Thomas stimming while playing a computer game.

[lordsberserker]

From your comments I read that your son has had autism for 5 years now, correct? You should speak with your healthcare providers and maybe tweak his treatment plan. My understanding is that one should only be on the spectrum for 3-4 years.

I'm not saying that you're doing anything wrong, but maybe some replanning will help. My brother is approaching the end of his 4th year of treatment and still has some issues. Some of us are slower than others, I know I am.

You have an adorable child!

[whensolace]

@lordsberserker First, thank you! However, I do think you have received some misinformation along the way. Autism is a lifelong disorder. Children do not grow out of it. If your brother has been correctly diagnosed, he will carry this diagnosis throughout his lifetime. However, some children do display less symptoms and the autism may seem less noticeable. My son has been receiving treatment since he was 17 months old and continues feeding, occup., speech, & behavior therapy today.

[buttercado]

Haha, he did the hand on hip thing! That' what I do when I'm feeling nervous.

[BirdOfParadise777]

Hmmm... looks like he is just jumping cause he is excited about the game. What is wrong with that? Why does that make him deserve a "label?" Do you think some "people" look for something to "label" in their child? Not a hater or stupid... asking questions to try and understand the grey world of "labels" and children. And after watching several other videos today of children with "obvious" out-of-norm behaviors, this boy just seems to be playing. Only one of yours I've seen.

[whensolace]

@BirdOfParadise777 If only it were a label. Thomas was diagnosed with autism about two weeks before his third birthday. He is now 8 years old. He still cannot carry on a conversation and has severe sensory issues. I posted this video over two years ago to show a friend of mine how my son stims. He stills does this now and it is not only during computer games or when he is excited. There is nothing wrong with stimming or with my son. I'm just trying to educate people.

[BirdOfParadise777]

@whensolace Thank you for answering my questions. Thank you for the information. I am sorry that your son has to battle such a thing. I hope for you that something is found to help him soon. Take care.

I have worked in daycare for a long time and it is frustrating to not know if the child actually has a problem or if the parents just "let" the kids run out of control. Know what I mean? It makes it hard to help some kids the way they need to be helped. It makes it hard on all of the kids.

[EllyinAdelaide]

@BirdOfParadise777 I have a high functioning autistic son too. It's hard to explain unless you have a child who stims, but this is definitely stimming. It's just a processing difference, but I explain to my 4 year old that other children can find all that movement a bit off-putting.

[lordsberserker]

@BirdOfParadise777 Sometimes a label is needed to help the child get services. My brother was diagnosed with Aspergers and an onslaught of other disorders. It didn't/doesn't make him a bad person or inferior, but because he was "labelled" were we able to get him the services he needed to overcome his obstacles.

[devashchad]

I have a 7 yr old very similar to your little guy. You have a very caring voice I am sure you are a great mom(: Blessings to you and yours.

He was diagnosed at age 4.

[Wendellerins]

This reminds me so much of my son. He loves video games and does the same thing. He was diagnosed at 4.

[mllyk]

He's also having/has had some difficulties processing requests/directions & is very, very distractible. Anyway, we are on a search now for more answers if they are out there. Since you are more experienced w/ ASD, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking a look at a couple of my son's videos - just in case you have any valuable input (if so, I'll send the links to you). If you don't have input/advice that's fine :) Or, if you are not comfortable viewing the videos, that's also fine. Thanks!

[whensolace]

@mllyk I wouldn't mind taking a look at them. I hope you find some answers soon.

[mllyk]

@whensolace Thank you! I'll send them to you through Youtube's mail. I have to get a couple new ones uploaded first, & then I'll send them your way :)

[mllyk]

My son has movements very similar to you Thomas! He was diagnosed w/ Paroxysmal Dyskinesia when he was 23 months old. I was told that it's simply a movement disorder that resembles seizure-like movements. I'm surprised at the similarity b/w our son's movements, though. I've been researching different things lately b/c my son is in the process of being evaluated for ASD or Aspergers. He's had physical delays, is a little socially & emotionally underdeveloped & has some sensory issues...

