Hi, ds is 6 and has high functioning autism. He's just getting over pnuemonia and it was during the last couple of weeks of him being ill and seeing various doctors that I realised just how hard he finds it to explain how he feels physically. He's otherwise pretty articulate so it's not about finding the right words - it's about how he senses and experiences pain.
I'm just wondering now how common this is with children on the spectrum, and if there's anything that anyone can recommend to help him.
I think he definitely feels pain, eg he will cry if he bangs himself or falls (although I guess that might be from shock as well) but has never told me his throat or his ear hurts, for example. He has lots of digestive issues and will sometimes (but not often) tell me his tummy "feels funny". If I ask him if it hurts or where it feels funny, he will squirm and say he can't explain.
I began to think this could end up being pretty dangerous - eg if a diagnosis was missed because we weren't aware how he was feeling. Made me realise I need to warn docs to check everything ( as I guess they do with babies).
I'm wondering whether some kind of occupational therapy might help - sensory integration stuff. Does anyone have experience?
Thanks so much