this is a new one on me........

[PeachyClairPumpkinPie]

DS1 had his Paeds appointment today BUt we missed it- DH had a job interview, said it couldn't be until Monday (paeds appt plus worked alst night) but they said he had the job, just formality, but ahd to be today as MD in towwn. So we discussed and he went as regular hours will help Sam A LOT (dh works shifts). He didn't get the job. Only thing that was different? Dh mentioned Sam had Aspergers. MD started throwing pencils at the wall and yawning at that moment. Grrrr. And we can't an appointment with paeds (said he was sick ) until end December now. SHOULD ADD, DH GETTING SAM SUITED HOURS WAS ONLY REASON BEHIND JOB CHANGE SO NOT SHORT CHANGING SAM IN ANY WAY!!!! No extra pay or anything.

Anyway. not what message is about- sorry!!!!

Sam has started an intriguing new thing I thought Aspergers didn't do? Every time he watches Holby , or sees a small child on the news he doesn't just say awww like Stirling, he screams and wails 'poor baby' repeatedly, getting very distressed. Even a baby at school having a tantrum can set this off.

Childminder (also has Aspergers son but older) says this means Sam might not be diagnosed right, but I'm not sure- it's way inappropriate behaviour, totally extreme.

Anyone????

Ds2 is younger than Sam but the pre-school staff have commented several times now about how upset ds2 gets when he sees other children get upset. He gets distressed and repeats "Baby crying!" "Baby crying!" (he calls any child under about 5 "baby"). He only calms down if the staff distract him and take him elsewhere. The staff say that no other child does this so I don't know whether it's 'normal' or part of ASD somehow.

Meant to add that I'm sorry your dh didn't get the job he wanted.

Thanks Coppertop, don't think he wanted it particularly tbh as this is first secure job he's had in ages, felt he had to go for it for Sam.

it's a strange thing isn't it? it goes against the symptoms we are given to expect, yet it's deffo not 'right' when Sam does it. He really is distressed, very upsetting to witness.

I find it confusing too. At first I thought it was the noise that upset him but I'm not sure that it is. It's as if ds2 is somehow showing too much empathy in these situations but none at all in any other situations. It's very strange.

That's exactly how I described it to childminder.. too much empathy. I know SN kids often identify with younger kids well, but it's strange that Sam is so oblivious to everyone elses needs yet if it's a littley......

He baby spots when he's on the carnival float too.

That sounds like ds2 too. He doesn't care in the slightest if it's an adult or even an older child but goes to pieces if it's a baby/toddler/pre-schooler.

does he like noises??
could it be that he doesn't like the pitch of their cry...

just a thought

Could be sensory issues related to the noise plus an extreme emotional reaction iyswim. My AS sister is quite emotional in a disorered/inappropriate way, she gets very attached to one person and talks about them non-stop, knows everything about them etc and the next thing you know she's forgotten about them!

I don't think it's the noises, he is vary watchful and sensitive to babies generally.

Davros- that sounds like Sam, he latches onto pne child even though they rarely even notice he exists!

So I actually think its quite a typical AS behaviour although, as its extreme, someone else might display quite the opposite but also inappropriately/disordered.

Peachy - if he was verbally offered the job, they can't rescind!
Very, very dodgy!

Would you want to work for them though (although if you saw my post on employment earlier, anyone in that blinkin industry?)

Thanks for the ideas guys. I thought it was within AS, I will relay to childminder who is as intrigued by all this as I.