AboutTrey McGowan Expertise My primary expertise is in the area of the social, psychological, and mental development of Aspergers Syndrome and other high-functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders. I am also very knowledgeable in the communication disorders and common co-existing issues. I'm well-read on most of these as well as having experienced it myself. Other aspects of autism, I can do fairly well at as well, from the oversensitivity to the recognition of it.
Warning: I am *not* a medical professional, and while I can research answers through books and online, I can not give direct medical expertise.
Experience I am 14 years diagnosed Asperger's Autistic, and have been reading up and studying it, as well as taking 'first hand accounts' for most of those 14 years. In addition, I have had three children, adopted elsewhere, all of whom are varying degrees of autistic from mid to high functioning. My mother has done some research on the subject as well, and passed some of it on to me.
Education/Credentials I have completed grade school and most of high school, and achieved a GED. I've also received home schooling.
Question QUESTION: My granddaughter, who is almost eight months old, does a lot of hand flapping. To your knowledge, is this typical behavior or could it be an indicator of autism for a child of this age group? She does make eye contact and return smiles at her parents.
Thank You,
Dee
ANSWER: Hello, Dee!
The short answer to this is: possibly. I know. I hate answers like that, too.
The long answer, therefore, is as follows: Excessive hand-flapping alone, without any other signs in a child of that age, could indeed be an indication of autism in a child this young. Look for the other common signs: rocking, spinning (herself or other things), other forms of self-stimming and oversensitivity. PDD has a vast slew of symptoms, but those tend to be the ones most commonly noticed by parents in the early years.
Alternatively, it could be a natural self-exploring behavior in a child of this age. She may have learned that the flailing of her hands is a good way to burn off excess energy, or feels good to her. It may well be that in a couple of months or so, it will fade.
I'm not a doctor, so I can't make a diagnosis and wouldn't even attempt it, but for me, I would write it down in her Baby Book (if you have such a thing) and keep it around. Describe the hand-flapping in at least a little detail (is it a twitch? Mad flailing at the wrists? Is it quite literally flapping like she was pretending to be a bird?). This way, if the problem persists, you'll have the proof, signed and dated, of how early it was going on (as many doctors will ask questions about that). And if it turns out to be nothing, it'll be a cute memory you can turn back to later and tell your daughter, 'You used to run around like a little bird....'
If I can help with anything else, don't hesitate to ask!
Trey
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QUESTION: The "hand flapping" is more of a flick of the wrist going back and forth not up and down making it look like a hand wave (Miss America style.) However, she is not waving. She seems to do it when she is nervous or excited. Is this different than the hand flapping? She definetly makes eye contact, and smiles back when smiled at. She notices when her parents leave and cries for them. I will write it down.
Thank You,
Dee
Answer I'm sure there's a medical definition for what constitutes as 'hand flapping' that I'm not privy to, but for the most part I see it in the definition of a child (or adult) who is shaking their hands loose-wristed from side to side, either lightly or strongly. Thus the definition 'flap' (because they flap like a sheet in the breeze). Essentially, if you'll pardon a graphic description, hold your hands the way a dog begging would hold their paws, then, without tensing the muscles of your wrists, shake your hands to and fro. That loose wriggling is what I tend to see IDed as 'hand flapping', and the strong sensation you get while doing that is often the reason the child does it.
What you are describing sounds more like a rather typical expression of surprise or glee, and while it may be done unusually often, it's very possible that she is just excitable. Maybe you could bring her to the doctor and bring along an object that makes her excited, to give him an example of what it is that you're looking at when you see her 'hand flapping'. It may well be that she is just very very energetic, and thus does a lot of cheering in her own little way! A doctor or psychologist would be more sure. At eight months, though, if this is the only symptom that she is showing, I wouldn't start worrying just yet. Give her time to start developing (or not developing) language and it will become more clear.
Here's some links that might be of interest to you for identifying:
