Hugging

by Janet
(Pineville, LA)

My 7yo is diagnosed with ADHD and the school psychologist and the social worker at his pediatrician thinks he also has mild Aspergers. He has always been one to touch, but over the last few months his hugging and touching others has increased to the point that it's causing problems. Even I am getting tired of it because it is so much it is interrupting needed tasks, such as getting ready in the morning, walking through a public place, etc. His teacher said his unwanted touching seems to have gone down when a few kids at school would hug him voluntarily. I'm not sure how that is working now. The bus driver, however, told me that no one wants to sit with him because he will not keep his hands off of them and always wants to hug. A seat to himself is not an option as she is out of seats. The only way I can keep him off the bus is to be late for work in the mornings and leave early in the afternoon. That's ok occasionally but not everyday.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what can be done to help curb this? I do cuddle and hug him fairly often to help satisfy that need. Is it possible I should back off? He wears Under Armor type compression shirts which he had said feels like hugs when he first got them but now says they don't. Would therapeutic compression shirts work better?