Processing getting worse in ASD teenager

[traumwerk]

My DS1 is just coming up for 13. He has severe Autism and had no speech until he was 7. He now never stops talking and is generally pretty healthy apart from a one-off grand mal seizure a year ago. Epilepsy has been ruled out by consultant.

In the last month or so, he has become like an old man with dementia. He asks the same question repeatedly and has no idea that he's just asked the question. It's like he doesn't process what is being said to him at all. He's also regressed in terms of bed wetting and his fixation has returned to something he was obsessed with over six years ago.

My question is really, is it normal for a child with ASD to regress so much in terms of processing etc. at this age? Do I need to make a GP appointment?

TIA

[EeAicheCeePee]

No, you need a psychologist appointment. A GP is not equipped to make an assessment for neurological needs. It may be nothing to do with processing, there is significant overlap between ASD and Tourettes (for example).

You can ask the GP to make the referral, on the basis that your DS is experiencing physical symptoms for which they can only treat the symptoms.

[ObscuredbyFog]

Any signs of regression need specialist input. I think you have plenty of examples to be referred as urgent.

You may need your GP to do the referrals.

[HardAsSnails]

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable about epilepsy and seizures will come along but I would be very concerned about this and would want a neurological assessment ASAP. I'd be wondering about absence seizures TBH. This is not something a psychologist could help with.

[traumwerk]

Thanks everyone. Sorry to drip feed, but I am actually a psychologist and this is definitely not my area. I know that this is not neurotypical behaviour, but I wasn't sure if this could ever be the anecdotal norm. It's hard to see the wood for the trees in your own child, even as a professional.

I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get a referral. The trouble is, it all takes so long. After his fit (and despite attending A&E in an ambulance - they wouldn't admit him due to his special needs and I wasn't available to argue as he was with his father!) he didn't get an appointment for five months. I've been unsuccessful in going privately due to his special needs! It's madness. I'll make a GP appointment.

[SpringerLink]

Puberty does awuful things to all teenagers' brains, but it can really affect people with ASD in an extreme way. Getting an appointment with an ASD specialist (and preferably a paed as well) should be a high priority.