sensory vs ocd

[jef48600]

my 6 year old is having issues at school.  His teacher reports he throws his arms around while at his desk.  the other children are now complaining.  He has a fixation with coat hangers, since he was able to very young.  He swings it back and forth rapidly and repetatively.  He will cry and beg for a coat hanger if he doen't have one.  He is very intellegent and is not aggresive.  Would this be a type of sensory problem or ocd?

[jdtm]

Here is another thought - one way out in left field.  Could your son be on the autism spectrum but at the very, very high functioning end?  The obsession with a specific article and the flailing of the arms are consistent with this issue.  Are there any other behaviours which might remind you of autism?  Just a thought ....

[specialmom]

Hm.  My son has sensory integration disorder and some of the things he has impulses to do can seem ocd like---------- he definately tries to control his environment.  He also finds things like washing his hands uncomfortable and will try to do it the way that is easiest for him without a meltdown which means it can look a bit like a ritual.  But he does not have ocd.

However, from what you describe----------  I'm not sure that I hear sensory symptoms.  You'll have to give more information.  What does throw arms around mean exactly?  And the hanger is also interesting.  A sensory impulse is something that typically feeds the nervous system or an avoidance of something uncomfortable.  

Does your son have any other symptoms that make you wonder about sensory??  I might be more helpful with more information.