Daughter Turns Head When Focusing on Something

That sounds like something you need to take her to the eye specialist for. If she's working around a problem spot to self correct something with her vision, she may need glasses or to wear a patch for a few hours a day to strengthen the weaker eye. Get a referral from her pediatrician.

2 moms found this helpful

I would go get her eyes checked and her hearing. There may not be any problems, just a new characteristic she has developed.I know some people that do this.

1 mom found this helpful

I do this!! I have done this since I was a small child, they tested my hearing thinking that it might be a slight hearing loss in one ear, my eyesight as well - but it turned out that it is just something I do when I'm focusing on something (especially television). Academically/Professionally I have excelled, so my parents were right to just let it ride. If it is any consolation, I ended up in a creative field... I think it may have something to do with being right brain dominant. I turned out OK!

1 mom found this helpful

sounds like she might be hearing impaired on one side. get her hearing checked.

1 mom found this helpful

Call your ped and have her hearing checked.

1 mom found this helpful

This could be a medical condition. I don't remember what it's called but when I was a kid a friend of mine would do that. At first I thought he was just being weird but when I finally asked him about it he told me he had to do that so he could see straight and clear. I don't remember what it was but other than turning his head I don't think he had problems doing anything.

1 mom found this helpful

My child did this! She turned her head to one side when she was looking at something. I didn't think much of it because she has long hair and I thought maybe her hair was covering her eyes on the one side (it was). At her 5 year well check, the doctor looked in her eyes and noticed they were different colors. He did a vision test (which is done at the 4 year well check, but not usually the 5 year). She had passed her 4 year vision test. Low and behold she was not seeing ANYTHING out of her left eye. She was only seeing in 2 diminsions. She went to the optomotrist that day and he did a full eye exam. Her left eye was totally healthy, but her brain had stopped using it. She had to get glasses and go to occupational therapy to retrain the right eye. This was all in March. Since then, she has done amazing things. We thought she was just really unccordinated, but she isn't. She immediately (same day as getting the glasses) could swing herself, ride a bike (peddle) and stuff like that. Your daughter could have a different issue, but I would encourage you to go have a full eye exam done, not just a vision test. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Maybe you should get her eyes checked.
Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

A.,
Does your daughter turn her head to the right? That is were our cognetive thinking and reasoning center in our brains are located. When people are thinking and older people even want to lie, they turn or look to the right to form a thourght or story. I have a horrible habit of looking past people when I am thinking, even if they are right in front of me. Keep researching because that is what parents do, but I bet your daughter is just really smart and is already thinking about big stuff!!
K.

1 mom found this helpful

Have you had her hearing checked recently?

My daughter had a damaged ear bone, and no ear drum due to an accident at school they didn't even bother to call me about. The pediatrician couldn't see any problems because of a bit of wax. It wasn't untill I got her to an ENT specialist, for another problem entirely, btw, that her physical problems were properly diagnosed, so eventually, after two surgeries, and another more specialize ETN specialist, her hearing problem could be treated.

Keep going until you get answers, keeping in mind that a regular PCP may not be fully equiped.

1 mom found this helpful

I would get her hearing tested immediately.

1 mom found this helpful

Yours is an interesting problem. I think I would ask myself two questions before I got upset about it: does she do the head-turning all the time, in every conversation or for every TV show, or does she forget about it sometimes and look directly at things? And secondly, does she seem to see things clearly? Can she describe what she sees if you put it right in front of her and don't let her turn her head? I think I'd talk to her doctor about it if you aren't satisfied with your answers to these questions.

1 mom found this helpful

tell your pediatrician and get a referral to see a pediatric opthamologist.

1 mom found this helpful

You also might have her ears checked as it could be an inner ear problem and or a hearing issue. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

hi

My son did the same thing but only when watching TV i took him to a pediatric opthamologist and he said he would grow out of it that nothing is wrong with his eye's he is now 11 and dose not do it any more. I would still mention it to your pediatrician just so they know to keep an eye on it good luck
J.

