Do Autism smptoms increase with age?

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Ouellette on February 6, 2011 at 7:25am

Hello!

 

I also have an 8 yr. old and he has Asperger Syndrome.  We have noticed very similar things going on.  When I talked to his pediatrician she told me that is isn't uncommon for autism to "flare up" around the age of 7 or 8 and then again around 12 or 13.  I think it has something to do with hormones, combine that with growth spurts...both mental and physical...and you have some very frustrating and conflicting information coming at your child.  We are struggling with remaining patient, especially with some of the regressive behavior.  I try to remind myself, like you would with a toddler, that in time he will progress again.  Good luck, I will keep you in prayer!

Michelle O.

Permalink Reply by Amylisa C on March 2, 2011 at 11:05am

Thanks so much for your reply!  I only found it just now.

My son is 8 and so it sounds like this is not unusual then, that is good to know.  Yes we have been seeing some regressive behaviors too.

 

He had no seizure issues really, and it was determined that his problems were from his medicine dose being too high.  It was tough to decrease it as at each step down he'd have tantrums for a few days, then he would adjust.  Now his med. is back to where it used to be and he is his old self again, thankfully.

 

I know what you mean about struggling with being patient!  Thanks for your prayers and I'll remember you in mine too.

Permalink Reply by Annette Heidmann on July 8, 2011 at 6:20pm

I know I'm coming late to this conversation, but I just joined the group today and am happy to find you all.  Our son is 11 and was diagnosed about a year and a half ago with Asperger's.  We homeschool, so I have plenty of opportunity to observe his behavior and make connections between triggers and responses. 

 

I have often wondered the same things about his autism symptoms - whether they increase with age, whether they will just flare up and then subside after puberty, whether there is anything I can be doing in terms of controlling his environment and diet to manage things better. 

 

We have tried medication for his ADD, and are dissatisfied with the results of that regimen, so he is off the meds. 

 

His issues with food are never a matter over which he will throw tantrums or fight, but he simply doesn't eat if there isn't some kind of bread involved.

 

There's been an uptick in his stimming - bouncing, pacing, hand flapping - and I'm just assuming that is related to the beginnings of hormonal activity. 

 

He has more frequent flares of anger, and that's one that we are really trying to deal with him on, because while self control is extremely difficult, he has to learn that it's important, and learn ways to express himself that aren't destructive.  So hard! 

 

He continues to struggle with toileting issues, although I can see incremental improvements over the last few years as I've learned to see the signs and proactively direct his attention to attend to his bodily needs.  But sometimes it does feel like I'll be doing this forever... 

 

Anyway, from what others have said, these kinds of patterns are not too out of the ordinary for his age, so I am trusting the God will bring us all through to the other side.  But it's not an easy path to walk in the meantime.  I'm thankful to find some others here with whom to journey for a while.