Is it normal for children with Aspergers to be overly concerned with touching themselves?

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bloommt asks:

My niece's son, age 71/2 , diagnosed with Aspergers, seems to be overly conerned with touching himself, etc. So much so that my niece had to take hime to her pediatrician because he had irritated himself so much. Is this a common behavior for an Asperger child?

In Topics: Autism & Aspergers Syndrome

> 60 days ago

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Expert

Wayne Yankus

Mar 8, 2008

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What the Expert Says:

it is very common for autistic spectrum children to perform repetitive behavior. touching yourself is one of the behaviors. Since lack of social competence is part of the disorder, it would not be unusual for this boy to lack the sense of inappropriateness in public.

They should discuss it with their pediatrician. Sometimes offering another "prop" to keep him busy suffices to divert him from touching.

Wayne Yankus, MD, FAAP
expert panelist: pediatrics

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