Child who laughs at wrong times...

by Tammi
(Georgia)

I have an 8 year old son who laughs at his baby sister's crying. This is the worse scenario that his laughing happens in house, but he also laughs when he hears of bad things happening to others or when other people laugh. I cannot get him to stop.




Could he have Sensory Processing Disorder?



Comments for Child who laughs at wrong times...

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Jul 30, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Laughing
by: Anonymous

My son is 12 years, he keeps laughing for no reason and doesn't want to read any books, he keeps asking me if his name is his real name. it's stressing me out
Jan 25, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		It's probably normaly behaviour before the conditioning
by: Anonymous

In the UK, there is a show called You've been Framed. It's been on for years, but the premise is to watch surprising things which seem funny. However the video's often show events where individuals are almost certainly hurt quite badly. This show is a national past time. I think the amusement in injury is a coping mechanism, and also probably a social control to dis-encentavise behaviour that is harmful to individuals and the group at large. I suspect children laughing at things at the wrong moment is normal behaviour for humans, before social conditioning is applied appropriate to our behaviour context of the time, ie 2000's vs 1800's.
Apr 15, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Same
by: Anonymous

My step daughter also laughs when something bad happens...why do they do this...
Apr 14, 2020
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starstarstarstarstar 		Wrong Reaction
by: Anonymous

Good Evening...my grandson just turned 6 and was diagnosed with SPD. One thing he does is laugh when someone is hurt or he hears sad things or even if he has to be timed out. I understand it may be part of the SPD but can you suggest how it should be handled when he does that? I have told him how people feel when they are hurt and asked him how he feels when he is hurt but I don't seem to be able to get through to him. Thanks for any suggestions.
Aug 07, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Ok
by: Anonymous

This can simply be a sign of social anxiety
Jan 16, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Same
by: Anonymous

My fiances daughter has all the symptoms of sensory processing disorder if this is one because she laughs so hard at her baby sister who is 12 months...when we tell her sister no to things she laughs an don't stop... she still pees in bed and poops in her pants... it's crazy
Dec 03, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		Inappropriate Laughing
by: Anonymous

This is caused by a disorder called paeudobulbar affect. It can be the result of degenerative brain disease such as Alzheimer’s, encephalitis, or Parkinson’s disease
Sep 23, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar
by: Anonymous

Some autistic people have emotion disorders like when they are sad or scared they laugh or smile
Mar 09, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		laughing at wrong times
by: Anonymous

I have a roommate that laughs at everything which
really annoys me.
Dec 08, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Degrees of Involuntary Laughter
by: Anonymous

Being 75 years old, I spent my life subject to laughing at stress events, where the first was in 1962 in the Army where I was shown a film of how to perform emergency operations upon people in a disaster. I had a 139 IQ at the time, so the problem was not related to mentality. Yet, the people who observed my reaction could not understand my response and sought to correct my behavior.

About a year later, I had a unwarranted tearing (crying) response to stressful news.

Needless to say, my career path and circle of friends were affected by my being, which I would not change ("Non je ne regretted rein")!
Nov 08, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I'm affected as well but is it OK?
by: Anonymous

When my teacher was yelling at me I was laughing as well. However thank god I laughed after he went anyway I am very sad in my school due to my loneliness and I think that is why I am laughing like this. Even when people explain stuff I randomly giggle this brings a bad impression on my how to control my self?
Aug 07, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		...
by: Anonymous

Sometimes your just so secretly depressed you laugh at everything
Jun 05, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		covering hurt eith laughter
by: katie

You may laugh without noticing because your way of coping with hurtful things is to laugh or joke it off so people dont see you hurt by the things you get in trouble for i do this myself.
Apr 27, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		It happens to me too
by: Anonymous

Whenever i get into trouble i smile or laugh and get into even more trouble and smile and laugh.... i don't even know why but it happens...or when someone makes me cry i'll cry for a minute the burst out laughing and i don't know what to do about it
Dec 02, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		food that helps
by: Anonymous

my ten year old son who had delayed miles stones came back from school few days ago and started laughing uncontrolably . His elder brother got irritated and beat him to stop.His teacher gave me a call today saying she feels something is wrongShe said he was just laughing in class and not concentrating in class .please I will love to learn how diet can treat this condition
Oct 03, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		not their fault?
by: Anonymous

Have any of you looked into PseudoBulbar Affect (PBA)? My father was diagnosed with this condition and I think I may have it too....it results in uncontrollable laughter or crying not in relation to what we are actually feeling. For example, I could feel like I wanted to cry but laugh hysterically instead :/
Aug 06, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I do this too
by: Anonymous

I used to get in trouble for this all the time. My little sister would start crying, and I'd start smiling and laughing uncontrollably. I don't believe I have SPD. It's actually a rather common reaction.

