Giggling/laughing as a stim in ASD?

MirandaHobbes

DS (pdd-nos) is 3.5 now and to this point we haven't seen any obvious "stims" other than toe-walking. He only receives about 30 minutes of OT a week; his delays are largely social. This weekend was something new- right after he woke up (when he's in his best mood of the day) it was like he just couldn't control himself, he was giggling and shrieking nonstop- running back and forth slapping DH and I playfully and being gleefully defiant- we spent an hour trying to get out the door because every time we tried to help him put his shoes on he'd shriek and laugh and run away. This happened several times over the weekend and the only thing we could think to do is give him a time out in his room (as opposed to a time out in the corner because he'd just laugh and giggle and keep taunting us moving out of time out). Putting him in his room worked- his attention would shift to a toy or his TV and he'd stop the giggling. But we went through this process many times.

So my question is: if he were a typical three year old I might dismiss this as "excessive silliness"- but I've read about laughing and giggling as a stim in ASD kids. I'm not sure how to handle it, or to ignore it, or maybe it's just a phase? Any tips? Thanks!

carlinlp

Yeast overgrowth in the body can cause laughing / shrieking. For us it was almost like having an intoxicated 2-5 year old. Google candida albicans to view other symptoms.

jsugrin

I don't know about it in regards to ASDbut I can tell you that my 3.5 year old does the same thing.  He's got SPD and for us it seems to happen more when he's overtired, his response to feeling his body get tired is often some sort of "freak out" mode.  It seems like he doesn't like feeling tired and works really hard to over rule that internal feeling.

He also does it sometimes just because but I can tell the "difference" in behavior because under "normal" circumstances he'll sort of calm when we catch him or take little breaks in the back and forth but when he's "stimming" I guess he seems to have no control over his body, that he's driven to do it and completely incapable of stopping himself.

My typical 2.5 year old also does it, actually much more frequently (like multiple times a day ::sigh:::) and with him it's clear that it's a game/independence thing.

Did he respond to the TO?  I don't know a lot about how stimming really works for ASD kids but it seems like if he was able to calm down when he was placed in his room but would start it up again afterwards that he was having fun and playing but if he was still overly silly all alone that it would be more likely stimm?

lite-bright

I don't know if this helps, but with DD1 we've found that giggling/laughing is one of her default ways to engage. Because laughter is one way that she actually understands will get a response from adults and peers, she uses it -- often in ways that are inappropriate. 

She would do a forced giggle for awhile at her toddler class, trying to get the other kids to laugh with her. With DD2, it's super easy to get her giggling and the two of them egg each other on in a way that's much more natural. On the not-so-great side, I've seen her laugh when another child is upset with her for touching something/obstructing play. She just doesn't get that it's not a correct response. 

To me, it sounds like DS wanted to play and the fact that you guys were trying to accomplish something else (putting shoes on and getting out the door) wasn't registering. So every time you went back to the shoes, he associated the fun and getting a reaction from you (positive or negative) more than the task. 

I would treat it as a phase and try to change things up enough (maybe start putting shoes on in the car a few times) to get him out of that pattern, but I don't think it falls into stim territory.  

MirandaHobbes

-auntie-:

That sounds more like a "game" than a stim.

Stimming is a solitary occupation; except for the kid who stims on mom's hair or pet's fur, nobody else would be involved. That he was engaging you, quite actively, seems to rule that out.

Stims are typically anxiety relievers. They ramp up under stress and also when bored. There are kids who stim vocally- either repeating words/phrases or making noises. There are also kids who have similar looking/sounding tics but he's a little young for full blown tics.

My guess is he had something going on in his head and was trying to engage you into play. For whatever reason, this didn't amuse you but he doesn't have the social ability to ready your reaction to his game accurately. Some kids will poke at parents and teachers to elicit a strong negative reaction because they get no feedback unless the reaction is a strong one.

You didn't ask, but I'm going to throw this out anyway. A TV in his room may not be the best idea. Most kids with ASD are more engaged if their screen time is strictly limited and content monitored to prevent dysfunctional play skills or limited interests.

I agree that it is probably a game- especially since DH was basically ignoring him and I was just trying to get him out the door. He's been doing this to other adults too- at a recent block party he kept going up to other adults giggling hysterically waiting for a response. He ignores the kids entirely!

Re: the TV- ugh, I know! For now it's been our ace in the hole for influencing good behavior. If he doesn't eat his dinner, or behavior appropriately, he won't get TV time. As he gets older I'd like to formalize it with a chart and minutes allowed for good behavior- but I'm just not that organized yet. It's mounted to the wall near the ceiling so he can't turn it on himself. But I'm sure this will change as he gets older.

MirandaHobbes

-auntie-:

That sounds more like a "game" than a stim.

Stimming is a solitary occupation; except for the kid who stims on mom's hair or pet's fur, nobody else would be involved. That he was engaging you, quite actively, seems to rule that out.

Stims are typically anxiety relievers. They ramp up under stress and also when bored. There are kids who stim vocally- either repeating words/phrases or making noises. There are also kids who have similar looking/sounding tics but he's a little young for full blown tics.

My guess is he had something going on in his head and was trying to engage you into play. For whatever reason, this didn't amuse you but he doesn't have the social ability to ready your reaction to his game accurately. Some kids will poke at parents and teachers to elicit a strong negative reaction because they get no feedback unless the reaction is a strong one.

You didn't ask, but I'm going to throw this out anyway. A TV in his room may not be the best idea. Most kids with ASD are more engaged if their screen time is strictly limited and content monitored to prevent dysfunctional play skills or limited interests.

I agree that it is probably a game- especially since DH was basically ignoring him and I was just trying to get him out the door. He's been doing this to other adults too- at a recent block party he kept going up to other adults giggling hysterically waiting for a response. He ignores the kids entirely!

Re: the TV- ugh, I know! For now it's been our ace in the hole for influencing good behavior. If he doesn't eat his dinner, or behavior appropriately, he won't get TV time. As he gets older I'd like to formalize it with a chart and minutes allowed for good behavior- but I'm just not that organized yet. It's mounted to the wall near the ceiling so he can't turn it on himself. But I'm sure this will change as he gets older!

Bride2bMO

I would never have thought of it as a stim, but DS does have phases of inappropriate laughter. Sometimes when he's hurting his little bro, and I'm headed over to break it up, he is laughing despite the high-pitched screams from his brother. That worries me a lot. But I also relate to being stuck in the sillies like you described. I've chalked that up to either overtiredness, attention-seeking behavior, or just being a silly 3 year old.