Advice on DS (aged 6) who squeaks and roars

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My DS is 6 and recently diagnosed as dyspraxic and so a bit more physically limited than his peers. So he already struggles to keep up and is subject to a fair amount of exclusion at school.

I'm posting because I am getting a bit concerned about his behaviour too. I've googled it but can't get to the bottom of it and wondered if SN mums might recognise what he does.

For the last 8 months when he is excited he squeaks/squeals or sometimes does a low roar. Now and then he just does it out of the blue even when he is not particularly stimulated. Increasingly kids are noticing this. Today at his sports club he started doing it and my DH said a couple of boys began to mimic and make fun. He has no control over it at all.

Anyone got any ideas???

My son is 15 and still does this. He has Aspergers. The Community Paed described the squeaks as vocal tics. She very wisely said "Tics come and go" and this has been the case. DS' tics started in Year 4, which was a particularly horrible year for him, and they continue on and off. We have had other children mimicking him too which can be really upsetting. On one occasion two boys ran after our car in a car park doing it. Without thinking I got out of the car and shouted "I am so glad I don't have to know you" at them in my best teacher voice. Weird thing to say I know but it stopped them in their tracks.
I don't think there is an answer but if you are worried mention it to your Paed.(My son doesn't know he is doing it so mercifully didn't realise the boys were making fun of him.)

Tourettes?

marne thanks, I had considered Tourettes (but when I googled I wasn't sure it fitted). Can it be mild like this?

IAHC that sounds very like DS. What other symptoms does your son display for Aspergers? I have heard Apsergers and Dyspraxia are related but he doesn't display any of the repetitive behaviour I associate with it. He is not particularly empathic with other kids but he is also very shy and incredibly sweet natured. He does talk A LOT when the mood takes him but this has been calming down lately.

sorry to ask but how long have you waited for your son to be dianosed as dyspraxic as my dd is 4 and has many of the symtoms but they say she is to young to diagnos. Oh and she does make lots of noises simular to what you said before she goes to sleep and in the middle of the night sometimes.

I don't know much about tourettes but it can run along side ASD's and dyspraxia. I have met a few people with tourettes and it can be milder in some and some learn to control it.

It may just be a tick.

Well done for getting a dx for dyspraxia, its hard to get a dx at such an early age, my dd1 has AS and we suspect she has dyspraxia but getting anyone to listen to us (GP, pead) has been hard work.

I considered dyspraxia when my DS was in Yr 4. He had a lot of the features, but not all. Likewise Tourette's. Eventually as he developed he was given the Asperger's diagnosis. His main problems are social. He also has major problems with handwriting, so much so that he has a scribe for exams. He does have some idiosyncracies in use of language, such as making up words for things or using endings for words that aren't correct. He also has a flat voice.His language was very advanced when he was assessed, giving the impression that he is a lot more intelligent than he is (the Little Professor feature). He performs routines when he is stressed, such as touching door frames, or door knobs.
A lot of the features of one thing can appear with another too.
To be honest all Aspies are different in the same way that all NT people are different.Have you tried Tony Attwood's "Complete Guide to Asperger Syndrome" because that has a lot of information in it.

Yes I'm quite please we got a diagnosis of dyspraxia because it means he gets a little support at school. However, they concentrate entirely on his motor skills (inc writing) as he has some physical probs anyway (flat feet, inturned pelvis etc). His writing actually is really not bad but he holds the pen in a terrible way and the SENCO says the prob is he is not going to progress.

But I do find looking at the various syndromes quite confusing as he defo ticks boxes in aspergers and other SN syndromes but not on all symptoms by any means. Same is true for dyspraxia where he fulfils many criteria v easily but then doesn't display any of the other ones. This is why I am a bit concerned about pursuing a diagnosis for his other behavioural issues (the tics) which are quite mild at the mo.

He is also paralysed sometimes by shyness and a fear of doing wrong (he wouldn't go into an organised camp this weekend because he thought the farmer would be angry!!). Is that a typical symptom?

I think it is worth sharing your concerns with your paediatrician.

Hello.
Your son's symptoms sound like neuro development issues. I know how to help him. Have a look at helpingadhd.com/
Please ask me any questions, I have been there with my son, and know how hard it is. My son is ok now.
Best wishes

Thanks. I have had a good look at your website. I notice that you make reference to reading delay etc but actually my son reads very well (almost top of the class), he's v smart and articulate but as I have said in my postings, he's also shy, a bit of a talker (though this is beginning to calm down) and we have these tics going on. I've observed that he doesn't know how to insinuate himself into groups of same age boys and gets terribly nervous when faced with them. Do you think fit4 helps with this kind of scenario?

It could be Tourette's syndrome. My son (13) has ASD (diagnosed when 4) and Tourettes (diagnosed when 8). He had a few tics before diagnosis, which we ignored because they can go with ASd, but when he was 8 they really took off and warranted a separate diagnosis. These conditions can go together and ASD, Tourette's, OCD, ADHD, dyspraxia share a lot of common ground. My recommendations would be to keep a record of everything, and if possible get some video evidence to take with you to the paediatrician. Also, have a look at this website: www.tourettes-action.org.uk/ and see if any of it rings any bells.