Onset of sensory issues in ASD

[sc13]

I have (yet another) question for MNetters out there with experience of ASD. My DS (3) is waiting for assessment; there are both speech/language and social skills problems.
But he does not seem to have sensory issues that I can see or infer - so far. My question is, can sensory issues manifest later in an ASD child, or would they have been evident by now?
Thank you!

It's hard to say - DS1 had some minor sensory issues (hair/shoes/lawnmowers) as a toddler (now resolved) but at the time we did not really notice them or think they were odd. He does not really have any now (almost 5) but he is hyperactive at times which I think is a form of seeking sensory input. He also loves tearing up paper which I think is sensory related.

Can only speak from my experience of my DS1 who is 3.5. A year ago there were no majory sensory issues but there definitely are now. He has become hugely sensitive to noise, I have huge difficulties getting him to wear new things, his diet is more restricted (he was always on the fussy side but now it is more extreme). It's almost as if the language issues have decreased (his speech is quite good now although his receptive lags behind) and the sensory stuff has heightened but that's just a personal pov. Could also just be his age!

The noise sensitivity is only in the last month, the clothing is more like 6 months and food has been on the decline since he was 2.

He started toe-walking a few months ago but this has now stopped, I think the toe-walking came from his love on playing with things up high whereas now he prefers laying down to play.

I meant we did notice them but not in a worried way.

Hi SC13, DS2'S Sensory difficulties have always been very evident from a very young age.
Sometimes sensory overload can effect social skills. DS2 has huge sensory problems generally but his social skills are reasonable on a 1 to 1 basis but group situations he cannot cope with.
What I am trying to say is sensory problems manifest themselves in many different ways & a part of social difficulties may eb the sensory element.
Its not always about obvious noise & texture etc.

also waiting for assessment. ds's sensory seeking issues seem to come and go. his repetitive speech always seems to be to be a form of sensory stimulation and he goes through phases of chewing his clothes constantly (hasn't done this for a few weeks), pushing his head along the floor (mainly when tired). not sure what the other triggers are or why a phase comes to an end.

hi there, I have wondered the same. No dx but have suspected a lang disorder or HFA and have been on high alert for sensory issues. ds1 (now 3.7) has only very mild sensory sensitivities that I can pick up - no issues with anything he wears or eats, no problems with loud noises.

However, since about 3.3 he's occasionally put his hands over his ears (when being told off or during certain tv programems) and he's always really liked rough and tumble play. He tends to scramble over us quite a lot and I wonder if that's sensory seeking behaviour.

I mentioned my concerns to the paed and he said there was nothing which would suggest a sensory processing problem, he even took us off the OT wait list..

Come to think of it, ds does like to play with objects at eye level quite often, or lie down beside them which could be another one..

oh yes, forgot about that one. and hair twirling. at his peak he made his hair into dreadlocks.

DS2 didn't appear noise sensitive at all (just the opposite in fact) until he was over 3. He could also tolerate things like hair cutting and teeth brushing quite well, and that got worse as he got older, as did his stimming. The good news is that with sensory integration therapy he is much less sensitive to things again now (he's 6), although he still stims quite a lot at times.

I have a bit of a theory about this though (probably only relevant to DS2!) He was a very very passive toddler, and also quite aloof - we had to work very hard to 'bring him into the world', iyswim.He then became much more interactive and social - but it was almost as if, in doing so, his sensory awareness was heightened and this brought some difficulties - greater sensitivities and stims. But I would rather have the more alert DS any day

Thanks for all your answers - it looks like the jury's still out on this one . Just more evidence that the spectrum covers a huge variety of issues and behaviours.
Good that there is sensory integration therapy, though - will find out more about that, just in case.