Can OCD Be Diagnosed In A Child?

Posted on Wed, 20 Jul 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 20 Jul 2016 Answered on

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My 3 yr old son (one of a pair of twins) demonstrates some strange behaviour. He runs around the room from pillar to cupboard to wall to any other surface tall surface and jumps 3/4 times in front of it with his hands held as if he were a flapping them. He will do this or a minute or 2 and then stop. He will resume this after some time till his attention is drawn to something else.

I would like to know if he has some form of OCD or if there is any other problem. How should I get this tested?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (56 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please upload the video - Please answer my questions too

Detailed Answer:
Hi...Please do not hesitate about privacy of your kid's video. Please upload it. But I doubt if you can upload a video. Usually images are uploadable.

I have a few questions for you - kindly get back with answers so that I can guide you better.

Questions:

1. How long has be been doing this?

2. Does he sit at once place and concentrates on what he is doing or keeps running around without rest as log he is awake?

3. Does he look into your eyes when you are talking to him or he is talking to you?

4. Do you feel he is hyperactive?

5. How is the behavior of the other kid?

6. Is there any family history of hyperactivity?

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (20 minutes later)

1. How long has be been doing this?
Ans: Have noticed this for atleast 6- 8 months. The frequency of occurrence seems to have gone up lately.

2. Does he sit at once place and concentrates on what he is doing or keeps running around without rest as log he is awake?
Ans: He does sit down for short periods (10/15 min) when listening to a story or scribbling on paper. Besides he goes to school (nursery) so must be sitting there as well.

3. Does he look into your eyes when you are talking to him or he is talking to you?

Ans: Yes

4. Do you feel he is hyperactive?

Ans: Getting either of the kids to sit for 10 / 15 min is a huge ask. SO yes I believe they are both hyperactive. Also, they watch a lot of television.

5. How is the behavior of the other kid?

Ans. As mentioned earlier he too cannot sit still even more so than his brother, but does not demonstrate this strange jump and run behavior.

6. Is there any family history of hyperactivity?

Ans: Not really sure

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Does not look like a OCD but both kids need evaluation for hyperactivity

Detailed Answer:
Hi.... Greetings from XXXXXXX I understand your concern. By what you quote and also from the history that I have gathered from you, the repetitive behaviour which your child is having does not look like an obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD.

Regarding the other history, that I have gathered from you, I feel that both of your kids need psychological evaluation for hyperactivity.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (3 days later)

Which kind of doctor should I take them to for this evaluation?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
They need clinical child psychologist

Detailed Answer:
Hi....they need clinical child psychologist regarding this. They need to be evaluated on various testing scales.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar