autism - aggressive regression, please talk to me.

[dontbitemytoes]

Hello,

i am wondering if anyone can help me? dh and i are discussing and researching the MMR as our dd has now reached 12mo. we are pretty sure we are going to get the single vaccines, mainly because in the event that something untoward did happen following the MMR, i couldn't live with the guilt.

However, i would like to know about your experiences of aggressive regression just so i have all of the facts before me. My dd seems ok (but she is pfb, so i really have little experience) can walk, speak about 30 words, makes good eye contact and communicates very well. I don't say this to boast, just to indicate that she has no "markers" for ASD.

can you plese share your experiences with me? if your dc suffered from aggressive regression, were they developing ok before then? did they have any signs that they might be on the spectrum? and what caused the regression? Was it the MMR?

I really, really hope i havent offended anyone by asking this question, because i am aware it is a sensitive issue, i am only asking so i can have a good knowlege base upon which to make my decision.

TIA

My ds never regressed, he simply failed to develop as expected.

I would say that at 12mths, your dd is too young to have the MMR. It sounds as though you are very anxious about this jab, in which case I would delay it until yoru dd is over 2yrs old but of course, that is just my opinion. My ds never had the MMR.

thanks manny, i'm pretty sure we're not going to have it at all, i meant to say in my original post that dd has allergies and mild gut problems, and there is some, albeit high functioning, autism in my family so we're a bit more cautious than others i think

Just wanted all of the facts i guess so can make informed decision before we are "invited" by the surgery!

DS5 has never had the MMR. He is preDx Autistic, and had quite severe regression. Before regression however, there were definately 'signs' that all was not as it should be, but i didnt realise until AFTER his regression.

He only spoke about 4 words before regression at 12mths, but could sign them too - all in context. He could point and wave also, but that too was lost. He stopped all engagement thru regression and is only just starting to relate to people again. He regressed between 12mths (the start) and about 18mths.

From being newborn he was terrified of being moved too quickly, and we had to be extremely slow and careful when handling him. He was slow to sit unaided (at 10mths) and NEVER 'rolled over'. he was slower to walk (within our family) at 14mths (most in the family walk by 10/12mths). He had problems with milk tolerance and needed special milk. He still has food intolerances which seem to indicate the 'leaky gut' theory. Im sorry but neither me nor DH can remember what his eye-contact was like (perhaps it was OK then?) but its pretty poor now.

I have no idea what 'caused' the regression - i believe it was spontaneous, as he did not have head injury, epilepsy, MMR or other event. There are many of the family with ASD type Dx in both families.

DS2(5) regressed very slowly following his MMR at 16 months - at the beginning it wasn't so much a regression as a standing still, but then gradually he became much less outgoing, alert and sociable and developed autistic behaviours, like following the patterns on the carpet, laughing/crying for no obvious reason and being very hyper at night. He had gut issues and allergies from infancy, (and a huge number of antibiotics and steroids) but no obvious signs of autism apart from a dislike of going out! There are auto-immune conditions in my family (Crohns, asthma)and DS1(7) is an undiagnosed dyspraxic with some mild AS traits. Neither of them has had the booster and if I could go back in time I would have waited until DS2 was older and then given single jabs (his asthma,eczema and bowel problems have been almost cured by dietary intervention/supplements). I think you are wise to be cautious but asmumslife says, only you can make the decision.

My DS was autistic from conception ! What is meant by regression is complex. My DS has aquired skills in a delayed and disordered manner - not following a linear growth line but to my way of thinking he has never regressed. He stopped reading books quite abruptly at about 22 months but I didn't see it as regression - and he is back at the books now aged 4 1/2 !

thanks for all taking the time to reply to me, and for sharing your stories, some of which must have been difficult to talk about, but I really do appreciate it, and it certainly has given us lots to talk about and consider. Again, many thanks.

ooh busybeingmum- interesting....very similar family history to us- right down to the diabetes - was it type 1? Some research into type 1 diabetes is looking at the role of leaky gut combined with wheat and/or milk proteins. Sound familiar???

DS1 regressed shortly after a year old following a viral infection. He lost words and sounds. He said 'shh' this week for the first time in 8 years (last said it when he was 1). Maybe the consonants will come back but for the moment he only has vowel sounds.