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Original poster

Right I had a very insightful appt today and wonder how many of these are common for Aspergers children?

37 replies

TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2011 23:33

These are the things DS1 does and I have been told they are common for Aspergers children.

Eating fast

Not washing/showering/bathing

Stripping bed

Wearing same clothes day in day out

Late to ride a bike

Chewing knuckles/pens/nails.

These are a few of the things DS does and I am curious as to whether they are as common as I was told they are.

I have been told most are down to his sensory issues. I don't understand how the bike riding is, unless it is down to the sensation of both feet off the ground???

OP posts:
zzzzz · 19/07/2011 23:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coff33pot · 19/07/2011 23:52

UMMMM well my DS (poss AS) eats quick yess but he loves food full stop. But some AS children I know are very picky on their food. He cant ride a bike without stabilisers but can whizz around on a two wheel scooter with both his feet on the platform. He loves bathtime and not afraid of water BUT!! hates the sensation of soap or cream on his face/skin. Dont know about wearing same clothes as I cant get him to keep any on Grin

LauraIngallsWilder · 19/07/2011 23:53

Hi TLE
My ds is 9 with a dx os aspergers
he eats fast
hates washing
finally learnt to ride bike last year (but still terrified by going downhill)
Used to suck his hand, more recently it has been fingers in his mouth.
Current problem is spitting out food that he feels has been in his mouth too long.
Obsessed with travel books, london underground, maps and learning about everything else that he can find a book on.
Very quick to anger and often rude and ungrateful.

He is a lovely boy but also hard to live with!!

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2011 23:53

lol I am still learning!!

I just found it very interesting.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2011 23:57

he eats fast - always has done

hates washing - see above

finally learnt to ride bike last year (but still terrified by going downhill) - was 9yrs old

Used to suck his hand, more recently it has been fingers in his mouth. - knuckles are tasty it seems
Current problem is spitting out food that he feels has been in his mouth too long. - been there done that now eats like food is going out of fashion.

Obsessed with travel books, london underground, maps and learning about everything else that he can find a book on. - used to love watching the news/documentries to gather information. As well as reading from an early age

Very quick to anger and often rude and ungrateful. - you sre you haven't got DS1?

OP posts:
LauraIngallsWilder · 20/07/2011 00:01

For ds the bike difficulty was due to not much strength in his legs, lack of confidence (fear of crashing) and the sensation of travelling 'through the air' -the air pressure feeling on his skin iyswim. Also coordination issue - getting his limbs to work as a team.
He finally managed through determination as he didn't want our new neighbours to laugh at him- he told me to go away and demanded to figure it out for himself - after 4 years of trying, it took him 3 hours!!

Dd aged 6 needed less than 10 minutes :)

LauraIngallsWilder · 20/07/2011 00:10

Ooh TLE you freaked ne out then as I saw my words in your post and thought I had morphed into you :o
I know several kids who are sooo similar to my ds and yours -but their parents are still wondering if they have a'spirited child' - it drives me nuts

The most interesting comment ourspecialist ever said was "if a child is demonstrating autistic traits the defining diff between a dx of autism and aspergers is whether they were fluent talkers before the age of 2"

Ds taught himself to read English aged 4 (school was teaching a different language)
We are now celebrating our 2 year Home Ed birthday :)

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 20/07/2011 00:17

Laura ooppss didn't mean to freak you there!!

DS1 was 2.5 and reading/writing. He Spoke VERY early. I kid you not when I say he spoke his first sentence age 10m. He is now approaching 13.

I have to say I worried when DS2 who is coming up to 4yrs wasn't talking at the same age.

OP posts:
streakybacon · 20/07/2011 07:20

None of those things apply to my son with Aspergers. Unfortunately some professionals work to stereotypes and convince themselves that they apply to all children with AS, but that's not the case. They're all different.

LauraIngallsWilder · 20/07/2011 08:16

Streaky - Exactly!
I was thinking that, my ds largely fits what TLE was told but huge assumption to think all do - mine is hugely aggressive and arrogant but my friends child is extremely timid and polite! Personality differences obviously involved too.

Isn't there a hyper/hypo? word to explain things (am stuck away from home using only iPod for Internet so can't remember!)

oddgirl · 20/07/2011 08:16

Talking of stereotypes-someone asked me yesterday if DS was "one of those passive ones or an aggressive one"...er no...he is actually a human being...

However DS is a speedy eater and mouth stuffs (low sensation in mouth) and has only just cracked how to pedal a bike (with stabilisers). He is 6. He chews everything. But loves baths and water in general and changes clothes without trouble. I think it depends what sensory needs they have. DS is primarily sensory seeking-the louder, the harder, the bouncier...the better!

Ben10isthespawnofthedevil · 20/07/2011 08:30

You sound a bit happier TLE.

So based on the "speaking fluently before 2" as DS didn't start talking until 2, if we get a dx, it will be HFA rather than AS?