[xXXREapERCHiLD216XXx]

Awww, looks like he's performing little dance <3

[nessaf81]

my son is like this, he has his part 1 of his autism assesement today part 2 next week. I'm guessing it will be a yes

[radketim]

I see a lot of kids with Autism play this game... interesting

[keetz15]

Very close friends of my family have a son who I am pretty sure has autism. However they brought him to the doctor and they said he didnt.. He walks on his toes, flaps his hands, stares out of the corner of his eyes at objects and extremely intelligent. When ever he is on the computer or anything relating to cars, he gets over stimulated and shows the exact signs of your son. It is frustrating, i really want to speak up but feel it is not my place. I dont see how a doctor could not see the signs

[whensolace]

@keetz15 I'm sorry. I know that it must be difficult. I, too, have found myself in that situation. I've brought it up, but the parents get offended. Perhaps when their son begins school, a teacher will bring it up.

[BrainDeadIntellect]

@keetz15 It could very well be aspergers syndrome too. That does sound a lot like it. The over stimulation and the intelligence, yeah, that fit aspergers to a T. How could doctors ignore something like that?

[nagaempress]

@keetz15 I would have them look into a Autism specialist. The schools where I live denied my son everything saying he was just fine....he flaps and jumps and holds his breath... He has it...he was diagnosed with a private dr that laughed at the letter the school sent me

[petchharrison]

@keetz15 most doctors dont know what to look for it was not much better 40 years ago they just sent you to an odd school and said you were disturbed.

they atr just looking at what they know i.e body pulling or book wormees inother words they only know what they read at med school,there tiny minds wont look anyware else......jeff................­48 yer aspie ham radio computor freek....

[silachan]

@keetz15 if you haven't already, I'd look up more on 'Sensory processing disorder', since those are all signs of a child with sensory sensitivities. Often SPD is also found in those with ASD, which is why the symptoms are similiar. Check out 'The out of sync child' book, it goes into nice detail about it all :)

[cubsrule2040]

I'm curious but does he actually have Aspergers syndrome? It's because I could hear him communicating in the video.

[whensolace]

@cubsrule2040 He has classic autistic disorder. In order to have Asperger's Syndrome, there can be no language delays or difficulties. Thomas did not begin speaking until 3 and that was only single words. He is now 7 and still is unable to carry on a conversation.

[cubsrule2040]

@whensolace to me he seems quite high-functioning

[whensolace]

@cubsrule2040 He is considered moderate. High-functioning in some areas and not so high-functioning in others. This video is a minute long "snapshot" of his abilities.

[sweetpinkbubble]

That is so cute! my son is 6 with high-functioning ASD and behaves almost the same way...it always happens when he's watching television or playing a video game. We call it 'bopping' in our family, and sometimes he does it so much he'll fall off the sofa or end up rocking or swaying, and usually with a cue he'll try hard to settle down and sit for awhile. :)

[kittkat42]

I think its cool, I know someone who is a high functioning Aspie. Your son is a real sweetie and very smart. I'm horrible at video stuff.

[2lowtymes]

My son is Autistic.. very intelligent with electronics including games ,computers..He has people amazed because he can navigate and find his way throught things like this but has trouble in most areas. He does the very vigorus flapping but not as much as he did when he was small. Thanks for sharing your vid

[joeylukeshannon]

Thank you so much for this video. Your little guy reminds me so much of mine. He is just too cute!

[4evrmrsg]

smart as a whip isnt he? :) i can tell with his speech and interest in the computer. my son has aspbergers and does the same. even though my sons language is delayed he quite the little smarty!

handsome boy you have there btw! :) id be proud!

[whensolace]

Thanks! I'm super proud of my special boy!

[fafoosnick6839]

My 35 mo. old son was just diagnosed with ASD last week....since he was so young, I thought the jumping around and arm waving was just a "happy" thing he did all the time. But he does this with just about everything he likes....thanks for positng the video.

[whensolace]

Did you see the new video I posted of my son? He is now 6 1/2 and still stims at things he likes, enjoys, or are just plain overwhelming for him. My son was diagnosed at 35 months as well, but we had had our suspicions for a long time. Hang in there. There are lots of supports out there!

[fafoosnick6839]

Our neurologist prescribed Nemanda....we haven't seen too much of an improvement, but he seems more emotional...don't know if this is good or not....thanks for your reply!

