Problems with Pink

[Nikkih]

Hi,

 

Just wondering if anyone else has any experience of this or any advice on how to get over it.

 

Our son is 10 years old and has AS diagnosed when he was 3 and a half. Over the years he has had many funny things that he couldnt cope with e.g. broken biscuits, turning round when we went for a walk, a crease in his yoghurt pot among many others. But he has managed to get over all of these. The only major problems that remain are a fear of high ceilings, which is getting better and a severe dislike of anything pink or girly when he's eating.

 

He cant eat at all if there is anything pink or girly within his vision and if he has a mouthful and spots something, he will then spit it out and sometimes be sick. This is impacting majorly on our lives as we have major problems eating out with him (apart from him being a fussy eater also), going on holiday, going to other peoples houses etc. In school he was eating his lunch in the classroom on his own but now sits in the dinner hall on the teachers table facing away from everyone else.

 

I'm getting increasingly concerned about this as it seems to have been there for as long as I can remember and he is going to secondary school next year where I'm sure it is going to create even more problems for him.

 

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

 

thanks

 

Nikki

[Suze]

Would he wear tinted glasses when he eats?...........it sounds like a sensory thing .

[smiley]

Hi Nikki,

 

My son (7, AS) has huge sensory difficulties. Amongst them is synaesthesia, which is where his senses 'overlap', for want of a better word! I did wonder whilst i was reading your post, if that is what is causing your son to have problems with certain colours...... My son couldn't tolerate orangy colours for years - resulting in some very embarrassing moments with relatives with orange tops on.....

 

Here's some info..

 

Synaesthesia UK

 

 

xx

[Nikkih]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Does anyone have any info on where i could get a pair of tinted glasses for him to try?

[Stephanie]

My son used to hate orange - he would go crazy if his brother was wearing orange or eating out of an orange bowl. Then he had an obsession with the colour blue. Both have now gone. He still won't eat a broken biscuit or a broken pringle though and if his sock has a hole in ... don't go there! That's kids for you.

 

I didn't realise the association with colours until I read "The Curious Incident ...." about how they trigger emotions. I have also heard about kids eating food of only one colour - usually white or brown.

 

I spoke with my Paed who referred me to the Community Nursing team about the colour thing. We cured the orange thing by letting my other son (only a baby at the time) wear a tiny bit of orange (like a bit of piping on his sleeve), then we would talk to my ASD son and say "is that ok if he wears a tiny tiny bit of orange" .... we kept building up and building up gradually until he was ok with it. I also bought two orange plates and made them eat together (he likes to have the same things or wear the same clothes as his brother). Then we would go out together and look for orange things and when he found 20 he would get some sweets (which then made him see orange as a good thing because he associated it with a nice thing - a treat).

 

Do you know what it is about the colour pink? Certain shades of pink? Is it the association with femininity or does it start an emotional reaction of some sort? My son doesn't like pink but only because he sees it "for girls".

 

Could it just be an obsession - that he purposely has to look for pink so he can react to it?

 

I did a post about this a while back if you wanted to do a search as I got some good advice at the time.

[Stephanie]

I know Ian Jordan might be able to give you advice on the tinted glasses if you wanted the special ones. You can PM him on here or type a message.

 

I don't know if trying sunglasses would work in the short term??

[Nikkih]

Thanks Stephanie,

 

He is ok with pink if he isnt eating at the time. And the worst shades are definately 'Barbie' pink. He doesnt like girly things either like kiddies jewelry or sparkly hair clips, he cant eat if he sees these. I dont know what it is but he just chokes and spits his food out and then wont touch it again.

 

I will do a search now to find your earlier post.

[smiley]

Hello

 

Forgot to mention - an excellent book that covers just about all things sensory.....

 

'Sensory Perceptual Issues in Autism and Aspergers Syndrome. Olga Bogdashina'

 

You may be able to borrow it from your Library.

[Gordie]

I don't have a problem with Pink ... ... I think she's quite good actually.

 

(Sorry! The pedant strikes again! )

 

James

[bid]

Oh wow...long time no see, Gordie!

 

How's you?

 

Bid

Edited January 27, 2007 by bid

[peppa]

DD is 3.5 Suspected A.S. In the last few weeks she has started asking what colour everything is. She asks what colour odd things are such as the weather or a person, what colour hungry is etc. Also things like what colour her food will be or the building, such as school or nanas house or anywhere else we are going.

I wondered if it was relevant to A.S and what it may indicate.

Can often lead to a meltdown if a satisfactory answer isn't given, so was wondering if it may be a sensory issue? Always had a preference for blue, doesnt seem to like green clothes, can become quite anxious.

 

Not sure how to dechipher what this means for her, if anything, but reading this thread it seemed to relate. If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreiciated, thanks, peppa.

[Devon mum]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Does anyone have any info on where i could get a pair of tinted glasses for him to try?

Maybe make enquiries at your optician.

 

I got tinted glasses for my eldest to help with his dyslexia from an optician.

My optician referred us to another one who specialise in this test, it's very interesting.

 

They were not cheap, the test cost �40 altogether, frames extra!

But they come with a medical card which states they are not cosmetic.