What age is hand flapping "normal"?

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I have read online that young children (and some adults) without ASD may hand flap when excited, agitated, etc. What is the difference between the two? Is the only difference that a person with an ASD will have other traits in addition to hand flapping?

Truthfully, for most people, hand-flapping in the specific sense would stress the wrists. I can't physically do it with my left hand.

It also depends on what you mean by "hand-flapping." There is a certain way autistic children hand-flap (and I grew a kid growing up who did this), and that involves a considerable use of the wrists.

Then there is a more generalized type of hand-flapping, which involves an "extraneous" use of the hands, minus the wrist involvement.

Autistic people (and sometimes neurotypical people as well) often hand-flap in the generalized sense at all ages. It is not often that non-autistic adults hand-flap in the "wrist-involvement" sense.

I think the type of hand-flapping I am talking about is when the elbows are bent and you move your hands up and down at the wrists (bending the wrist back and forth). My sister did this, so I'm just curious

That's what I thought you meant, too. It is rare for neurotypical adults (and children) to do it. But, especially in more "severe" forms of autism, this sort of hand-flapping is common, even in adults.

Yeah that's what I thought. I can't tell if she just has traits or the actual diagnosis, though. I know it's sometimes common to have family members with some traits, but they end up being sub-clinical when it comes to a diagnostic standpoint. Thanks again

Is she a girl who goes to school with you?

You really never know if a person has any sort of "disorder"---unless you see a person (in person) for an extended period of time.

One can write paragraphs and paragraphs detailing autistic symptoms---but, in that case, all one can do is speculate. One certainly cannot offer any sort of credible diagnosis.

Oh she's my sister .

I guess I have seen her for quite an extended period of time, but I'm just wondering if I should tell my parents she should be evaluated for a professional diagnosis (or does she just have traits). It does run in my family.

Would you mind describing her in other ways?

How does she adjust to things? How is she with other kids? Does she throw tantrums because of a mere change of scenery? Does she have difficulty wearing certain clothes? Does she have to withdraw to another room because of a sheer volume of people? How is her speech? How is her development in general?

Maybe the hand-flapping is an isolated peculiarity.

How are your parents on the subject of autism and other disorders?

Above all, don't discuss this stuff with other kids.

I don't see as many problems adjusting to things (at least not as much as myself; I still throw tantrums ), but she doesn't really play much with other kids. She hates clothes with tags in them and refuses to wear them. Her speech is a little odd in prosody sometimes, but she didn't have a speech delay. Her motor skills are not the best, and she covers her ears around certain sounds. She also seems to have no stranger anxiety or boundaries- she'll go up to random people on the street and start talking about Minecraft or Pokemon. I'm not entirely sure if some of these traits are normal for her age, though.

My mom is open to the fact she could have autism, but because my sister is more extroverted she doesn't feel like she actually has it. My dad almost definitely has autism himself, but he is in denial and still doesn't quite believe that I have it. For other disorders- they do both believe I have OCD.

If she has autism at all, it's almost certainly in the "high-functioning" category. She seems like she might have some "traits" of autism while being "sub-clinical" in general.

If she's doing well in "regular school," I would advise against getting a diagnosis, especially one from a school-based evaluator. Fortunately, schools usually don't want to put kids in special ed--especially if their behavior is okay. In some places, special ed is good; in others, it's awful.

If a person is of "normal" intelligence, I would never put that person in a position where he/she will get something other than a "normal" high school diploma.

Above all, don't discuss your sister with other kids in this way. Don't speculate to some other kid that your sister might have autism. Kids tend to want to find traits in another kid which they can make fun of. It's not because they're bad people; it's because they're kids.

I think her school's special Ed program is ok- but I'm not going to ask my parents about a diagnosis just in case she doesn't need the support. She is doing alright at the moment.

I would never discuss my sister in this way with other kids. If somebody is a little different, I try not to point it out and instead accept them. I hope she doesn't get bullied as she gets older, but I'll stand up for her if she does .

That's the spirit!

I like that you would stand up for your sister.

We get along well . I would never let anybody hurt anybody I love- physically or emotionally. In first grade, I threatened to go to the counselor after this one girl was mean to my friend. My mom was proud but surprised since I appeared very shy to everybody around me.

You have a lot of good qualities in you.

We are all not perfect beings.

I'm glad that you know that you are a decent person, even with your "deficits."

I wasn't nearly as smart as you when I was 13.

Thanks kraftie!

Don't worry- I have enough bad qualities to overshadow the good ones .

I hope I can do something influential for the autism/medical community one day.

I'm not that smart, however- I got a D on my math final .

This means you're not a stereotypical "Aspie" LOL

What sort of math did they test you on?

As you grow older, and you work on things, you'll have less "bad" qualities.

At 13, I was the kid who didn't have many friends---and I know why now!