He probably doesn't mean to look cruel. He probably laughs because of overwhelming fear and helplessness. Most likely, he does not like it at all when his sister cries -- he probably is upset, wants to cry sympathetically, and is afraid he'll be blamed for making her cry. Fear and tension makes some people laugh nervously. He can't help it.
Jan 10, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Husband laughs when I get hurt or mad
by: Anonymous

My 72 year old husband who I have been with for 5 years laughs at me if I stub my toe and injure myself. It is obvious that I am hurt and he laughs. It hurts my feelings and I would never laugh at him when he is hurt. I don't understand his behavior. If I get angry with him about anything he does the same thing. I don't feel that this is normal behavior for an adult, am I wrong?
Dec 29, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		There is help
by: Anonymous

To the children and undiagnosed-

You can get help. Talk to your parents or your physician. There is help and you are not alone. I hope someone has reached out to you before now.
Dec 24, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I do it too
by: Corinna

I just turned 22 last June and I was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder when I was 9. I always wonder why I have an urge to laugh when I am really pissed off. And then I remember that some people cry when their angry and cry when their happy, some people yell when their angry and yell when their happy, and some people cry for no reason,and some people laugh for no reason. Actions sometimes don't always correlate with the emotions you feel.
Dec 21, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Try This
by: Anonymous

Well, try to talk to him at the dinner table while eating dinner. Tell him it is not OK to laugh when other people get hurt, no matter how funny it seems. Also tell him he might hurt someone's feelings. If that doesn't wok, try putting him in their shoes. Like if he has trouble with homework, chores, etc. star laughing, but immediately after ask him how he felt.
Aug 21, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		i am one of them
by: anonymous

my parents and my family always judge me for what i alugh at,they said it is not the right time to laugh and i just keep laughing,i would laugh at anything i see and anything i think that is funny like when people talk,the tv is on,and i just have those reactions laughing off for no reason.sometimes i would talk to my heart or my soul asking what am i and what is wrong with me.i love to laugh and i felt sorry for what i laugh at but i just laugh when someone gets hurt or injured and when bad news are heard.i am almost 15 now,my birthday is next month and i don't know how to explain or tell my parents about how i feel and it's just the way i am.i'm very sensitive and i just get so crazy for things when im interested in it.
Aug 18, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		13 yr old with giggling fits
by: Anonymous

My 13yr old moderate Autistic Grandson started giggling for no reason, about 6 mons ago at school & home. My son would get so mad when he would try to correct, talk, or scold him, & he would just laugh. Now we read that we are not alone with this problem.

Since we told him we don't want to talk, or want him around us until he can stop giggling he is getting much better in stopping the giggling much quicker.
Jul 14, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Laughing and callling names
by: Anonymous

My grandson slipped and hit his head, hard, on a bench at camp. He had a huge goose egg on his forehead, a swollen face, black eye, and skinned up. It was a bad fall. Another boy saw my grandson was injured and laughed at him calling him names. My grandson became angry at being laughed at and called names and a fist fight broke out between the two boys. My grandson was embarrassed because he fell and in pain. When this kid humiliated him in front of the whole camp my grandson fought with the kid. When my grandson sees another person that is hurt he always shows concern for them. He always goes to them to see how he can help. He never laughs at them or calls them names. I don't understand why some kids are so mean when they should be showing compassion.
Jul 04, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		child who laughs at wrong times
by: Anonymous

