My son is 13 months old. When he was born and up to around 8 months he would stiffen his legs and arms and they would shake back and forth (like little tremors) with his hands and feet twirling. It's hard to describe, it's like he's playing a piano with his fingers hitting one key at a time from the pinky to the thumb. I asked my pediatritian about it and they didn't see it but to be safe had me get him an eeg to see if he was having seziures. The test came back normal and my doc said we should follow up with a pediatric Neurologist. At about nine months his arms stopped shaking back and forth but the arms and legs continually to stiffen and his fingers and toes do the twirling thing. It seems to happen when he's excited waiting for food, mad when a toy is taken away or just playing going for a toy. One pediatritian said it sounded like an intention tremor but when researching that it didn't sound like it at all. I know with autism a sign is flapping but I wouldn't consider this as flapping plus at 13 months he seems to be on target (almost walking) very smiley, expressive, knows his name and babbles ma ma and da da and claps. I've been waiting 6 months for my apt with a pediatric neurologist (2 weeks left) but just wondering if anyone else has seen or experienced anything like this with their children. I'm just waiting for him to out-grow it. Any help would be great. Thanks
I wanted to thank everyone who responded to my son's hands and feet twirling. Your comments were very helpful when I finally met with the pediatric Neurologist this week. After meeting with the doctor he informed me it was perfectly normal for my son to have this soothing mechanism when excited or angry. He will probably outgrow it over the next few years but at this point because he has no other symptoms i.e. seizures, communication problems and is on target there is no need to worry and we shouldn't persue it any further. Thanks for your time and prayers. T. and Charlie
Hi,
I don't know what it could be but you could look into having him evaluated at The Children's Institute (www.amazingkids.org). They have wonderful programs.
T.,
There's a form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome. In this form, the child makes all of his landmarks. My son has it and he did similar things when he was little. Its a high functioning form of autism and is more of a social autism. My son would stiffen and shake when he would get upset or excited. He could so the same small movement to occupy himself for hours, like tap a stick of hanger. He also is very intelligent and would talk and act like a "little professor". However, takes everything literal and idioms confuse him. When he was that age, he never seems to play with others. He would start and then drift off and play by himself or tap his stick. The problem with Asperger's is that many boys (its mainly a male form of autism) goes undiagnosed for years. My son didn't get diagnosed until he was ten. For years teachers and counselers acted like I was a bad parent as his behavior was so radically different from the "average children". I hope you have better luck than I did. Trust you motherly instincts if you think something is up. I tried to tell people that I knew something was different and no one would listen to me. Hope this helps.
J.
Hello T.:
In the last several months, I have developed some kind of twitching/twirling. What I do is what you described your child as doing, and that is twirling my toes. It's involuntary. It just happens and often times I am not aware of it. I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and he said that it is similar to a condition called Restless Leg Syndrome and it comes from an iron defiency. You may want to ask his doctor about it. My doctor has given me iron supplements to take and he says after a while it should stop. It's only been a couple of weeks and it has decreased somewhat from what I've noticed. I hope this helps you.
A servant of the Lord,E.
Autistic stimming can take several forms. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also is a very broad diagnosis. My son is now almost 19 but has an ASD diagnosis of Asperger's Disorder (and ADHD). It's high functioning autism, characterized mostly by social problems and obsessive tendencies. My son hit all his milestones as a baby and was in gifted classes as well in school for a time. Everyone thinks of the movie "Rain Man" when you hear about autism. Not all autistic children are that severe. See what happens at your appointment. Maybe quirk, maybe something more. Don't panic. Even if you get an ASD diagnosis or something like it, there's help and treatment available and many families experiencing the same things. Good luck T. and I'll pray for you and your family.
Can you please send me a message and let me know if you found out anything. My grandson is 9 months old and is doing the same thing, same symptoms.
I'm so sorry you're haveing to go through this. I will pray for your little guy. It is so puzzling. The first thing that came into my mind is - if you have any concerns of autism please stop immunizing your child. This breaks down his immune function when so much is bombarded onto his little system. Also, the almounts of mercury, aluminum, and other preservatives can not help whatever he is going through. I'm sure you're aware of the big to do over thermerasol. Anyways, research it yourself becuase your doctor will, and is required to, push vaccinations.
Not to cause any alarm to you, but keep your eyes peeeled. It sounds like your son may have Autism. Research it, the more you read, the more you may find similarities with your son and the disorder. Of course, you will not get a diagnosis until he is a little older and you can see if he is developing on time. It just sounds as if that is what is going on. You will be strong for him because you are a mom. That is just how we are. It drives us crazy even when we shouldn't let it because that is our child. It took 5 years for my son to get a solid diagnosis. I knew something wasn't right. You need to be the strong one, follow your gut. If you think something isn't right then speak up. Just continue what you are doing and things will work out. I hope everything goes well for you. If Autism is the case though don't worry there is lot's of help out there to get you through. I'll be praying for you.
2 of my kids "flap" heir hands and are just fine...you may ask a family member if someone a generation or 2 ago did that to. Turns out, my grandma, which I never met, flapped too.
I wouldn't worry about it.
LoriB
Here is my advice to you. Get it on video tape. Tape him during the times when it typically happens (excited, mad, and playing). I would try to get it on tape several times (at least a half dozen). I would then take this tape with you to every Dr. I see. Not only will this give the physician the oppurtunity to look at it first hand (sometimes it is hard to invision by listening to someone describe something), but it also will prove that he is indeed doing it, and it will show, somewhat, (by the number of times you record it) that it does happen quite frequently. Good luck
Hi T.,
First of all, you should be very proud of yourself for being so pro-active. I think you are absolutely doing the right thing by following up with the pediatric neurologist. It must be very stressful, but in the mean time, don't worry about what it could possibly be... I know that we moms are always worrying, but worrying about it will just drive you crazy. A friend of mine had a similar situation, and it turned out that her child is absolutely fine! I work with young children, and it cannot be said enough that you are really doing the right thing by checking this out. Your son is lucky to have you!
T.,
My son did/does the same thing especially when excited. The ped (who has been in practice for 30+ years) said it is normal. Each child shows there excitability differently. My son is 13 mo and has stopped the arm thing but the feet go when he is eating or playing and very excited or frustrated but it is not all the time. He plays well with others and does not do any tapping or anythign like that. He loves to be loved and cuddled and just gets excited! Autism is seriuos but we as moms are so worried about it that we think the slightest thing is a sign. I used to eb the same way and was driving myself insane with worry!
Try not to worry and I am sure the tests will turn out negative and he is just fine!
Good luck!
Christina
True--It's probably nothing. I'd follow up with the neurologist, as you planned, and discuss any concerns with him/her.
O. thing to keep in mind is that autism is not a reflection of intelligence or lack thereof.
I have a friend who has a very high functioning son with Asperger's (sp?). I'm not trying to scare you, just be aware that there are doctors and places that can observe him for a correct diagnosis. Hang in there--I know it's a scary situation but information is power and until you know if there's anything to worry about--don't worry! :)
Just because the EEG is normal doesn't mean that it isn't a seizure. My son has epilepsy...he seizes head to toe so bad that he would turn blue and loose control of urine and his EEGs are always normal. Seizures can affect certian parts of the brain that only cause the limbs to twitch. I just found out that Turett's is a form of seizures. If it is in fact a seizure...don't panic, they can be controlled! You are doing the best thing by taking him to a ped. neurologist. We have a good one at Children's.
Hi T.,
I know this was a few years ago now - just wondering how your son is now?
my little girl (6 months old) has those arm tremors too - mostly when she is excited or really concentrating on something, its a little concerning :(
