Re: Puberty and Regression

[Guest guest]

Welcome Vicky. As far as her behaviors, some of it could be puberty. As

far as bedwetting, you can rule out medical issues first to see why all of a

sudden she's not staying dry anymore. Emotional issues/lability is probably

hormonal. She's pretty young at 10, though. It wouldn't hurt to take her

to an endocrinologist or peds OB to get her checked out. My daughter is 16

& I have also seen some regression, more behaviorally though & not

physical. She's tolerated having her period & gets thru it OK & she's able

to tell us when she has cramps, backache, heacaches but doesn't understand

the emotional component of it. Even other times outside her period, she's

more whiny & irritable & touchy it seems & I hate that part too. Sometimes

makes me think it's food infractions, but lots of other times she gets that

way even without any infractions that we know of. I think to ease your

mind, rule out physicall issues & it might make it more clear whether it's

" just " puberty or not.

Marie

> Hello.

>

> I am new here. I belong to another yahoo group called PREACCH

> (Parents Raising nd Educating Autistic Children in Christian Homes.)

>

> Someone on that group suggested I join this group to have some of my

> questions answered.

>

> I have heard from others that many kids on the spectrum who are going

> through puberty tend to regress. My daughter (age 10) is going

> through puberty now. In the past few months, she has regressed quite

> a bit in many different ways. For one thing, she is not staying dry

> anymore and I have had to revert back to using the musical sensor to

> help her remember to go to the bathroom. Her obsessions have also

> gotten worse, and she cries at anything and everything. Even in her

> schoolwork, I feel as if she has some sort of brain block or

> something.

>

> I'm totally at a loss of what to do. Is this something I just have to

> wait out? Or, is there something I can do to help her?

>

> How long will this last? I am normally a very patient person. But, I

> am losing my patience with her more and more. I hate that. I guess

> I'm just having a hard time trying to figure out if her behaviors are

> something she can't really control, or if she is just being stubborn.

>

> Does anyone have any idea as to why puberty makes things worse for

> these kids?

>

> Thanks,

> Vicky in IL

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> Autism_in_Girls-subscribe

> ------------------------

> Autism_in_Girls-unsubscribe@...! Groups Links

>

>

>

>

--

Marie A.

[Guest guest]

If she's not staying dry in her genitals, have you considered giving

her thin pads to wear? It might help her feel dryer & safer. Not that

I think shots cause autism in every case, but at her age, has she

received a vaccine lately? They were trying to get me to get my then

10-yr old some sort, I can't remember which.

Allie had begun going through puberty about a year ago, we did not see

any regressions from her, but she is now on lupron which will prevent

menstrual cycles until we stop. She did do cognitively better

instantly with the injections, so I don't know if there was a

regression we had not recognized or if time would have brought it.

Have you considered any biomed treatments? Had any labs drawn? Is she

taking mb-12 shots, folate, etc?

Debi

-

[Guest guest]

ALL kids autistic or not struggle with puberty but it seems more

intense when it comes to autism because of the many barriers there are

for communication/language and emotional/social development being so

uneven and that the awareness of the sudden physical changes to our

bodies and our peers bodies and the hormones causes of such moods in us

and we cant express it but even NT teens rebell and lash out with

defiant sorts of words and or as some call sassy mouths and most pass

this off as they are of teens and since we may lack of the ability to

use words consistently ours may come out as unwanted behaviors instead.

For self always find self into a state of regressive like behaviors

when the brain is of being consumed with an unaware areas of growth it

is of like the brain is of compensating by shutting down other parts to

allow of room for growth else where.

sondra adult with autism spectrum in the state of ohio

[Guest guest]

Good point Sondra,

I taught 8th graders for 14 years, and saw them do things you wouldn't

believe. Sometimes they'll break your heart. They're all so vulnerable then,

and

they'll do anything to fit in and be liked. I remember one girl who

admitted to me she was deliberately throwing her grades because " Boys don't

like you

if you're too smart. " [No parent or teacher is going to get her to

understand that the boys who feel that way aren't worth having!]

I'd never be able to count the number of times I'd call to talk to parents,

and they would tell me that they didn't know what to do with their daughters

any more either. How much more are our daughters going to act out in

response to the feelings brought on by their hormones, when the NT girls can't

handle them any better than that?

Sandi

In a message dated 12/30/2008 7:03:39 P.M. Central Standard Time,

hfa2@... writes:

even NT teens rebell and lash out with defiant sorts of words and or as some

call sassy mouths and most pass this off as they are of teens and since we

may lack of the ability to

use words consistently ours may come out as unwanted behaviors instead.

**************One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail,

Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now.

