Alternative to toe walking?

[ihatecbeebies]

My DS (as/hfa) sometimes toe walks at home if he's got his shoes off, well up until recently when he decided that he didnt want his feet to touch the ground anymore so I had to buy him slippers to wear at home so he doesnt toe walk much anymore, but he's started shuffling his feet along the ground instead. He used to shuffle a little and it gradually become more and more and now he does it quite a lot instead of normal walking, even when he's outside now. Is his shuffling an alternative to toe walking or just one if his quirky little habits?

I would guess (and no expert here) that if the toe walking is sensory he will also be getting some feedback from the shuffling which might be more comfortable for him than toe walking? I'm assuming the toe walking isn't a tone issue here in which case might be a different answer.

Yes the sensory need is what I thought it must be too, but wasn't sure if maybe it was for another reason. He ha developmental dyspraxia too but no tone problem.