3 ms·

As a soon-to-be father I get a little worried when I read things like this. Is there some new mental condition? Is it plastic in the water? Is it an inescapable

As a soon-to-be father I get a little worried when I read things like this. Is there some new mental condition? Is it plastic in the water? Is it an inescapable risk? Surely, playing with the child, rubbing feet, tickling, rough-and-tumble play, throughout their childhood would all help against such a thing. Tried and true methods from ages ago. It even says in the article that the child is awake, so I don't see why you couldn't spook or tickle them into action. Is this just "new age diagnosis" that I have to wade through? (Not being facetious)

nichohel 5y ago
As a father also, I want to reassure you that you have no cause for concern: this condition only occurs in very small populations that are at risk of deportation from liberal western countries.
Maursault 5y ago
> It even says in the article that the child is awake, so I don't see why you couldn't spook or tickle them into action. I was expecting the neurologist to perform a drop test [1], but the closest to this in the article is: > [Dr. Olssen] lifted Nola’s arm to show me how limp it was. The arm dropped unceremoniously onto the bed when let go. Could this be a failed drop test? Also see: Asylum seekers with apathetic refugee children [2] [1] https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0515/p2485.html https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0515/p2485.html A few bedside tests are often helpful in patients with suspected pseudoneurologic syndrome. The first is a drop test: the clinician drops the “paralyzed” arm over the patient's face. In pseudoneurologic syndrome, the “paralyzed” arm will not strike the patient's face when dropped (i.e., a near miss). Second, the clinician can test weakness with painful stimulation. Unexpected painful stimuli to the affected extremity may cause a purposeful withdrawal response. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asylum_seekers_with_apathetic_refugee_children https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asylum_seekers_with_apathetic_...

nichohel 5y ago

As a father also, I want to reassure you that you have no cause for concern: this condition only occurs in very small populations that are at risk of deportation from liberal western countries.

Maursault 5y ago

> It even says in the article that the child is awake, so I don't see why you couldn't spook or tickle them into action. I was expecting the neurologist to perform a drop test [1], but the closest to this in the article is: > [Dr. Olssen] lifted Nola’s arm to show me how limp it was. The arm dropped unceremoniously onto the bed when let go. Could this be a failed drop test? Also see: Asylum seekers with apathetic refugee children [2] [1] https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0515/p2485.html https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0515/p2485.html A few bedside tests are often helpful in patients with suspected pseudoneurologic syndrome. The first is a drop test: the clinician drops the “paralyzed” arm over the patient's face. In pseudoneurologic syndrome, the “paralyzed” arm will not strike the patient's face when dropped (i.e., a near miss). Second, the clinician can test weakness with painful stimulation. Unexpected painful stimuli to the affected extremity may cause a purposeful withdrawal response. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asylum_seekers_with_apathetic_refugee_children https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asylum_seekers_with_apathetic_...