(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicky,

You know I read somewhere that for any person moving is right up there as a

major life change with having a death in the family, or getting married, or

getting a new step-parent [sorry, not all appropriate but you get the idea].

The writer said that it could be just as emotionally shattering as one of

those things to a person. Perhaps her regression is somewhat because she is

just still trying to cope emotionally with the move, and will pass when she has

had time to process her feelings and adjust to the new environment?

Sandi

In a message dated 12/30/2008 8:29:36 P.M. Central Standard Time,

davick92@... writes:

But, since we moved in September, she " forgets " to

go to the bathroom.

**************One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail,

Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now.

(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the replies.

I have always thought my dd was too young to be going through puberty

at this age. She started developing at the age of 8. I took her to

our regular pediatrician when she first started to develop. He said

it was normal, that girls are developing earlier and earlier. So, I

have not pursued anything further. He did do a blood test, too, to

rule out thyroid issues. At that time, the bloodwork came back

normal. I still question that there might be an underlying thyroid

issue, however, since it does tend to run in the family. My dd has

not started her period yet, but has pubic hair, body odor, and is in

need of a training bra.

We have recently moved, and have a new doctor now. So, maybe I will

discuss these issues with her. She may have some new insight at best.

As far as I know, dd does not have any medical issues in regards to

staying dry. It is not a bedwetting problem. She has actually never

even been fully potty trained yet. So, she still wears pull-ups all

day long. Prior to our move, she was staying dry most of the time,

except overnight. But, since we moved in September, she " forgets " to

go to the bathroom. I have never been able to get her to have a BM on

the toilet, but that is a whole other matter.

Thanks,

Vicky

>

> > Hello.

> >

> > I am new here. I belong to another yahoo group called PREACCH

> > (Parents Raising nd Educating Autistic Children in Christian

Homes.)

> >

> > Someone on that group suggested I join this group to have some of

my

> > questions answered.

> >

> > I have heard from others that many kids on the spectrum who are

going

> > through puberty tend to regress. My daughter (age 10) is going

> > through puberty now. In the past few months, she has regressed

quite

> > a bit in many different ways. For one thing, she is not staying

dry

> > anymore and I have had to revert back to using the musical sensor

to

> > help her remember to go to the bathroom. Her obsessions have also

> > gotten worse, and she cries at anything and everything. Even in

her

> > schoolwork, I feel as if she has some sort of brain block or

> > something.

> >

> > I'm totally at a loss of what to do. Is this something I just

have to

> > wait out? Or, is there something I can do to help her?

> >

> > How long will this last? I am normally a very patient person.

But, I

> > am losing my patience with her more and more. I hate that. I guess

> > I'm just having a hard time trying to figure out if her behaviors

are

> > something she can't really control, or if she is just being

stubborn.

> >

> > Does anyone have any idea as to why puberty makes things worse for

> > these kids?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Vicky in IL

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------

> >

> > Autism_in_Girls-subscribe

> > ------------------------

> > Autism_in_Girls-unsubscribe@...! Groups Links

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> --

> Marie A.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

No, she has not received any vaccinations recently. We stopped those

after she was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 1/2.

I'm curious about the lupron. Can you give me more information? Who

gives her that - a pediatrician or a Gynecologist?

We have done some biomed treatments in the past. GFCF diet was first.

Then, we did chelation therapy for awhile. Then, she started taking

digestive enzymes and we took her off the diet. Then, we found

Ambrotose Complex, a glyconutrient, that I believe helped improve her

immune system and caused much improvement. We haven't tried much else

since then.

-Vicky

>

> If she's not staying dry in her genitals, have you considered giving

> her thin pads to wear? It might help her feel dryer & safer. Not

that

> I think shots cause autism in every case, but at her age, has she

> received a vaccine lately? They were trying to get me to get my then

> 10-yr old some sort, I can't remember which.

>

> Allie had begun going through puberty about a year ago, we did not

see

> any regressions from her, but she is now on lupron which will

prevent

> menstrual cycles until we stop. She did do cognitively better

> instantly with the injections, so I don't know if there was a

> regression we had not recognized or if time would have brought it.

>

> Have you considered any biomed treatments? Had any labs drawn? Is

she

> taking mb-12 shots, folate, etc?

>

> Debi

>

> -

>

[Guest guest]

We are doing it through Dr. Geier because of several things too

numerous to list. I would not suggest it to a girl who is already

menstruating though. Evidently the side effects are horrific at that

point. We caught Allie just before she began a cycle. Dr. Geier is a

board-certified geneticist and obstetrician, I think his no is

. He works with local doctors. He may be able to help with

the hormones in other ways, not sure, waters we haven't crossed.