1 mom found this helpful

I would definitly see a dr./optometrist...even if it's just for piece of mind.

1 mom found this helpful

I'd get both her hearing and eye sight checked.

GOOD LUCK!

1 mom found this helpful

My advice is to see a pediatric opthamologist. It sounds like it could be a brain/eye issue. It's a long story and don't want to bore you with the details, but my daughter has cortical visual issues and she sees by cocking her head to the right and turning her left eye in, to focus better. She doesn't need glasses, technically her eyes work, it's a processing thing. An opthamologist is a little more in depth in examining than an optometrist.

1 mom found this helpful

Have you had her eyes checked? I didn't know I needed glasses till I was in the 4rd grade.

1 mom found this helpful

I wouldn't worry too much about it. My son did that (point and look at something but turn his head) around that age and it was just a phase. He's 3 now and doesn't do it at all. I think they are learning they can move their eyes in a different direction then their head. It's just figuring out how their body parts work.
Occasionally, I would tell him he doesn't need to turn his head but it didn't help. He eventually just grew tired of doing that because he's bored with learning that part of himself.
Hope this helps,
Jen

1 mom found this helpful

Hi A.,,,,
If it was me i'd first take here to the eye DR ,,, see what they say
L.

1 mom found this helpful

If you find out that it's nothing, get a picture before she outgrows it. You'll want to remember it.

1 mom found this helpful

Check her sight. Pay attention to yourself too. Do you look at the computer while someone is talking to you and turn your head at them but not your eyes right away. I do this sometimes perhaps she is picking up on that? Not sure, good luck, hope its just a quirk she got.

1 mom found this helpful

My first inclination is to think it could be her hearing. I'd get it checked out. If that is okay, then I'd see what her pedi thinks.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Maybe I'm overreacting, but this sounds like a behavior that is well within the spectrum of autistic behaviors. (I have a 26-year-old autistic son.) Because she's 2-1/2, this is a prime age to start exhibiting what the professionals call "pervasive development delay". She may be very high-functioning, but the turning of the head sets warning bells ringing in my mind. Many kiddos with this type of problem like to look at things from strange angles, sometimes through their fingers or through squinted eyes. Take her to your pediatrician and ask for an assessment. If he puts you off and says this is normal developmental behavior, you can always wait for a while to see if she outgrows it. If not, you can take her back and INSIST on the assessment. Don't wait too long, though. The sooner you intervene if she does have a problem, the better for her.

One last word of encouragement--many high-functioning autistic people are able to lead realtively normal lives, as long as they are taught how to modify their behaviors. Our son has been a HUGE blessing in our lives, and we wouldn't trade him for anything!

God bless you.
S.

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter is 4 now and when she was about that same age, she was doing that same thing. She's had her hearing and eyes checked and is just fine. It is just something that young kids sometimes do. My daughter will still do it from time to time but not very often. I agree with another lady that responded to you, that your child is just getting to know what parts of the body can do. I've even asked my daughter why she does it and she just says that she likes to. I was constantly asking her if she could see it better and everything, but she never showed any other signs or anything for real concern. Good luck and I hope things go well, if you do decide to get her checked out. God Bless You and your family.

1 mom found this helpful

She may have a hearing problem. Does she turn her head in the same direction each time? Try a simple hearing test. Or, maybe, she just stuck a bean or rock in her ear and it's so far down that you can't see it....it happens.

1 mom found this helpful

I had two siblings who turned their heads while watching television. You might want to get her eyes checked. She may be trying to focus more on the better side. My siblings wear glasses but they still slightly turn their heads and they are in their 20's

1 mom found this helpful

I would have my daughter's eyes and ears checked. First. This could also be an attention thing also check that out. Was with the Chicago council for 5 years so I know the hours.

1 mom found this helpful

get her doctor to see if she has tunnel vision

She is old enough for an eye exam, check for an optometrist who does eye training, this is your best bet for an accurate diagnosis. Then go to you prediatrician and let them know of this. I have had my son and a friend, who were very bright, yet each were treated by one of these and we could have know what to do sooner.

Good luck!