Hi,
I have a 4 1/2 year old boy who is a real sweetie. He has a mix of issues - has EDS hypermobility and struggles to walk long distances. He also has some sensory issues - disliking bright lights, loud noises, being spun or tipped, busy places etc. I have filled out a sensory processing form with his OT but don't yet know how they scored him.
We home educate so he isn't in school but we are active and go to groups with other children every day.
He will regularly freak out in the supermarket if I move too far from the trolley (even if Daddy is stood right by him), he will sit on the floor and refuse to walk if we are trying to get anywhere without the buggy and will demand to be in the buggy on days out anywhere crowded. All these things I guess could be simply down to sensory issues
He is chatty with adults we know and also much older children who direct his play, he doesn't however have any real friends his own age. When children he doesn't know try to talk to him he often ignores them. Today he spent most of the time playing on the trampoline on his own kicking footballs around while the others children we were with (including the toddler) played together in the play house. I can't work out with him if its his sensory and mobility issues that are getting in the way or if he is having social issues too (these are children he will play with some of the time and would be classed as 'friends' if I ask him). He never asks to see friends and plays by himself in the park etc too. Today I took the kids to a workshop thing at pets at home and he wouldn't stroke the animals or even get off my knee and was stressed out by all the people but then ran around the very crowded park after quite happily.
He spends a lot of time rolling balls or marbles around the floor, spinning things etc. Not excessively or all the time, but enough that it makes me wonder! Marbles are still his favourite toy and have been since he was 2. He doesn't really play, struggles to entertain himself and still doesn't sleep through the night. Hand driers don't bother him despite the noise but instead he always stands underneath them so they blow his hair. He has wild feral child hair as I am not allowed to brush or cut it (and when I do brush it he is really sensitive). He has no pain tolerance and cries like he broke something every time he is hurt (which is often due to his hypermobility). He is pretty good with emotions though and is very good at comforting people and being helpful etc. He makes good eye contact too and is pretty bright (knows his alphabet, reads cvc words, good with numbers). He has speech issues though (clarity) and definite processing issue too (he struggles to find the words he wants to use so often talks in a stop start fashion rather than fluid).
I am going to chat to his OT and see if it may be worth assessing him for aspergers but was curious as to what others think. Its hard with him to know what is due to the sensory stuff that is common with EDS.