excessive scratching?

So, I've noticed my 3 year old scratching herself a lot lately. It's mostly when she's stressing or tired, kind of like her finger-sucking habit. For example, when she's falling asleep she'll scratch the back of her neck. Or her head. Or her lower back, or thighs. Or when she's upset that I told her no about something, she'll go sit down and suck her fingers on one hand and scratch the back of her neck with her other hand. Sometimes she does do it just randomly, but from what I've noticed it *seems* like it's stress related. Either way I'm going to mention it to her doctor, but her appointment isn't til next week.

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone else has had this issue? She's in the process of being tested for high functioning autism. Does it sound like it's related to that? Or something else?

Any ideas on redirecting her from scratching? I wouldn't have an issue with it, but she has tons of little marks (on the back of her neck particularly) from it.

Mine does that to his ears.. scratching/rubbing/pulling.

He also does this finger sucking/licking thing..

Our pedi asked to see him again in January when we bring in his little brother so he can check up on him. We need a referral to go get him evaluated.

my 6 year old has aspergers, if he gets really upset he will scratch his head until its raw. I keep his nails cut and filed as short as possible. Sometimes when he's doing it DH is able to get a hat on him so it won't hurt him as much. He just started doing this within the last 8 months so we haven't really found much of anything that helps yet.

It sounds part sensory and behavioral. Does she have SPD, or any specific sensory issues?

Quoting mama3trish:" It sounds part sensory and behavioral. Does she have SPD, or any specific sensory issues?"

She does have some sensory issues. But no official diagnosis yet.