Autism / Autism Spectrum Support Group

Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. Although the specific etiology of autism is unknown, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated vulnerabilities to environmental triggers.

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jordanc 03/22/2007

My 2 1/2 year old son has been doing something lately that I can't quite figure out. He seems to be following lines with his eyes. Anything that creates lines, whether it be the line created by where the baseboard meets the floor or the line created by the top of the handrail banister, it doesn't matter. He will walk (or crawl for the lower level lines) back and forth while following the lines with his eyes. He will crawl back and forth and keep his eyes on the line created by the handrail on his bed. Anytime he's walking somewhere and he sees any type of line, he stops what he's doing and continuously follows the line with his eyes.

I often take him to a local shopping mall (that has a wonderful play area) to work on and observe his socialization, and all he seems to want to do is walk on the bench seating and follow the line created by where the upholstery meets with his eyes. He sometimes has a "mini meltdown" if I try to move him from doing this. I also try to use that as a motivation for "mingling" and playing with other children, but I feel as though that may be empowering this behavior.

I'm really baffled here and not quite sure what to do. I don't know if this is a sensory thing or what. I just know that I love my son and want to help.

deleted_user 03/22/2007

Does your son do anything else that you might see as odd? Does he act like other 2 year olds? I remember an odd obsession I had (and have been told other asperger's/autism have too)about diffent things my mind would latch onto-earlier in grade school it was trash, later it became numbers. It drove me crazy but it was like a little ritual I couldn't get past without completing. I sometimes wonder if it is like 'stimming' or just latching onto one toy or word like some children do. How long has your son been doing this? Does it seem to be eyesight related or colors? Hope these thoughts help. Sincerely, ALex

deleted_user 03/24/2007

my grandson loves to " line things up." I am not sure why he does this but he will line up everything and anything and is very proud of himself when he does it. Who knows? If things get out of line...WOW. He has a meltdown sometimes too

deleted_user 03/24/2007

My son is 11 but when he was 3 he would put his forehead on the hardwood floor and push his head on the lines where the wood was connected. He also would run next to a fence and keep his head turned toward the fence and watch as he ran. I was told this is called tracking. I would gently try to show him something else interesting, sometimes that would work. He does not do this anymore it just stopped. He still is visual with everything, get you son on the computer which seems to satisfy the visual urges. My son also used to make a circle with jis thumb and pointer finger and obsrve the world like a directer scanning for a movie.

deleted_user 03/25/2007

Hi Jordanc,
have you tried a train set? I bet hed like that! and its an appropriate way for him to get the sensory need met.

deleted_user 03/25/2007

My son, who is now 5 years old, did that when he was your sons age, but he outgrew it and only does it occasionally now. My other son, who is almost 4 and also has autism, stims on all the floor vents in the house. He will run up to the vent, look at it, spin around and run off, then keep repeating that until I re-direct him. It's just an autism thing....he's getting some type of sensory input that he needs. I wouldn't keep him from doing it, but I would limit his time doing it. Hope this helps!

deleted_user 03/26/2007

My son also runs along the fence like someone else said (following where it goes). It is just a sensory thing. I have had to redirect him. Try bringing out bubbles, or something to get his mind onto something new. We have a rocking chair and that really helps in a lot of ways. But I think the train set is the thing he spends the most time with (and my son isn't three until next month). Call and ask C.A.R.D. to help with his behavior.

deleted_user 03/27/2007

What he is doing is known as a simple repetitive stereotyped activity. I think you will be more likely to observe parallel play with other children - playing alongside them, rather than engaging in play directly.
I think you are doing two good things...you are getting him used to social settings, and you are giving him lots and lots of new lines to trace, follow and walk on. I agree, a train would be an excellent toy, or one of those mats with roads drawn on them. My son was obsessed with trains when he was very young.

deleted_user 03/29/2007

My son, now 4, used to do the same thing, he would follow a line out of everything. He eventually outgrow it as he became interested in other activities.Now his obsesion is his tricycle, he would even wake up in the middle of the night to ride it. The first thing he looks when he wakes up is his tricycle.

deleted_user 04/14/2014

i have done this since i was a kid. i like to follow lines and i also like lining two thing up to make an angle it relaxes me

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