Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
MichelleW

Sudden onset of ASD/anxiety symptoms

Recommended Posts

With J (DS1), I was probably not quite so aware of the signs at first. He had delayed speech, handflapping and anxiety, stimming, obsession with spinning things, bowel problems etc. but i can't recall there being a sudden onset of these symptoms, though I did think the speech regression came soon after the MMR and everything else emerged after that.

 

Now DS2 has delayed speech and obsession with cars/trains (lines cars up, spins wheels), lacks imaginative play but has always seemed more sociable and easy going than J. Up until now, I wouldn't have been able to say whether he was definitely ASD or not. However over the last week or so, DS2 has started to show signs of irrational fears and responses to noises that never used to upset him. It is now at the point where he is having several episodes every day and nursery have also noticed. He isn't copying his older brother as J doesn't react so badly as he used to. But DS2 is showing exactly the same responses that J did when he was 2-3 years old. As I haven't any experience with NT children, do NT toddlers display these typical ASD signs, and also is it usual for ASD children to show a sudden emergence of anxieties? Maybe I am just much more aware this time around!

Edited by MichelleW

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi

I have had similar panics with regards to my younger sons. I have 3 boys 7yrs(ASD) 4yrs & 3yrs both NT. At times I have been at my wits end thinking that they are exhibiting autistic behaviors. I think that they probably did show odd behaviour but then their role model was an elder brother with ASD. As they have mixed more with other kids then they have started to play like other kids. My youngest was probably the worst, he tries to behave in the same aggressive way that his brother does and also is very unreasonable. I put him into nursery twice a week and it has helped a lot. If you are at all worried speak to your health visitor, mine put my mind at rest and did take my concerns seriously and we worked through them. I did find that I had started to look at what is normal behaviour for a toddler and read into it, even NT 3yr olds are odd at times!!!

I hope that helps a little

Loupin x

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't think ASD can emerge suddenly, however symptoms can becoming apparent relatively suddenly as children reach certain developmental milestones. I myself still have doubts about DS2. He was much slower to speak than DS1, and even when he did no-one other than his twin could understand him, he lines things up, can become obsessive, has issues with grooming, adores maths and hounds me to brings maths sheets home from school (he's doing one in bed at the moment :huh:) - but he's such a sociable wee boy (although he can say and do some really inappropriate things!)

DD is undeniably NT, and when I compare her to the boys - it's like night and day! But she did show some irrational fears as a toddler too, not for noises though. As Loupin says, NTs can be odd as well.

It's difficult, especially with ASD having a genetic link, not to try to find things with other children in the family. Some days I'm convinced DS2 has AS, some days I'm amazed I ever thought it. Perhaps I should just content myself with him having "ASD traits" - because at the moment he's not having any problems as a result of these. Tony Attwood quote: "It only becomes a syndrome when it impairs quality of life".

Hope this helps a bit.....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks

 

I am seeing the health visitor this week and am waiting for an appointment from the ASD specialist Pead. I can't put the little ones behaviour down to copying his brother as DS1 is very good now with most things (covers ears with hands when there is a noise etc), and DS2 has been going to nursery 5 days a week since the beginning of the year, so has been mixing with other NT children. He has also been reacting badly to changes in the nursery environment. He does seem to be completely different to all NT children that I have seen so far. Time will tell I guess :unsure: In the mean time I'm just going to try to avoid obvious triggers and keep making notes for when I get to see the paed.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

"Tony Attwood quote: "It only becomes a syndrome when it impairs quality of life"."

 

It's certainly impairing my quality of life!!!! I can't go shopping, put petrol in the car, go outside if it's raining or windy or get the hoover out now! And roadworks are a mojor problem now! :wallbash:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ummm it sort of can appear suddenly!

My dd had already been dx with cerebral palsy but was very bright and no obvious signs of asd (though can see things with hindsight) but the summer she was 33-36 months we thought she was going mad! She changed her behaviour, lost skills etc and it has been recognised formal by the paed that she underwent a period of regression. (she was dx with epilepsy at this time so that may explain a sudden change) Since then she is more obviously ASD as she grows older and you compare her with her peers.

 

A x

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My eldest dd whos 6 had delayed speech and was unclear she had behaviours patterns and sensory issues too but i didnt link it all together untill a yr ago when she started school and now in a slow process to investigate ASD.

When my 2nd dd was 11months i noticed alot of simularities with her sister this continued for a yr and was referred to SLT when she was 2 to start with the SLT wasnt totally convinced and we attended a 6 week play session with the SLT who was filming us playing i also discussed routines and sensory issues and was then referred to a pead. My dd is now 3yr and the SLT knows her very well and suspects dd has a communication or language disorder which is great but the pead who has only met her twice isnt concerned enough to investigate but i havent seem her since the SLT sent a detailed observation of her at nursery outlining concerns.

Im not sure if the pead plans to see dd again as she was planning on discharging her, but i have other options to try now and wont let the pead views upset me further.

I feel quite knowledgable now on observing my dd development but its when they are assessed by proffessionals who only get a snapshot view that causes the problems.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You say your little one is more social, but is he playing with the other children or just alongside them? Another clever one is looking at a point over a erson rather than at them(looks as though they are looking at them). My son likes certain company and will talk to anyone who shows and intelligent interest in scince, nature or history. These social interactions tend to be a bit one sided though as once B gets going there is no stopping him :rolleyes:

 

I think different 'symptons' of ASD show up at different stages of life. When he was a baby he liked to be left alone, hated his pram(loved pushchair) and chatted away. At about 2yrs old he stopped talking and eating. His behaviour took a nose dive(I know common at that age but, as he is youngest of 4, I could see a difference) and he would scream when taken to certain places. His speech came back when he diecided he could do it properly and, as he has got older, he is able to explain more how he feels. He now only dores something when he feels he is able to do it to perfection :wallbash:

 

Bets thing to do is follow what your heart is telling you.

Keep smilin

Elly

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

well, today I picked him up from nursery and it seems he had another few episodes to today. He now appears to have developed a fear of the toy hoover which he has played with loads before. Nursery staff seemed to think it was the noise. What is strange is that J (DS1) went through exactly the same thing : first hoover, toy hoover, aeroplanes in the sky, rain, wind. J is still scared of flying insects. Little one was petrified of a leaf blowing in the wind last week, and trees blowing in the wind the other day! He is scared of the sight of mopeds/motorbikes again I think it is down to the noise. Now DS1 has hypersensitive hearing and sight so he also wears sunglasses a lot, but sudden noises such as police/ambulance sirens can upset him if they are turned on suddenly nearby.

 

When I say little one is more sociable, I mean towards me, J, his father and other adults. He can be very cuddly when he wants, and loves kisses. However when with children his own age, he plays alongside them as far as I can tell. Though nursery have commented on the fact that he likes to go off and be by himself or his cars. He is the first one to get up during story time and heads straight for his cars. I think the only time he interacts is during outside play when they are in sit-in cars/trikes etc. He loves to play bump-a-car!!!

 

I understand how frustrating it can be trying to get a paeditrician to take any notice. I knew J was autistic at 2ish. When he was nearly 3 I was told he couldn't possibly be autistic because he gave eye contact that day! :wallbash: At 4 he was diagniosed AS and at 6 diagniosed moderate autism.

 

When DS2 starts flapping like a bird, then I'll know for sure! :) Couldn't find a birdie emoticon!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
Sign in to follow this  

×
×
  • Create New...