HTH,

Debi

[Guest guest]

Hi

I am in the UK and i work in a residential school for children with

autism, SLD, and challenging behaviour.

it is very common for people with autism to regress when they hit

puberty. often long dis-appeared behaviours re-surface and new ones

develop. The reason for this is normally as the person fells they

are losing control of their body, getting feelings they don't

understand and the physical change, they have to take control in some

other way.

As we know people with austism like to have control of situations-

often the most noise sensitive person is also the loudest- this is

because they are then in control of the noise (volume, pitch and how

long the noise lasts for).

my advice is to pick your battles, in the grand scheme of things

which of her behaviours can you pignore and let her do and which need

to be addressed don't try to change everything. However, be aware of

behaviours esculating and getting out of control. an example of this

is: i worked bit a boy of 12 very limited language and no expressive

language, after going to the toilet would wash and dry his hands then

dry the sink. over time this behaviour esculated into him wnating to

dry the inside of the toilet and the floor and the urinals ect. in

the end we had to get him out if the toilet area and wash his hands

with anti-bacterial wipes.

hope this is a help to you.

Hang in there it will get better.

>

> Hello.

>

> I am new here. I belong to another yahoo group called PREACCH

> (Parents Raising nd Educating Autistic Children in Christian Homes.)

>

> Someone on that group suggested I join this group to have some of

my

> questions answered.

>

> I have heard from others that many kids on the spectrum who are

going

> through puberty tend to regress. My daughter (age 10) is going

> through puberty now. In the past few months, she has regressed

quite

> a bit in many different ways. For one thing, she is not staying dry

> anymore and I have had to revert back to using the musical sensor

to

> help her remember to go to the bathroom. Her obsessions have also

> gotten worse, and she cries at anything and everything. Even in her

> schoolwork, I feel as if she has some sort of brain block or

> something.

>

> I'm totally at a loss of what to do. Is this something I just have

to

> wait out? Or, is there something I can do to help her?

>

> How long will this last? I am normally a very patient person. But,

I

> am losing my patience with her more and more. I hate that. I guess

> I'm just having a hard time trying to figure out if her behaviors

are

> something she can't really control, or if she is just being

stubborn.

>

> Does anyone have any idea as to why puberty makes things worse for

> these kids?

>

> Thanks,

> Vicky in IL

>

[Guest guest]

Sandi,

Yes, you are right. I have thought about that and have been trying to

give her some slack. Moving is definitely stressful on ANY one.

Thanks for your thoughts and encouragement.

-Vicky

>

> Hi Vicky,

>

> You know I read somewhere that for any person moving is right up

there as a

> major life change with having a death in the family, or getting

married, or

> getting a new step-parent [sorry, not all appropriate but you get

the idea].

> The writer said that it could be just as emotionally shattering as

one of

> those things to a person. Perhaps her regression is somewhat

because she is

> just still trying to cope emotionally with the move, and will pass

when she has

> had time to process her feelings and adjust to the new environment?

>

> Sandi

>

>

> In a message dated 12/30/2008 8:29:36 P.M. Central Standard Time,

> davick92@... writes:

>

> But, since we moved in September, she " forgets " to

> go to the bathroom.

[Guest guest]

Thankyou for this explanation. It does make sense.

-Vicky

>

> Hi

> I am in the UK and i work in a residential school for children with

> autism, SLD, and challenging behaviour.

> it is very common for people with autism to regress when they hit

> puberty. often long dis-appeared behaviours re-surface and new

ones

> develop. The reason for this is normally as the person fells they

> are losing control of their body, getting feelings they don't

> understand and the physical change, they have to take control in

some

> other way.

> As we know people with austism like to have control of situations-

> often the most noise sensitive person is also the loudest- this is

> because they are then in control of the noise (volume, pitch and

how

> long the noise lasts for).

> my advice is to pick your battles, in the grand scheme of things

> which of her behaviours can you pignore and let her do and which

need

> to be addressed don't try to change everything. However, be aware

of

> behaviours esculating and getting out of control. an example of

this

> is: i worked bit a boy of 12 very limited language and no

expressive

> language, after going to the toilet would wash and dry his hands

then

> dry the sink. over time this behaviour esculated into him wnating

to

> dry the inside of the toilet and the floor and the urinals ect. in

> the end we had to get him out if the toilet area and wash his hands

> with anti-bacterial wipes.

> hope this is a help to you.

> Hang in there it will get better.

>

[Guest guest]

We haven't moved, but my daughter is getting worse, not regressing, as she's

never had this symptom to this degree before. She's 10 now, and maybe it's

puberty? We don't know.

