Dd is constantly blinking atm

8 replies

frascati · 10/08/2007 16:22

Not sure if it's connected to anything. She is 8 with AS and adhd.
She is blinking so much more than she needs to.
Anyone else had this?

OP posts:

MyMILisDoloresUmbridge · 10/08/2007 17:51

Frascati, it could be several things. It could be just a habit she's gotten into, it could be an allergy on her inner eyelids, it could be a problem with her ability to focus or converge. How long has she been doing this?

Original poster

frascati · 10/08/2007 18:44

For about a week. I am so worried it could be tourettes or something

OP posts:

MyMILisDoloresUmbridge · 10/08/2007 20:20

frascati, it is hardly ever Tourettes! Here's what I would do. Don't pass any remarks for a couple of months and see if she stops doing it. If she doesn't, then take her to see a good optometrist, preferably one on /link{http://babo.co.uk/memberlist.html\this list} Very often children with AS or ADHD can have associated problems with vision, not just eyesight but the ability to focus and point the eyes in the right direction, also there can be a lack of awareness of peripheral vision. This can in some cases lead to blinking as you describe.
Another cause is an allergic response on the inner surface of the eyelids. This can cause similar blinking. Again the optometrist would be able to determine if this is the cause.
Neurological problems would be a very, very rare cause. I have been an optometrist for 17 years and have seen loads of blinky children but have never seen one turn out to be Tourettes.
It may just be a habit, so I'd wait it out first to see if she stops of her own accord.

MyMILisDoloresUmbridge · 10/08/2007 20:22

sorry this list

allthatglisters · 10/08/2007 21:58

My DS, poss ASD, (paed. assessment in Oct) constantly blinks if someone tries to talk to him, especially if he's being 'put on the spot' i.e. someone he doesn't know well, but it can also be with us. It's a sort of expression that he feels under pressure.

coppertop · 10/08/2007 22:12

Ds1 blinks rapidly when he is upset or stressed about something.

Blossomhill · 10/08/2007 22:56

Mymil ~ thank you. She already has asd/adhd and very recently was dx with dyspraxia too so tourettes and we would have had the whole rainbow
atg and ct ~ I do think it is realted to her asd but she doesn't seem stressed. Only difference is over the holidays she hasn't had her adhd medication, not sure if that's why?

ahundredtimes · 10/08/2007 23:03

We've had blinking. It was rather sweet really, like a mole coming up into the sunshine. But he's stopped now, he sort of rolls his eyes up and pulls his face down sometimes.

I don't think it's Tourettes. It might just be stimulating thing?

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