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About Michelle Fattig
Expertise
I can answer questions about educational testing, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Special Education, IEP, Learning Disabilities, Sensory Processing, Parent Advocacy, Response to Intervention, living and parenting with disabilities, parent rights in special education, school psychology, and more. I cannot provide a medical diagnosis.
Experience
I am a school psychologist, medical technologist, author of the Annie Books series: Experience Aspeger's Syndrome and Attention Deficits Through the Eyes of a Child, RTI facilitator, ILCD facilitator, parent advocate, presenter, and researcher. My children and I have Asperger's, ADD/ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Organizations
National Association of School Pyschologists, American Medical Technologists, Learning Disabilities Association of Nebraska
Education/Credentials
Ed.S. in School Psychology, doctoral studies in SPED Law, SPED Systems Enhancement Leadership, and doctoral candidate Education Leadership. MT(AMT) and MLT(ASCP)
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You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Parenting Special Needs > Autism > hand movements
Expert: Michelle Fattig
Date: 4/16/2008
Subject: hand movements
Question
Hi, I have a 6yr old daughter who "wiggles" her hands only when she is in her "make believe land" She has a huge imagination and often plays alone because her two siblings are older teenagers. She had an expressive speech delay and attended school at age 3 with services for this. She is and always has been very social, is at the same level as her peers with her intelligence, goes to dancing school, plays sotfball etc. Her speech is a little behind not in context but in getting it out sometimes. Her kindergarten teacher thinks everything is appropriate. She did stutter for a while but that has subsided. My biggest concern is her hand wiggling. When she is playing with other children it doesn't happen, but when she is imaginging something she does it. I don't want the other kids to tease her because she is getting older and it does look odd. Is there anything I can do?? Do you think she is in the autism spectrum?? I have had so many conflicting opinions and personally I hate to have to label her. Please help, she is a beautiful happy girl. Thank you.
Answer
Hand wiggling alone is probably not a concern. You can replace the behavior by giving her manipulatives to hold or replace the need to wiggle. http://www.ateachabout.com/news/teacher_says_article.asp
If you have other sensory motor concerns, there is a useful checklist found at:
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/SPD-symptom-checklist-for-infants-and...
If you have greater concerns, and would like to "rule out" the autism question, a checklist found at the following address can be very helpful:
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:2xYqj2CBgMgJ:psychiatry.hmc.psu.edu/c/docume...
or by typing "Susan Mayes Autism Checklist" into any search engine. Other fine motor activity suggestions can be found at:
http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/schools/Beal/readiness/finemotoractivities.html
Please let me know if there is anything else I can provide for you. Have a lovely day.
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