Does this seem like a sensory thing?

oandmplus1

DD is a sensory seeker and stims a lot (hand flicking on smooth surfaces mostly, like any smooth surfaces she can find). The most recent behavior started as what we call her cheesy grin. When happy she would often tilt her head to the side pretty sharply and give us a big cheesy grin while making a sound (she doesn't talk).

It has developed into her tensing up her whole upper body to the point her hands and head shake. She is happy whenever she does it and is alert and usually has a wide open mouth. She appears to do it on purpose. Does this just sound like new sensory seeking behavior, another form of stimming, or something we should worry about?

kcisthebombdotcom

kballou said:

DD is a sensory seeker and stims a lot (hand flicking on smooth surfaces mostly, like any smooth surfaces she can find). The most recent behavior started as what we call her cheesy grin. When happy she would often tilt her head to the side pretty sharply and give us a big cheesy grin while making a sound (she doesn't talk). It has developed into her tensing up her whole upper body to the point her hands and head shake. She is happy whenever she does it and is alert and usually has a wide open mouth. She appears to do it on purpose. Does this just sound like new sensory seeking behavior, another form of stimming, or something we should worry about?

Sounds a lot like dd. She is a super happy kid and she definitely tenses up when she gets really happy. It's a stim in our case.

oandmplus1

KC_13 said:

kballou said:

DD is a sensory seeker and stims a lot (hand flicking on smooth surfaces mostly, like any smooth surfaces she can find). The most recent behavior started as what we call her cheesy grin. When happy she would often tilt her head to the side pretty sharply and give us a big cheesy grin while making a sound (she doesn't talk). It has developed into her tensing up her whole upper body to the point her hands and head shake. She is happy whenever she does it and is alert and usually has a wide open mouth. She appears to do it on purpose. Does this just sound like new sensory seeking behavior, another form of stimming, or something we should worry about?

Sounds a lot like dd. She is a super happy kid and she definitely tenses up when she gets really happy. It's a stim in our case.

Do you try to redirect or do something else when she does it?  I keep meaning to ask at ABA about it, but I keep forgetting.

typeset

We were told by a neurologist body tensing, the full body prolonged shake, is a stim. He does it when we place one too many demands, when he's stressed, and when his sensory system goes into hyperdrive (swig of grapefruit juice, bite of horseradish sauce ... ). He does the facial grimacing noted in the link auntie provided as well. ABA counts that as a body tense in his behavioral data. I don't think he's necessarily aware or in control of either behavior, but I like that they chart it as it provides me with feedback as to his stress levels. 

I'll take it over loud vocals?