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 20/07/2011 09:34

Although these things are what DS does I felt it was a big assumption hence asking how common they were. Grin

OP posts:
penneyann · 21/07/2011 22:31

Ben10..., my ds didnt speak till 3 and he has a definite dx of AS. He's 11 now. But I do think that they are all different-my ds had no problems learning to ride a bike, no probs with showers etc. but is suddenly develpoing anxiety issues out of blue. His dx is of mild AS.

ArthurPewty · 21/07/2011 22:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ouryve · 21/07/2011 22:45

Neither DS1 nor DS2 (both ASD) can ride a bike (DS2 won't even sit on one) and both chew all sorts. DS2 is a chronic nail biter - when he runs out of finger nails, the socks come off and he starts on his toes

Mitmoo · 21/07/2011 22:47

&yesThese are the things DS1 does and I have been told they are common for Aspergers children.

Eating fast

Yes and making a mess.

Not washing/showering/bathing

Yes needs loads of nagging.

Stripping bed

Messes it up doesn't strip it.

Wearing same clothes day in day out

Yes and no would write paragraphs to expand.

Late to ride a bike

yes

Chewing knuckles/pens/nails.

These are a few of the things DS does and I am curious as to whether they are as common as I was told they are.

I have been told most are down to his sensory issues. I don't understand how the bike riding is, unless it is down to the sensation of both feet off the ground???

Ben10isthespawnofthedevil · 22/07/2011 07:17

penneyann Thank you. All of DS's anxieties are sensory - can't bear the though of bike riding (gravitional insecurity), swimming, noises, smells, tactile etc.

He eats very slowly but so messily Grin

MissKittyEliza · 22/07/2011 08:08

Hmmmm... Just shows how different Aspies can be.....

Ds obsessed with being clean/washing/having clean clothes.

Could ride a bike WITHOUT stabilisers by age 4.

Only eats if he has to. Slow and needs prompting.

Yes, to obsessions though.....space/planets/relative size of things.

Confused
Tiggles · 22/07/2011 08:33

Eating fast
Nope, eats very, very slowly - he used to eat slowly until he started school where they were told "eat slowly or you will choke" once he had that rule, arghhhhh!

Not washing/showering/bathing
would prefer not to, not good on transitions so doesn't like getting in shower, but equally once in hard to get him out.

Stripping bed
Forever taking the duvet cover off the duvet

Wearing same clothes day in day out
Yep

Late to ride a bike
Yep, although once he decided he was going to learn he was riding by the end of the afternoon.

Chewing knuckles/pens/nails.
Chews nails, although always chewing paper.

BiddyPop · 10/05/2012 15:47

I was rooting around in older threads and came across this one. Strangely, most of the original list are the opposite to us (recently got AS and ADHD dx), as DD eats well but slowly, likes baths and LOVES showers (although we'd have to mention it first - she rarely suggests it herself), wants clean clothes every day (but it almost HAS to be a tracksuit, occasionally will tolerate jeans and very very rarely accepts a skirt/dress), has been cycling without stabilisers since she was 4, and unlike her mother, only occasionally sucks her thimb.

However, it has also made me realise that, while she doesn't strip the bed on a daily basis, perhaps there is a reason why I am regularly met with a stripped bed and mattress at the door when she is feeling cross. Not usually around sleep issues, more around anger issues.

nothinginthefridge · 10/05/2012 15:59

ben10 Love the name change Grin

SilkStalkings · 10/05/2012 16:03

Eats fast - a bit but eats anything so unlike your typical Asperger actually.
Clothes - DS1 would wear his primark snugglesuit all day everyday if he could.
Stripping bed - never heard of that one.
Bike - None of my kids can ride Blush so not his fault. I would have thought it was just parents of Aspergers kids have other things on their mind than arguing about bikes and having to lug them home again(that's my excuse anyway.)
Chewing things - no.

My DS1 is addicted to pipecleaners. I am happy to indulge because they fit in his pockets and cost penniesGrin. Life could be so much worse.

DameHermione · 10/05/2012 16:28

not really

eats slowly (her randomly restricted diet)
Clothes - likes certain things but not too bad.
never stripped bed (not even when I nag her to wash it)
Bike - got on DD1s at about 3 and peddled away
Chewing things - no, but may be due to ber weird taste/texture things.

Triggles · 10/05/2012 16:34

Let's see...

eats fast - nope, eats loads of little things frequently, but has to constantly be redirected back to eating and takes him ages to eat

Not washing/showering/bathing - loves to have a bath. Hates showering. Not fussed about washing except his hair - doesn't like that.

Stripping bed - duvet spends half its time on the floor.

Wearing same clothes day in day out - he has particular favourites, mostly things with no tags and that are soft to the touich

Late to ride a bike - yep. Still struggling and can't quite get it yet

Chewing knuckles/pens/nails - nope.

I'm sure there are loads of different things like this a lot of SNs children have in common. DS2 has loads of sensory issues, so lot of odd quirks that make us Hmm