Pinching and head butting as a form of affection?

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I am not sure is anyone has come across any behaviours like this but I thought I would ask anyhow

My DS many times throughout the day will in a state of excitement come over to me (could be I just walked in the room, or I talked to him playfully etc) and just before he reaches me he will start clenching his teeth (gritting) then pinch my neck or roll the skin over my collarbone while pinching and then headbutt (or just knock his head on my arm or thigh etc). This seems to be happening more and more often...

Has anyone been through this at all? Is there a reason he is doing this? Is it affection (he only does it to me and my MIL and we are his 2 "favourite" people....he does not do it to my hubby or my other son)...or is this a sensory/overstimulation thing?

Any input would be most appreciated

BTW, my son is almost 2

DS=dear son

Thanks for your reply....I know that lots of ASD kids can have pinching as a form of aggression especially when coupled with biting and kicking, but this just doesnt seem to be the case with him as he doesn't seem angry/upset while doing it.

My son is turning 10. He doesn't head-butt or pinch but he is very rough on me when trying kiss or hug me. He loves to kiss really loudly in my ear - quite painful. I remember when he was quite young, beginning when he was 1 1/2 yrs old, he loved to try to walk or stand on my calves when I was knealing to work on something. Again, painful, and he wouldn't stop when I told him a million times.
I hadn't thought about it before but maybe I should do a social story or something. I can't answer your question. I wonder myself. Maybe an adult with AS has some insight.

this sounds like affection indeed; do i understand correctly that it's like a cat purring and scent rubbing?, quite some autistics are known to do that, especially at a young age.

My daughter used to head butt as a form of affection but she rarely does it anymore....she was sometimes a bit hard and I would be seeing stars while she was laughing . She can still be a bit painful with her "affection", she will climb on you and hug your head, things like that.

It sounds like both excitement and affection. He doesn't know how to appropriately express what he is feeling. As aann said, a social story about how we express our feelings in ways that are kind and gentle might really help. Model for him ways to show affection to his favorite people without hurting them. It may take a while but for most kids it eventually sinks in. My DS will now grab my hand and very affectionately kiss it and hold it against his face instead of some of the rougher things he used to do. It is very sweet!