DESCRIPTION
The exact percentage of people with motor stereotypy is not known. However, it is estimated that it affects:
- 90% of children with autism spectrum disorder
- 20% to 70% of children (simple type)
- 2 to 4% of children (complex type)
Defining Characteristics
There are several characteristics that define the disorder. A motor stereotypy:
- Is involuntary. A child does it without conscious choice.
- Is rhythmic. It occurs at regular intervals
- Is fixed. It occurs in the same pattern every time.
- Is purposeless. It is not done to achieve a goal.
- Is prolonged. It can continue for multiple seconds, minutes, or hours.
- Stops with distraction. Calling or touching the individual stops the movement.
Primary and Secondary Forms
There are two distinct stereotypy forms:
- Primary form. This form occurs in an otherwise normally developing child. In this form, the movements themselves are a primary symptom. In other words, they are not caused by another disorder.
- Secondary form. This form usually appears in children or adults with other developmental issues. Most stereotypies that begin in adulthood are secondary. The secondary form is:
- Common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Sometimes seen in those who have:
- Genetic syndromes
- Encephalitis
- Metabolic disorders
- Degenerative conditions
- Sensory deficits, such as deafness or blindness
- Sometimes induced by drug or medication use
Age of Onset
Triggers
Duration and Timing
Movements can last for seconds or minutes. In some people they can last hours. They usually occur multiple times per day.
Motor stereotypies can usually be quickly stopped by:
- Stimulating the senses in another way
- Distracting the child by touching them
- Distracting the child by calling their name
LABORATORY TESTS
Primary Form
Secondary Form
Lab tests are used to evaluate individuals with secondary forms of motor stereotypies. Various tests may help doctors identify the underlying problem. Some of the tests used are:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Genetic tests
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to see pictures of the brain
- Electroencephalogram (EEG), to see electric patterns in the brain
Resources
Johns Hopkins Motor Stereotypies Behavioral Therapy Program
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a behavioral therapy program–The Johns Hopkins Motor Stereotypies Behavioral Therapy Program–for parents to use with their children between the ages of 7 and 17. The program has been demonstrated to be helpful in reducing the severity of motor stereotypies. A two-minute YouTube video gives an overview of the program and highlights examples of this condition. The video program (which will be sent only as a downloadable .mp4 file) provides information about the home-based behavioral therapy for children age 7 and older who have been diagnosed with Primary Complex Motor Stereotypies. The cost is $95.99 and can be purchased online through an order form.
