point of him falling over or becoming very dizzy. Is this boredom?

He will talk to one hand whilst the other one will be against his cheek, unless the 'other hand' is answering. He will make his hands 'talk' to each other, sometimes i can understand what he is saying, othertimes, its either to quiet or just a mumble and noises. Is this just an imaginery friend type scenario? Its like he is seperate from his hands sometimes as he even talks in his own voice to them.

He often puts his hand or occasionally, other items, in front of his eyes and waves it slowly, watching carefully, turning his hand (item) over and over and then becomes very distracted and it is almost impossible to gain his attention again.
He is in mainstream schooling and is taught through play.
Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on these behaviours or point me in the direction of somewhere that can!!

Thanks for your reply!
Im his TA, he has had the same one for a few years but the workload was getting too much for 1 person, im working with him for the next few months. Ive noticed these things straightaway and mentioned them to his previous TA and she has agreed observed these behaviours, once they were highlighted to her.
The child is in year 1, he has access to speach thereapy, ed.psych etc and yes, a diagnosis has been made. Im not sure about at home, I would be a little reluctant to ask, until I know a bit more about the behaviours. I am going to record any comments and observations that I notice from a behavioural point of view, as a seperate record from his school day diary, to see if there are any patterns emerging or triggers.

When I mentioned boredom, I read that for some children who have severe developmental delay, things like arm flapping, head turning etc can be in response to excitement (thats not the case in this situation, im sure) or boredom. I think its all about self stimulation... its as if he is (and i hate this saying...) he is in his own world, but his attention is held there, he is definately concentrating on something!

I must say that, Im used to working as a TA3 or higher, covering PPA and doing extra literacy etc, this has thrown me slightly as I dont feel I have any prior experience or knowledge of this!!

T'is why Im turning to god ol' trusty MN for a florrent of incoming knowledge

Hi there Nixz.

I am by no means an expert on this, however I work with children who mave severe learning difficulties and Autism and the behaviours you have described I see a lot in the kids i work with.

the putting things in front of his eyes thing, definately sounds like visual self stimulation and the turning his head thing, again sounds like self stimulation, where he may be getting an endorphin rush from making himself feel dizzy.

not sure about the hand tho. Does he have speech?

The turning things in his hand is what my ASD DS does. He will also make himself dizzy, though by spinning rather than shaking his head. When he is absorbed in his own world he mumbles and talks to himself - it is like he is rehearsing converstations with himself, with very exaggerated gestures and facial expressions.