repetitive movements, tic disorder or OCD

[wigglybeezer]

DS2 is at the beginning of the DX process (for ASC).

I have had a preliminary meeting with a specialist nurse where we discussed DS's issues including some repetitve movements he does which consist of adjusting himself (in the trouser area!), touching various parts of his face and scratching his face and back.

I also discussed the fact that he had OCD type issues (about contamination mostly) when he was much younger but that these had not returned.

I have just done a long car journey sitting beside him and am reassessing his movement problem as it suddenly struck me that the movements tend to have a pattern and might be an OCD type ritual rather than something involuntary. DS can stop them if he concentrates and is distracted but they are at their worst when he is trying to sit still, they really seem to affect his concentration.

What do you all think?

Sounds OCD ish Tics tend to be involuntary whereas OCD movements (although not voluntary) tend to be compulsive and more deliberate.

I wouldn't try to differentiate - they are both symptoms of anxiety disorder.

It's hard to say, really. DS2 is 5yo and displays those behaviours (amongst others ) all the time. We try to remind him or distract him when he does these things, but most of the time he doesn't even seem to realise he's doing it. I honestly do not think he could control it even if he tried, as he cannot just stop doing it by concentrating. It is worse when he is under stress as well.

The repetitive behaviours vary as well, there are some that are verbal and some that are movement based. He seems to go in phases with some, whereas others are just always there.

It could be OCD, but equally, a lot of children with ASC have tics or 'stims' that are usually an attempt to self-regulate or self-soothe when they are feeling anxious or have sensory integration issues (it is very common for this to be more pronounced when they are being asked to sit still/concentrate for a period of time).

Has he seen an Occupational Therapist for a sensory assessment? I would highly recommend this.

Ds does this, lots of repetitive hand movements, scratching, head shaking, vocal tics etc. When younger constantly washing his hands. He also has lots of phobias.

I wouldnt say they are involuntary, but its like he does it unconsciously, as oppose to on purpose.

We have had various theories from OT, CAMHS and other experts. Seems they all conclude whether they are sensory, behavioural, anxiety related, is irrelevant. As they tend to start off as either sensory or anxiety related and quickly become a habit, so a mixture of all 3.

Ds has ASD and suffers with high anxiety.

I don't think they are stims, but he does them when he can't do his normal stim (pacing). You would not say that DS was anxious , he is pretty calm but I accept that he may have more underlying anxiety than is immediately apparent.

I would really like to get him to cut them down before high school, especially the willy adjusting and nose picking! I will try a hypnosis session I think, DS is quite good at meditation and hypnosis stopped DS1 biting his nails. I'll let you know if it works.

I find it hard sometimes to choose whether simply to accept DS's funny habits or to try and modify them, however they really affect how he is perceived. Y others (sadly this includes his older brother). I don't want to stress him out but I would like this to be less of a problem for him and us. By the way I am not embarrassed and never tell DS off for being twitchy in public but DS 1 does ( he is a teen with his own spectrummy issues so I can't just stop him complaining, believe you me I have tried).

Wiggly, ds is the most passive, calm boy, in fact i think thats why he has a lot of tics or repetitive behaviours, whatever you want to call them. I sometimes wish he would shout or scream, it might cut down on the tics. He directs his emotions and feelings inwards, rather than outwards.

I think where just not one thing is responsible for the tics or repetitives behaviours you have to try to work on different areas all at the same time ie sensory, anxiety and behaviour. Easier said than done.

You could try giving your ds something else to fiddle with, to try and replace the more embarassing ones like willy adjusting and break the habit. Although i find i break one habit and its replaced by another, hopefully a not so noticeable one though!