Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy mouthing words? Anyone heard of this?

So my DH insists that my DS4 often repeats parts of sentences by mouthing it again after he says things. Like he will say "are we going to the store" and then silently mouth "to the store." I seriously have only caught him doing this a few times...but DH says he does it all the time and insists I must not look at him when he's talking or something. He does talk a lot so I don't stare at him all the time. But we often look at eachother and have conversations. I have never really heard of or seen kids do that. He doesn't seem aware that he is doing it to my knowledge. My mother has seen him do it before too so DH is not insane (although they aren't mutually exlusive). Just curious if anyone has seen this or heard of this. I realize it's a little OT since it doesn't have to do with just gifted children...but not sure even how to search for information on this or what it is all about.

Hi, My DD5 has done this since she started talking, I'm pretty sure she has some form of a photograpic memory and I think by repeating words , it's her way of memorizing.

I've seen DS2.5 do this. I think it was while he was watching Between the Lions during the opening theme song. But now that you mention it, I'm going to see if we observe it at other times too.

JB

I first noticed my son doing this when he had just turned seven. I mentioned it to the doctor, but she didn't think it was anything to worry about.

He occasionally does this even now at age 10, but only when he thinks nobody is looking. I just asked him why he did this and he said it was a compulsion. When I asked if he could control it he said "Hopefully" and then mouthed the word hopefully.

LOL. That totally sounds like something my DS would do. It's great that your DS is able to explain it and is aware of it.

Well I am pleasantly surprised that DS is not the only one at least, even if there aren't answers as to why. However maybe Skylers comment about the memory thing could be related because DS4 does remember everything. Maybe it is his way of recording it all. He doesn't mouth things when he silently reads or anything...or when other people talk he doesn't mouth things. I did have a few friends that would do that though. They would move their mouth when I would talk. It's interesting.

Mr W mouths the words to books I read to him. He also watches my lips closely.

He still does not speak aloud unless its a word he does not know. Then, he will say it aloud when he first hears it.

This weekend we pulled up to a friend's house and they had those large candycanes out front and DW remarked on the large candycanes.

"Candycane!" came from the back seat.

When I carried him out later, he looked at them and I saw him mouth the word candycane.

I really think you are on to something b/c my DD (officially 28 mths today) does it all the time. Sometimes she repeats a loud and sometimes she mouths it but I get the feeling it has to do with memorization. I parallel it to songs for DD b/c for the most part her repeating relates to books and this is probably why she can recite a lot of the books we read to her. Yesterday it was 'The Little Red Hen', a book from my childhood. She picked it up and 'read' the book. The first two pages was verbatim.

I don't even think the mouthing of words is so OT as you would think.

dd2.5 does this, a lot of staring at my mouth moving too. I think she find some pleasure in the shapes or feel of the words in her mouth, too.

lol i do this.... mostly when i read and dont think anyone is watching (i will read something then after wards mouth the sentence to myself) truthfully i never thought twice about it and like the kid said its kinda a compulsion but when i do it its kinda like im reviewing what was just said (in my head) for further thought or understanding and yes it does commit it to memory but that isnt why i do it its more like a recap lol

I know I started this topic almost a year ago, but DS5 seems to be doing it more today....like we were just playing a game and he must have done it 20 times. He would say something like "I got 20 points" and then repeat it again but he does it in a whisper and usually doesn't just mouth it. It's weird how I don't notice it for a while and then I notice it happening a lot. tonight he told me that he does notice that he is doing it, and that he doesn't know why he does it. Any others still doing it or did they grow out if it? I wish I knew what this was and why he does it.

Hi shellymos, DD is 6 now and still does it all the time, I think I've just gotten use to it. I've never asked her why she does it. I don't want her to feel weird about it, but maybe I should, I've always thought it's how she memorizes things so quickly. So if you find out there's a reason why they do this please share.

I remember reading in the Eides' book (what is it called, again?) that we have different kinds of long-term memory, which all function independently, and most of us have a preference. I believe they identified visual, auditory, and motor, and perhaps something else. Anyway, I thought it was really interesting because I actually learned how to spell words by using my motor memory. When thinking about how to spell a word, I often trace the word in the air (though these days my finger barely moves). Or I think about what motions my fingers would make on the keyboard (and my fingers may or may not twitch along with my thoughts).

I wonder if the mouthing is not the same sort of thing? Using one's motor memory to memorize things not typically associated with motor function? I'd recommend the Eides' book regardless--it was truly fascinating.

I just found this odd link and apparently they are not the only one. Check it out, it is quite interesting.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Speech-Disorders-987/f/son-repeats-word-sentences.htm

Wow, very interesting, shellymos!

DS8 repeats sometimes, but not really under his breath and he doesn't seem to limit it to the last few words. With him, it seems more like he was proud of whatever he said and wants to savor it - everything from a silly wisecrack to an insightful observation. I also agree with Chris that it might have something to do with the way the words feel in his mouth.

But now I'll have to listen more closely to see if he whispers the tail-ends, too.

Mr W has done this since a very early age.

I think it is funny that Einstein did it as well. Quite interesting.

Interesting link! I haven't noticed dd, now almost 3.5 doing this much anymore, I'll have to try to check her out when she's encountering a new word, in case that makes a difference, but I guess she is on to other interesting and puzzling behavior for the most part...
BonusMom, my PG brother would definitely do the sort of repeating you describe, sort of mull over what 'pearl' of great humor he just granted the world...(as his sister, I definitely roll my eyes when he does this, even now, but really in light of dd, maybe it is sort of a mouth-feel thing for him, too!)

Wow, shellymos, this is another way that your DS is like mine!

I have noticed recently that my son also does this. It's not all the time, but enough that I have noticed it. When he does it, he will repeat, in a very low whisper, the last few words of the sentence that he just said.

Great information shellymos, looks like a lot of kids do this. The one thing I did notice is most of the parents just notice that their children started doing this, DD been doing this pretty much since she was about 18 months old from what I remember, didn't think much of it at the time. Sounds like they grow out of it from what they say on that link (good thing). thanks again

We've noticed DD8mos doing this now. It's really strange. She actually woke up one night in the middle of the night and was just whispering to herself and then eventually fell back asleep. It sounded like she was practicing the "th" sound?

Lately she'll whisper a lot when practicing words or after something I said...

I'm not sure of the age for this story. I remember listening to the monitor at bedtime and my son would says lots of words. It was so cute as if he was studying some words.

That really sounds like what DD is doing. Did he do that for words before he said them out loud to you? Now that I think back DD has done this since she first started talking. I wonder if she is trying to get them right before she says them? The funny thing is, is that she babbles about nonsense all the time but it seems like she does the whispering more for real words or new sounds.

I think these were words he used commonly thru the day. He just did a review at night sometimes which now make me thik he was studying. My DS9 now studies all the time. Ex. maked paper airplanes one after the other reengineering

It's fun to think about this again

I'm new here (Hi!), but we just had our 9yo Dd tested with an OT recently. During the memory portion of the test, she mouthed the letters she was to remember (short term memory).

I think it's a kinesthetic memory technique. Dd is very verbal and, while I don't recall seeing her do this in other circumstances, I'm guessing she did. She also *never* talked under her breath - ALWAYS out loud! LOL!

I do something similar with music - my hands remember it much better than my brain. And, when remembering/reciting things, my mouth will remember the words to form even when my braing isn't "engaged" in the recall. In fact, if I stop to think about the words, I can't bring them to mind!

HTH!

~ Mingo

This is called Palilalia, and was frequently depicted by the character Brick Heck in the TV series The Middle.

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