[dewhistle]

Cute little guy. I'm a stimming machine myself, undiagnosed with anything (I'm 36, I've already found my own ways to cope) but I was looking into examples of what it looks like in kids because I don't really know what's "normal". I kinda wish people would post videos of kids with no autism. It sounds weird, but then, I think it's the exception for me. Stimming is the rule.

Don't mind that last poster. The internet attracts attention seekers. It's sad, really.

[whensolace]

Thanks! I could always post a video of my daughter playing a video game. She is typically-developing. She's in the bed now, but I'll try to get one of her at a later date.

[Scottishmutt11]

i do that to but i dont make noises when i stim lol

[TheWarrington5]

Thomas is very cute:) Thank you for posting your video. My son is being evalutated for Asperger's. Thomas reminds me very much of my son Josh. If we let him, my son would spend all day on the computer or playing video games. He is very talented in these areas since he was very young. My son jumps and flaps his arms as well as walking on his tippy toes.

[eqcrain]

My son is 6, and has the exact same stim.....doctors missed it for years, we just recently got a diagnosis

[whensolace]

My son was diagnosed a little before he turned three. If you have any questions or just need to vent, I'm here!

[Ginnamom]

my boy does the same thing... when he plays his games but now at 11 and 5'3 and abour 120lbs he can knock things down if he gets too excited lol

[msbreckon]

Hello I have a child on the spectrum in the uk when is stimming? I've watched a few video's and I'm guessing that stimming is something to do with the expression of excitment. my son flaps his hand and jumps up and down in his seat, is that stimming?

[whensolace]

Stimming is just a shortened term for "self-stimulating behavior." Many autistic children use stimming as a way to process the enviroment around them or calm themselves down when overly excited. In this video, the stim my son is displaying is jumping and flapping. He also has other stims, which include touching, smelling, and tasting objects and spinning. Stimming doesn't always have to do with excitement as my son stims throughout the day. I hope this answers your questions:)

[joeyyadeadhomie]

A kid that young should NOT be on a home pc,Let alone an autistic one.

[whensolace]

Thanks for the advice. I'll consider it once you are either an expert on autism or a parent of a child with autism.

[joeyyadeadhomie]

I never said i was a so called "expert",

I was giving nothing more then my own opinion

[whensolace]

I saw that the video of my son was not the only one that you commented upon. Perhaps you can find something more productive to do with your life than to provide your "opinions" to parents of special needs children. Don't you think we have enough to worry about than the judgement of other people? Shame on you! If you would really like to help, there are many autism groups located around the country that are always looking for volunteers.

[Scottishmutt11]

Um...im autistic (aspergers to be exact) in my opinion video games are bad for YOUNG autistic children. Consider my opinion because i believe that advice from someone with autism is better than advice from any "professional" that cant even understand.

[whensolace]

Thanks for your opinion. I noticed your replies to other's videos were negative as well. Perhaps you should try to be more supportive rather than judgmental.

[Scottishmutt11]

You spying on me really says something about your personality.

[whensolace]

Click on your user name and it displays your info including the comments that you've made.  I hardly would call that spying. Your user profile really says something about YOUR personality.

[Scottishmutt11]

Woah calm down shakesphere

[whensolace]

Sorry, but judging my parenting choices is upsetting, especially from someone who has no children of his/her own. Once you have a child, and more importantly, a child with autism, then you can give me some advice.

[castaway]

Autistic ppl have trouble communicating. when I read scott's comment I think he really meant to help. I have aspergers also, and i know I am constantly butting heads with people bc i have trouble knowing the right way to say things. maybe cut him some slack, I don't think he was trying to be judgemental. I do agree though, video games for me even as an adult aren't good bc I tend to get engrossed and forget about the world around me.

[jcortez]

Hi Scott, as an educator, I can tell you that video games (especially this one) can be educational and fun for children. He's playing curious george, it's not like he's playing grand theft auto. I respect your opinion as someone with autism, but you should know that autism is a spectrum disorder, what works for you might now work for him and vice versa. Please don't be so judgmental about something that works for him, especially his parents who are trying to educate the world about autism.

[whensolace]

Thank you!!

[ryukenss]

Thomas is just too cute. Looks like he's enjoying his game!