Signed digit representations with base $q$ and digits $-\frac q2,\dots,\frac q2$ (and uniqueness being enforced by applying a special rule which decides whether $-q/2$ or $q/2$ should be taken) are considered with respect to counting the occurrences of a given (contiguous) subblock of length $r$. The average number of occurrences amongst the numbers $0,\dots,n-1$ turns out to be const$\cdot\log_qn+\delta(\log_qn)+\smallOh(1)$, with a constant and a periodic function of period one depending on the given subblock; they are explicitly described. Furthermore, we use probabilistic techniques to prove a central limit theorem for the number of occurrences of a given subblock.