My son is 16 years old. Strangely enough, he has now started to laugh not only at inappropriate times, but he will literally laugh at anything, someone talking on tv, someone just talking about anything. If he's eating. I just don't understand. Is there any help out there. It's really beginning to stress me out.
May 17, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Same here
by: Anonymous

its been the same when my grandfather died and at that time my father was doing his puja and i started giggling at the news when my parents were crying bitterly.the same happened when my friend's grandfather died and the same when my grandmother died. it is so horrible, it does not stop i try so hard to remind my self that i should not laugh out at silly and serious things. infact my parents also tell me that its my laughter which is my downfall. at night whenever i sit for studying i cry when i remind myself of all those things.i smile when i talk to my parents i wonder what will happen when i will go to university. plaese help me out. please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 28, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		inappropriate laughing
by: amanda

My eldest son 13 was diagnosed with autism at a very young age.Every day is a challenge but the worst thing at the moment is the constant inappropriate laughing and sniggering..He says he cant help it but it drives us insane..I have to keep leaving the room where he is laughing..When I tell people they think a childs laughter is a nice thing but when its 24/7 its very annoying whats this about yeast?? Help me need advice quick. I will try anything..I also have an 8 year old with aspergers..
Feb 04, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		4 year old daughter doing the same!
by: Anonymous

Thank you for this post! I just found this through a search engine as my daughter age 4 is also doing this as of lately! I think she has SPD in other ways, (clothes/feeling, hearing, etc) and I didn't even know this could be a correlation with the laughing under sad/serious situations. Our whole family has been very stressed recently with loss of job etc, but things are getting better and we've been trying hard to show our girls extra love and cuddle time so they feel secure. The other night they heard about a little boy that shot his family (I know they shouldn't have probably heard us talking about that at a young age) but she started laughing and trying to hide that she was laughing. I tired comforting her extra thinking this might be her way of showing she is overwhelmed with emotion. She does it when the other girls are crying or upset too. It worried me. I really want to look into the Yeast thing too. I know I also have SPD, and am wondering if this is genetic as now my daughter is showing signs. So thankful for this website!
Jan 20, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		very worried...
by: Anonymous

My 7 yr.old daughter asked me in the car.."Mom, why do I laugh when I get hurt?'..why does my brain not work right..What is wrong with me?"..I never realized how much she does this..I just get angry at her for feeling unsympathetic to others, & thought she is just a really goofy girl, who laughs when hurt..Now she is asking me for help..& I feel awful for not taking it more serious..She angers me so much with this..She says she tries to hide it..I never thought in a million years this even had a name..Now to approach her Dr. & hope he does not think I am being neurotic..But if a 7 yr.old girl is assessing her own behavior, I hope someone can help her..Has anyone had help with just bringing this to their pediatrician?..& Can someone explain this yeast correlation?..Thanks so much..
Jul 15, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		My Niece
by: Anonymous

My Niece is 31 and laughs at people who are hurt or sad from someone passing. She has been this way since she was little and my Mom would be very cross with her. Her daughter( my great niece) almost cut her toe off here recently when taken to the hospital for stitches she laughed that much harder. I was so angry with her. She said she was sorry but couldn't help it. As my Great Niece got the needle in her toe and screamed bloody murder, my Niece just wrapped around her daughter and laughed uncontrollably. The Dr. asked if she had (SPD) Sensory Processing Disorder. I said yes real bad. He said she could get help but never said where.
May 29, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		A suggestion for children who have this problem
by: Anonymous

We went to a support group run by a therapist who had SPD herself. It was very enlightening to hear her talk about how she would laugh when other kids got hurt when she was a child. She didn't think it was funny, and she knew she shouldn't be laughing, but it was just the reaction she had. She learned to turn away or hide her mouth behind her hand so that people wouldn't be angry with her. We have told our son that we know he may not be able to help it, but that if he feels like he has to laugh, he should turn away or go into another room.
Mar 24, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Laughing at the wrong time
by: Anonymous

How do you test for yeast overgrowth?
Mar 24, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Laughing at the wrong time
by: Anonymous

How do you test for yeast overgorowth? Is there a test or do you just reduce yeast in the diet. Also, how long until you see results.
Mar 23, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Laughing as a sign of Asperger
by: Anonymous

