Does your AS child develop like this?

[creatovator]

Up until last week my DS aged 10 yrs, dx AS, was doing really well and generally developing. Last week, he seemed to regress in many ways, was having more sensory issues, behaving more immaturely, having more meltdowns, being more rigid, going back to watching CBeebies, not responding as well, being more clumsy and unaware of things. He was also a bit pale and I wondered at times if he was coming down with something. Yet there were glimpses of more maturity coming.

On Monday, instead of having a meltdown, he said, "Leave me alone I'm in a bad mood!" as he went into his bedroom and slammed the door. He was also able to tell his teacher he was feeling tired and grumpy. Today as he got ready for school he was much more communicative, co-ordinated and in control. I'm hoping that we're now going to be seeing the results of whatever was going on over the past week and a half.

I was beginning to get a bit worried, but would love to know if this is a common pattern. We've seen something similar with DS before, just not quite so pronounced as this time. Is this going to keep happening as he becomes a teenager?

Sorry for the long post!

Hiya-I have a 6 year old so not quite the same thing but I do know exactly what you mean about sensing something else is going on when behaviour deteriorates. We get very similar regressions when DS is either getting a virus or if he is having a developmental leap and after a week or so of thinking that his autism has just grabbed him by the neck and taken hold, the symptoms disappear to be followed by a) a cold/viral infection or b) a developmental leap. It totally fascinates me...I am pretty sure if you add hormones into the equation you will see the sort of stuff that you are experiencing...not much use to you but can really empathise...

Thanks oddgirl. That's reassuring. I've seen it before with DS, but it always gets me concerned when we're going through it. I'm never sure what to expect.

Yes, this happens with my NT child as well as my spectrummy child. More pronounced with my spectrummy child though. it is fascinating isn't it?

I am pretty sure it must be that the neurones are just not firing properly when they are blocked by something else whether that be a hormone surge or a viral infection. And I think IsabelO is right-pretty sure all children experience this its just that spectrum children rely more on proper functioning neural messaging and they just cant cope when these are impeded in some way. An NT child probably just feels out of sorts and has enough compensating mechanisms to minimise the total collapse experienced by many ASD/AS children.
I would LOVE to get inside DS head to have a good old look at whats going on in there...!

Yes, very fascinating. I want to know what's going on! Is it his hormones, his brain, a bit of everything? Are there any EP's out there who can shed some light?

DD (although she's only 4.7yrs) certainly deteriorates when she's coming down with something - and unfortunately for her, she gets a lot of URT infections.

We've had it explained that due to sensory disorder, any pain or 'adverse' feeling hightens other sensations and throws them all out of kilter.

DD has a heavy cold right now, but describes it physically as a tummy ache, she has even points to it, but is eating and going to the toilet as normal
I understand the throat and stomach are closely connected when it comes to pain, she was on the verge of being hospitalised a few months ago due to unexplained pain in her abdomen - turns out she had an ear infection

It is irritating fascinating

x posted Oddgirl. Think you're right about the coping mechanisms. DD who is NT aged 8 is also a bit more stroppy just now, but is growing like a weed and we're seeing a bit more maturity in her in other ways. Both at once is quite a lot .

x posted again! Jane thanks and glad your DD wasn't hospitalised!