Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Typical 6 year old or traits of ASD / SPD??

1 reply

Bananaste · 20/07/2025 21:53

Hi all, I've wondered for a few years now whether there's something else going on with DS (6), but so much of his behaviour could just be down to age, so I haven't looked to pursue it further. I'd appreciate some insight from others though.

I've historically described DS as a bit "sensory", in that he's never liked loud noises and can get quite overwhelmed in busy settings. He's a bit better now he's older - for example he's fine in his class at school and at parties, but if something makes a loud bang he'll quickly cover his ears. He also HATES it when we sing. When DH sang earlier he covered his ears and shouted, although said it was because he hated the song, so I'm not sure. When I sing he quickly covers my mouth.

When he was younger he used to scream when other children came into the park. He doesn't do that now though.

He has very limited imagination. He loves to read and write, and will often sit down to write out stories, but he'll copy the stories out from other books and can't come up with one on his own. He'll then use "choosing time" at school and after-school club to write the same story out over and over.

His speech had been a bit delayed but nothing too concerning. He comes across a bit silly and immature compared to his friends (I appreciate that's weird to say when he's only 6), but he does have a tendency to act very silly, particularly when feeling nervous.

He's constantly fidgeting and talks quite loud at times.

He's a very good learner, gets on great at school and very good at listening to the teacher. Has good friends, but struggles with simple things like hello and goodbye. If someone asks him a direct question about something he's goes quite insular and struggles to give more than a one word answer.

I'm just not sure! Is it one of those things where it'll become clearer as he gets older?

Thank you all for reading

OP posts:
VoltaireMittyDream · 21/07/2025 02:59

This sounds very like my DS (who is now diagnosed with ASD / PDA / ADHD at age 9).

Very bright but really struggles to make up stories - which unfortunately is a major enthusiasm of his school. He came home one day and told me he thought he had a 'disability of imagination'. 😕

He is enormously creative - and loves words and wordplay - but making up a new story is impossible.

Can't do routine greetings or direct questions, and often situationally mute (though my God does he talk at home and with people he's comfortable with!)

Could be worth speaking to his teachers and thinking about getting an assessment - not least so that school might lay off a bit with creative writing assignments and offer some alternative ways of demonstrating knowledge and skills.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page