My Asperger son also laughs inappropriately. I went to a Tony Attwood talk years ago. He said to the effect that the wiring in the brain for laughing and crying are close to each other. (Thus the phrase "You either laugh or cry.") Somehow the wiring of many Asperger kids are a little mixed up. That's why they would laugh when they are in situations where they should have cried, e.g. hearing his grandpa has died. When you see your kid laugh, it helps for you to understand that it's equivalent to a normal child crying. Teachers and parapro needs to know this too, otherwise they might mistakenly think the child is being defiant. That being said, I later found out that treating my son's yeast overgrowth and phenol sensitivity almost eliminates this behavior.
Feb 26, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Diet and inappropriate laughing
by: Anonymous

Check out Generation Rescue's web site. It is an autism awareness site and filled with information that can help children who are not even autistic. We found information there on diet that has helped reduce some of the inappropriate laughter in our child who is not autistic. We tried reducing phenolic foods for two weeks and it works. Some foods set our child off almost immediately. We are still working to continue to reduce this behavior.
Feb 26, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Laughing at wrong times
by: Anonymous

My 10yr old son has been laughing at inappropriate situations for the past 2 years. It started when he got in trouble at home, he just laughed at my husband and that made my husband furious. The more my son laughed the angrier my husband was. My son laughs when his sister gets in trouble, people get hurt or die. We have been to therapist's, psychologist’s, neurologist’s, some say it's his brain due to his Cerebral Palsy & to just explain to people, others try therapy. Nothing helps and it’s tearing our family apart. Is there any treatment or medicine that can help or could it be a medication he is on? Please help!
Feb 15, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		laughing at angry aides/workers.
by: Anonymous

hi this post reminded me of 2 events where i was laughing due to the asperger's syndrome that i have, 1 when i was in 8th grade i thought i did the assignment right and apparently i didn't because my parapro started yelling at me saying why isn't this done and i was laughing at her making her angrier and another time was at a sheltered workshop for the disabled, where a boss lost it because i was doing something wrong i guess and laughed at her making her more angry and more angry.
Jan 11, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Inappropriate laughing.
by: Anonymous

My 10 year old daughter laughs at the wrong time also; especially when someone is hurt. We are working with a behaviorist, therapist and nutritionist and this is the one behavior that has us all stumped. We believe it is an internal reaction to something out of her control since the behavior plan and therapy are not working.
Sep 10, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		inappropriate laughing
by: Anonymous

i am glad to know that i am not alone.....kind of ..i am just beginning this journey of a possible sensory processing disorder. my daughters immature and inappropriate behaviors are driving me to the ende of my wits. how do i know know if my child and her issues are a result of poor parenting and family stress or if something else is going on. she is supposed to start kindergarten on monday and i have some serious doubts about how she will do. she does not act this way outside of home.....she did okay in preschool....any thoughts??? i should also mention that we had a baby in december..... could she be seeking more attention
Feb 07, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Asperger's
by: Anonymous

My son has Asperger's Syndrome. He does laugh and smile and inappropriate time, the most memorable being a smile when I told him that a classmate of his had died (in 1st grade).

It is a sign of Asperger's Syndrome or something on the Autism Spectrum.
Aug 06, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Child who laughs at wrong times...
by: Deirdre

Hi, I also noticed that my son does the same thing. When we're at the park, if he sees someone crying, he either holds his ears, or points and laughs at them. I believe my son does have SPD (he hasn't been diagnosed yet) but I've also noticed other things he does that I'm not sure if they are related to SPD. For instance, the laughing at others at the wrong time, not being able to reason with him, no matter how much I try to explain things to him, it's like he's much younger than six years old, soon to be seven.

I've had different people mention Asperger's Syndrome (an Autism Spectrum Disorder) which I'm also in the process of having him tested for. I'm reading a book called "Look Me in the Eye" by John Elder Robison who has Asperger's and he described a situation when he was younger where he would smile or laugh at the wrong times. I still struggle with trying to explain to my son that you can't laugh at people when they are hurt or crying but he still doesn't understand what I'm saying and he still does it. So far, people have been O.K. when he does this, but he is getting older, and I'm afraid that one day he'll run into someone who is not so understanding.
Aug 01, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		inappropriate laughing
by: Lauri

I have also wondered about inappropriate laughing in my 10 year old daughter. She will laugh when people get hurt. I know that it can be a reaction to stress or due to nervousness, but it really looks bad when she does it. She does have SPD, but I am not sure if it is because of the SPD or some other diagnosis that we have yet to discover.

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