e v i t i e t v e i t p i e t e R RReeppetitive By Lindsey M. Muller
ounger and older humans, like animals, engage in habits, also known as repetitive behaviors. Some human habits include tapping your fingers on a flat surface when thinking, thumb sucking, tapping a pencil on a desk during a test, shaking your foot when your ankles are crossed or twirling your hair. There isn’t anything wrong with regularly demonstrating these actions. In most cases, minimal attention is given to these habits or “quirks.” Yet, some of the same behaviors, when repetitive and excessive, can cause interference with everyday functioning and cross over from being just a behavior to being a diagnosable mental health disorder – a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple life areas and/or create distress for the person experiencing the symptoms. Because children are less aware of others’ perceptions
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Boston Parents Paper | Special Needs Guide