I think my son has Rhythmic Movement Disorder - Sleep Disorders Message Board

ads31805 · 05-17-2006, 11:08 PM

Hi my name is Amanda,
my son is 4 years old he has been banging his head on the wall sense he was old enough to sit up while sleeping. He has now been doing it for so long he has a knot on the back of his head and it wont go away. We have pulled his bed away from the wall it helped. But now he rocks in his bed without the wall and bangs his head onto his bed. I dont know what else to do I have talk to two different doctors about his head and they keep telling me its normal he will stop well he hasnt stoped yet. Im getting a little worried about him but the doctors wont do anything to help. They havent given him a catscan or anything. What do you think I should do. Its a nightly thing non stop. It doesnt bother me what bothers me is that he wants to bang on the wall.

Cup of coffee · 05-19-2006, 09:36 PM

I had a friend whose son would bang his head on the wall like that. Does your child do it any other time - besides at night when going to bed? My friend's son would also rock on his hands and knees, but he would do it throughout the day. Sometimes he would bang his head and sometimes he wouldn't.

There was some kind of diagnosis for my friends son. Keep watching your son and if you really feel like there is more to whats going on seek more advice. Try to see a neurologist.

harold61 · 05-29-2007, 08:31 AM

i am 46 and like your son i have done it all. banging head against walls,benchbacks,chairs,bouncing in the backseat of car, rocking on my hands and knees in bed and finally into rocking my body back and forth on my sides to go to sleep at night!! the doctors have told me that there is a problem with the "switch" in the brain. it doesn't go from wake mode to sleep mode like it should, makes sence to me, i have been to a sleep specialist, a pyschologist and 2 pyschiatrists and still rocking!! my advice, if you can, is if he is asleep let him sleep as long as he can,

mkgbrook · 05-29-2007, 09:18 AM

Take him to an ABSM sleep specialist and let them do a sleep study. If they can get it documented your health professionals have to take notice and work with you. Also there might be an under lying sleep disorder that is aggrevating the situation that could be easily fixed. My son is 4.5 with severe sleep apnea and his CPAP has been a mechanical miracle.

SIncerely,
MG