Words playing over and over in head

This would be a very, very unusual symptom for ADHD. I would strongly urge you to consult a doctor on this one. I have heard of some kids with Asperger’s syndrome who have these kinds of auditory experiences, but again this is very rare. It probably is nothing, but hearing voices can be a symptom of more serious problems, so you really should get him checked out at once.

This is actually a somewhat common occurance in children with autism. It is sometime referred to as “looping”, as in play a tape loop over and over. It is not to be confused with the type of hallucination (i.e. voices in the head) that occurs in psychosis. The primary difference is looping will be an actual memory being replayed, such as a song, lines from a video or tv show, or something someone had said, where as the voices that occur in psychosis will often “say” new things or words that the person has not heard someone else utter.

My boy does this as well, and also “scripts” or acts out particular scenes from video games, tv shows, etc. over and over until the need passes. Overstimulation can bring on episodes, and he is very resistant to redirection until the loop has run its course. being in an unfamiliar situation can also bring this on, which can make for some very “interesting” encounters with the ill-informed public at large.

In and of itself, looping and scripting are most troubling because of the attention it can bring to the child and those around him. We live in a society that values independance and individuality, but only so long as those around can find common ground in the quirks presented. For most people, looping and scripting are annoying, irritating and even disturbing, and it can further isolate the person doing it.

I would like to say here that I am not saying your child is on Spectrum and not ADHD. ADHD and autism have man similar aspects even as they have different ones. I would suggest discussing your child’s behavior with an experienced professional, and see what can be done to help him be less distracted by recurring memories.

Dad,
Thanks for the information. My son doesn’t have an ADHD diagnosis officially - he doesn’t have any official diagnosis. He is appearing to be more and more ADHD however, and now that he’s 9, he has communicated some pretty amazing things to me about his inability to concentrate, his impulsiveness which he words as “his mind controlling his body” vs. he himself controlling it. What he told me today about the “looping” as you call it really threw me. It’s important to note that he has said that it happens about once or twice a week and that it seems to come on under some kind of stress (alot of noise, yelling, etc.). He said he hears these phrases all at the same time…not one following the other! It disrupts his concentration, I’m sure, but no one else knows its happening…I never knew until today.

I am looking for a professional now. Thanks so much for the info.

Lori

I’m responding to an old thread - but the description of looping etc. also applies to my son, also 9, and also without a formal dx. He is dyslexic, inattentive, and has some very mild traits of NVLD. He likes to “think” which usually involves him skipping around the house and , well, thinking . Usually about video game plot lines he is creating. he can stop if asked, but needs to do this sometimes.

On another thread on the parenting board someone referred to this as “storythinking” which I loved. The behavior is not quite like the self stimulation of an autistic child, but I think is related somehow.

Anyway, our psychiatrist uses a rule of thumb about these ,and other compulsive behaviors. 1) can he stop if he has to? 2)is it interefering with learning or forming social relationships?

As long as the answer is 1) yes, and 2) no then he says it just doesn’t rise to the level of a diagnosis, or require medication to control.

It was me that mentioned ‘storythinking’, KarenN! I like your doctor’s take on this — I agree totally. I believe that in my son (and me — I do it too, though grownup life doesn’t let me do it obsessively or often) this is part of the ‘creative’ side of his personality. He is definitely an artist/storyteller as has been clear since age about 2, and if you talk to successful writers/artists you will learn that this is quite common.

It seems to me (my amateur opinion only, as a citizen of the Universe!) that in ‘disorders’ we see something quite normal for the child that is maladaptive due to whatever causes the ‘disorder’ — therefore, an autistic artist/storyteller type will act like Dad’s boy, doing his acting out and storythinking just like my guy does, but without the ability to self-govern to fit into societal ‘norms’. Ditto for an autistic engineer, who might be obsessive with building things, or an obsessive puzzle doer, etc. etc. That is why I hate it being seen as ‘abnormal’ behaviour, just because the NT non-creatives don’t do it…I think poetry when I walk the dog or do housework, some people think of their to-do list.

This is why I am so disorganized and never get anything quite ‘caught up’, but have poems for friends on their birthdays and such. (and others are always organized with neat houses!) The inability to stop when required by outside influences, and the inability to ‘fit in’ is the disorder — the playing and storythinking are MEANT TO BE. Always remember that Steven Spielberg’s mother didn’t KNOW he was going to be Steven Spielberg — but at age 12 she let him annihilate her kitchen with cherry pie filling while filming one of his first horror flicks anyway. That’s why we have to accept the need for the behaviour, but channel it appropriately — don’t wanna squash anyone’s unpredictable potential!

I often think of your guy and his ‘Link’ figures, Dad! My greatest hope is that he will one day have the skills/control necessary to communicate the creativity inside and show the world what he is really made of!

A Christmas wish for all our kids…!!

Elizabeth, I think your governing philosophy is dead on. You don’t want to thwart the creativitiy, genius, perseverence even. You just want to help them regulate themselves so they can get by in the real world.

Happy holidays to you !