About this blog.

My son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at 24 months. I created this blog to bring meaning to the often-confusing label. Sometimes I have answers. Other times, just more questions.

Friday, March 6, 2009

What's the deal with that?

Why do I open my mouth when I apply mascara or eye makeup?

I ask because I think it's some sort of reflex. (Name of reflex? Anyone???) Brad has a similar reflex, but obviously not in a mascara context. When Brad attempts to cut paper with scissors (with his left hand), he splays the fingers of his right hand and opens his mouth. This happens every time, without fail, and he looks tense. His OT says he's overloaded or challenged or something. Maybe it has something to do with concentration?

Just wondering. Has anyone else noticed this with their child, typical or atypical?

13 comments:

A little boy just 3 years old said...

Don't know if it fits the same profile, but E will stick his tongue out and bite on it when he is writing - I've never seen him NOT do that. I do that mascara thing & always thought it was because I was trying to keep my eye still. LOL.

Off subject, but it reminded me of this. When I was at a conference a couple months back they brought up this idea that we have 'mirror neurons'. Supposedly when someone yawns - and someone else in turn 'contagiously yawns' it is because there are neurons in the brain that fire no matter whether we are actively yawning ourselves or if we just SEE it.

But, researchers have found that these mirror neurons are not firing similarly in children with autism. They are only firing when THEY are doing the action, not when they see it. It was interesting & seemed like something you'd like to read.

This is not the article that they were talking about, but it was what I found with a quick Google search.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071128101315.htm

Laura said...

Interesting. I'm convinced it's a reflex and it means something. What it means, I do not know and I can't figure it out on the interwebs.

Thanks for the link, and that IS interesting. I've read similar personal accounts to that effect, but those with asperger's. We take a lot for granted, in terms of what we effortlessly intuit.

tracey (aka rainbowmummy) said...

Can't say I have noticed in Egg (I am not that good a mother I guess, lol) but with myself, yes. I do odd faces when ear cleaning-in fact I have already said too much, lol.

ps I got back to you about the cocktail sticks thing, in case you didn't see :0)

Quirky Mom said...

I do all sorts of things like that, but I don't know whether Apple does.

I've got issues with the mirror neurons theory, but I haven't done enough research to put my issues down on paper. Maybe I will do that soonish.

A little boy just 3 years old said...

Quirky mom, I'd love to hear what you have to say b/c I put a bunch of 'supposedlys' in my response..... Im not sold, but it was ineresting.

Elizabeth Channel said...

I also open my mouth to apply mascara. I thought everyone did???

I hunch my shoulders when I type incredibly fast on the computer.

Hmmm...now I've got to pay more attention to E.

Yes, I went to a social skills talk on the mirror neurons discovery and the psych was talking about this concept from a social skills perspective. Now I need to go back and read the actual article. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

I used to open my mouth when I put mascara on, and then I made myself stop.

I have noticed that I do various "odd" things when I'm concentrating. I used to hold my head really close to my paper when writing - even though my vision was (is) perfectly fine.

I have not noticed Chee doing anything like that - but I would chalk it up to concentration if I did notice it.

But ... maybe I'm wrong! (It's happened a time or two.)

Patty O. said...

I do the same thing with mascara. Also, when I am concentrating really hard on a task, especially when I am exercising, I stick my tongue out. I have no idea why. As for my son, I am sure he does things like this, but I can't think of anything specific....

indigo said...

we open our eyes really wide when putting mascara on so that we don't get it everywhere and *then* we open our mouths at the same time in order to give the hold some stability and to help repress our blinking reflex. but it is learned, we all do it, and we all see eachother doing it.

my son shakes when he is concentrating- his whole body will literally go rigid and vibrate as he tries to get the fork into his mouth or the crayon across the page. all of his movements are staccato- short, stabby, quick, hit and miss. he makes mechanical noises whilst doing pretty much everything, and seems to actually work on making his movements more robotic and less fluid, so at least he's found his niche maybe. he doesn't often attempt scissors...

JaymeC said...

My oldest has a very intense concentration face he makes each time. My youngest concentrates so hard he starts drooling usually when using scissors, with his mouth open slightly. I think its just a concentration thing.

Shelli Stanley said...

My OT just evaluated my nephew for us and he does the same thing. He was able to complete the tasks asked of him, however, the oral movement indicated intense focus (per her report).

I'll have to see if The Boy and The Girl do this as well.

Shelli Stanley said...

Of course by "same thing" I don't mean that he opens his mouth when applying mascara! LOL.

Laura said...

Thanks for playing, everyone. It looks like the consensus is concentration. Not a reflex.