Is My Child OCD?

That's not OCD. That's definitely a sensory disorder like sensory integration disorder. You can get him evaluated through the school district and they may be able to provide services. My son gets them. Good luck.

I'll do the disclaimer, as well and say that I am also not an expert, but I am a certified special education teacher and a mother of four. OCD is characterized by obsessive thoughts followed by compulsive behaviors that the person feels compelled to perform. It doesn't seem to define the behaviors that your son is displaying.

First, I would follow your instints (nobody knows your child better than you do!) and if you feel he is acting too far out of the norm for what is typical for him, I would definitely seek an evaluation. Personally, I think it sounds more of a sensory issue and perhaps a little bit of trying to control certain situations.

I used to teach a little boy with Asperger's Syndrome (please do not mistake this as an ametuer diagnosis...)who displayed some similar characteristics, such as not responding unless you called him the name he wanted to be called for the day/week. He would fixate on certain objects for weeks at a time and then move onto something else. Of course, he also had many sensory and social issues that eventually led to his diagnosis, and you didn't mention how your son behaved at school and whether or not his teachers have noticed anything extraordinary.

I hope that helped. Best of luck with you and your son.

I am not sure that it is OCD, but I would have him evaluated. I had my daughter evaluated at 18 months for some of the certain things, and she needs OT and some sensory things. I would not force him to do things. I would get an eval and see what they say, and how they can help. It is really worth it and peace of mind. Then you will know and not worry and if it is somethng, then you can help and not get fustrated with him about it. There is nothing to be ashamed of or think its your fault. I would get some testing done. I did and it was the best thing I did for me and my daughter.

Hi S.,
An evaluation can't hurt, but it could just be that he is manipulating and trying to get control. OCD is typically seen in terms of patterns and needing to repeat things a certain amount of times. If you suspect he may have this disorder, speak to your doctor ... and to his teacher. Ask if he's doing these behaviors there too. If it's only at home and only with you, it's a control thing and not a disorder.

I do not think your child is OCD. I think he has strong likes and dislikes and is becoming particular with his likes and dislikes and maybe is beginning to use these circumstances. Pick your battles and don't let the behavior cause too much conern. I think most kids go through these things I would endulge a little. I attribute it more to the personality and would honor that as much as possible to develop positive self esteem.

Good luck

He is enjoying the power he has by demanding things be a certain way. Did you go out and buy new plates that he approved of? Do you let get away with each new demand? It sounds like he wants and needs guidelines and he isnt getting any. I think at 6 he should be allowed to pick out what he wants to wear, but no way decide what kind of dish to eat off or how you should talk to him. Do you take him clothes shopping? When he needs new shirts, let him chose them, but then tell him he has to wear what he picked out. I dont understand why you would force him to lean on a folder, that seems like a minor thing to force him to do.
But like every thing else with kids you have to learn to pick your battles. Some things he can be allowed to do and others absolutely not.

I don't know if it's OCD but the stuff about you answering him the way he wants is not o.k. Who is the adult here. I would make it clear that you are his mother and that you will not be told how to talk to him. I can see the cloths stuff, and sometimes even the plate stuff. But telling you how to address him, not o.k. I'd stop that right now.

I am no expert, but here are my two insights...

1) ask him to be evaluated by a school psychologist. Why not? They have seen OCD and other mental health issues, so they will have a much better anwer for you as to whether this fits the description.

2) Ask your son why. Don't except "i don't want to" for an answer. Ask him how it makes him feel to eat off the plate. what exactly bothers him? Does he get scared? Does it remind him of something? Does he get a wierd feeling? Does it give him a thrill to be in control? Only he knows what drives him to have these idiosycracies. If you can get some concrete answers from him... you may be able to decide how it is best handled.

I think if you try #2 and you find that it truly causes him anxiety, that could be linked to OCD. But if it is some other reason, you may be able to help him work through it.

Talk with your pediatrician. If your son has OCD you will not "cure it" by forcing him to engage in actions. That's not what OCD is about. A person with OCD has "obsessive" and irrational thoughts that are only calmed by engaging in some form of restricted behaviors "compulsions". My roomate in grad school had OCD. She was a "checker" and could not leave the apt without checking that every item had been turned off or unplugged. If she didn't check each morning then her thoughts were entirely consumed by the fear of the apt bldg burning to the ground until she could get home and check.

You son may have some kind of anxiety disorder, so ask your doctor for a referral to a psychologist or clinical social worker. The sooner you find out what's going on, the sooner you can work together to get through it!

Make sure you keep his teachers in the loop!

Hi S.,

Have you had your son assessed by his pediatrician? I would request a referral to a child psycologist for an evaluation. Keep looking until you find one that you are comfortable with. His behavior could be the result of many different things such as OCD, or another anxiety disorder it could be sensory integration disorder or possibly he is manipulating you. does he have this behavior with others or just you?

I am sure with a few behavioral modification techniques you will be able to help relieve your son of his behaviors.
Best to you,
Sarah

Think about it this way, when they are young, they have control over hardly anything, yet they have a need for independance...Anything they can control, they will, I do not think it is OCD, I think it is normal child development, and normal to excericse their independance in any way shape or form they can whether it be a shirt or plate preferance for food, or even what they want you to say...they want control over something, anything. I wouldn't be worried, but if you truly are, ask the doctor, I am sure they will put your mind at ease

You should get your child evaluated. OCD behaviors can be be symptoms of a broader problem(sensory intergration disorder& mild end of the autism spectrum come to mind) or they can be just a jag he will grow out of. There are therapies and medications available for OCD but you need more information particular to your son.As your son is already in school, they may be able to evaluate him in school(a school-based support team)or you may prefer to have this done privately, your insurance may cover this.The sooner you have him seen by a child psychologist, the sooner you can help him.

I have sensory integration dysfunction and so does 1 of my kids...

An OT (must be certified to adminster the SIPT test) tested my daughter...

I still feel clothes before I buy them and I sleep w/ a weighted blanket and so on. I do not have OCD though...I was a bear to discipline according to all of my aunts (Plus, I was obese for 3 yrs)...

How is your child in school?

S., I am not an expert on OCD. But kids have their way of doing things, and you may force them to do otherwise or you may just accept that he doesn't like certain things. If you're concerned talk to his doctor, but I have a 4 year old that likes to do certain things her way. What happens if i decide to not do them her way? just to test her? she cries, a bit, she's unhappy, and eventually let's go. So, now, it's up to me whether i want to give in or not. sometimes i do and sometimes i don't.
She likes to be tucked in a certain way. The covers have to be lined up and tucked into the bed her way or she will cry.
She likes certain spoons/forks and some I have she hates. I give her both.
She likes some pencils and some she doesn't. If i don't give her the ones she likes, she will not draw with the ones she doesn't like.
So, what I am trying to say is despite her likes/obsession I still do what I want to do. I think if i give in her demands with grow and grow and i'd have to spend my day trying to make her happy. I don't dwell on it, and I don't try to go out of my way to give her what she wants. No yelling, no time outs, no frustration. It's just my way.
Is it OCD? Her dad is like that. Not to the extreme but he does certain things the way he likes or he's unhappy about it. None of them obsess. Have you tried dressing in a shirt he doesn;t like? what happens if you insist that is what he's wearing or that's that? Does he yell? cry? take it off and insist on wearing nothing else? I don't know. But i do know if it were me this wouldn't be something i would worry about. In fact I don't when it comes to my child.
good luck