Is hand flapping unusual in toddlers?

[Lotsofberrys]

My DD is 22 months old and when she's excited she holds her arms up and flaps her hands. She also makes funny noises at the same time and goes a bit red in the face. To look at her you'd think she was about to take off into the air! It's actually quite cute, but people do look at her a bit strangely.

She can't actually walk yet (has very bendy knees and ankles) so I sometimes wonder if its just her only way of showing excitement (rather than running around or something).

I just wondered if anyone knew of any children who aren't autistic who do this?

Thanks

Hi Lotsofberrys

Is she verbal? My daughter is non-verbal (almost 4) and does this when excited. She has autism.

Does she have any other red flags?

SA

Yeah, she has a few things I've been wondering about. She says about 10 words but I think that's on the low side. She likes playing on her own and is very self-sufficient (but loves attention to). She doesn't point to things very much.

She has an underlying condition which could be causing some funny behaviour though. Her pedeatrician didn't think she was obviously autistic, but is reviewing her for it properly soon.

I guess I wouldn't be surprised either way really.

I was watching a video of my middle DS last night and he did this between the ages of 1 and 2 and is not on the autism spectrum. My DS3 (who does have ASD) also flapped a lot and kicked his legs when excited and still does at the age of 4. He even says things like "it's flapping time" now before launching into a big flapping episode! I have seen lots of babies and toddlers express their excitement by flapping so I wouldn't say it it indicative of an ASD by itself. DS3 also did not walk till later (28 months) due to hypermobile joints and now that he can walk, he doesn't really flap while on the move, only while sitting down playing with something.

zen that is very cute that he says its flapping time! Are hypermobile joints a sign of autism too as my DD does have those?

I also wondered if children with autism play peek a boo and interactive games like that too as my DD does. She seems to love attention but I thought that was a sign of maybe not having autism?

Thanks for your replies everyone

Lotsofberrys, I think there is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence of hypermobility and ASD coexisting (I know when I posted about it once, several people posted to say their DCs had both ASD and hypermobility). However, plenty of people have one without the other, so it seems to be quite complex as to how they are linked. When we saw a neurologist once, even she said the two conditions often exist together, but I don't know if there has been any medical research undertaken in this area.

With regards to playing games, my DS is also very interactive and loves playing games and always wants to involve himself in his brothers' games. He loved clapping games and peek a boo as a toddler, but never pointed and still can't follow a point. Also, I believe that girls with ASD can present somewhat differently to boys. There have been a few threads about it on here recently, so it might be worth doing a search?

What does "obviously autistic" mean? I think its the same old "wait till she is 3" approach they are taking.

I would video this and keep on knocking their doors for assessment and intervention.

Regarding flapping and hypermobility, What Polter said.

Thanks everyone. Yes no one seems to be in a rush to diagnose her. I will do a search on here for more info...

Hi, my DD (2y 9m) handflaps when excited and has done for ages (also whilst making a mad noise). She is not on the autistic spectrum as far as I know, nor has it ever been suggested and we see paeds for developmental/health things quite a bit. She does have other issues, and much of her development is around a year or so behind what it "should" be, so my guess is she just hasn't grown out of a more baby-ish motion; could be utterly wrong! She has only recently started speaking and much of speech is very hard to understand (we sign a lot) so I also put it down to often being unable to express herself sufficiently. Again, could be wrong!

My DS2 (2.4) handflaps when getting frustrated or cross because I've asked him to do something he doesn't want to despite having the language to put his views across and doesn't seem ASDish in other ways. His older brother has ASD but has never handflapped. Sorry, not much help I know!!

dd1 (autism) liked games like peekeboo when she was about that age. she also craved (and still craves) attention by familiar adults (not interested in peers). on the surface she appears very warm and social. she is flapping hands. and hypermobile

however, dd2 (2.5 and NT as far as we can tell) is flapping hands as well when she is exited.

Hi my DS 8 (AS) jumps and flaps and has done since he was very small, he says he has to or he wont know he is excited (although he does do it at times where I don't see a reason to be excited, but then who knows what the little darling is thinking about ). My Dd 4 (NT....I think?!) on the other hand does a 'half hearted' flap and jumps when she is excited but TBH I think (maybe) it is something she has picked up from my Ds.

I don't think hand flapping alone is a sign of autism, there would be other red flags along with it.

Hand flapping can be also be symptoms of Dyspraxia or SPD.

If in doubt check it out.