She can't find the words sometimes for the simplest of things, like wanting

butter on her noodles, or sometimes just being unable to ask us questions.

We can see that she wants to ask us something, as she'll walk right up to us

and look us in the eye with anticipation on her face. But when we ask what

she wants she just stares back at us, unable to find the words. Othertimes

she is very able to ask us for what she needs or wants. Sometimes we'll

guess, (in fact, we always end up guessing when this happens) but most of

the time she doesn't have this blank spot. Typically, she gets up and comes

in and says " I'm hungry " . Other times, she can't find the words to tell us

what's on her mind, and when we ask what she wants, she eventually ends up

crying, unable to find the words. It's always something simple, and we

always end up discovering what it is eventually after my wife lays down with

her and guesses about everything in her life.

We are both very gentle with her, we don't ever badger her or get agitated

with her. We know she suffers from some social anxiety when she's in a room

with strangers or kids she doesn't know, but always, when introduced to

another child she's off and running, playing like she's known the child

forever. Initiating is a problem for my Madison. It always has been, and

we've got her in Social Skills class right now, and it's helped. But this

blanking out has suddenly gotten worse and I thought I'd ask if it's

something someone here has encountered and (ideally) overcome.

She didn't used to have this going on so frequently. Anyone have any

experience with this symptom, and find a way to help your child overcome it?

Thanks in advance,

Don

The Whole Truth

Nothing But the Truth

So Help Me God...

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls

[mailto:Autism_in_Girls ] On Behalf Of davick92

Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 7:48 AM

To: Autism_in_Girls

Subject: Re: Puberty and Regression

Thankyou for this explanation. It does make sense.

-Vicky

>

> Hi

> I am in the UK and i work in a residential school for children with

> autism, SLD, and challenging behaviour.

> it is very common for people with autism to regress when they hit

> puberty. often long dis-appeared behaviours re-surface and new

ones

> develop. The reason for this is normally as the person fells they

> are losing control of their body, getting feelings they don't

> understand and the physical change, they have to take control in

some

> other way.

> As we know people with austism like to have control of situations-

> often the most noise sensitive person is also the loudest- this is

> because they are then in control of the noise (volume, pitch and

how

> long the noise lasts for).

> my advice is to pick your battles, in the grand scheme of things

> which of her behaviours can you pignore and let her do and which

need

> to be addressed don't try to change everything. However, be aware

of

> behaviours esculating and getting out of control. an example of

this

> is: i worked bit a boy of 12 very limited language and no

expressive

> language, after going to the toilet would wash and dry his hands

then

> dry the sink. over time this behaviour esculated into him wnating

to

> dry the inside of the toilet and the floor and the urinals ect. in

> the end we had to get him out if the toilet area and wash his hands

> with anti-bacterial wipes.

> hope this is a help to you.

> Hang in there it will get better.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Don

 

Have you tried keeping a picture board near by so when the words are lost she

can just put to what she needs. Like a drink , food , tv etc? I find this helps

with Amy if I get it out before she gets upset.

 

Subject: RE: Re: Puberty and Regression

To: Autism_in_Girls

Received: Friday, 2 January, 2009, 11:22 AM

We haven't moved, but my daughter is getting worse, not regressing, as she's

never had this symptom to this degree before. She's 10 now, and maybe it's

puberty? We don't know.

She can't find the words sometimes for the simplest of things, like wanting

butter on her noodles, or sometimes just being unable to ask us questions.

We can see that she wants to ask us something, as she'll walk right up to us

and look us in the eye with anticipation on her face. But when we ask what

she wants she just stares back at us, unable to find the words. Othertimes

she is very able to ask us for what she needs or wants. Sometimes we'll

guess, (in fact, we always end up guessing when this happens) but most of

the time she doesn't have this blank spot. Typically, she gets up and comes

in and says " I'm hungry " . Other times, she can't find the words to tell us

what's on her mind, and when we ask what she wants, she eventually ends up

crying, unable to find the words. It's always something simple, and we

always end up discovering what it is eventually after my wife lays down with

her and guesses about everything in her life.

We are both very gentle with her, we don't ever badger her or get agitated

with her. We know she suffers from some social anxiety when she's in a room

with strangers or kids she doesn't know, but always, when introduced to

another child she's off and running, playing like she's known the child

forever. Initiating is a problem for my Madison. It always has been, and

we've got her in Social Skills class right now, and it's helped. But this

blanking out has suddenly gotten worse and I thought I'd ask if it's

something someone here has encountered and (ideally) overcome.

She didn't used to have this going on so frequently. Anyone have any

experience with this symptom, and find a way to help your child overcome it?

Thanks in advance,

Don

The Whole Truth

Nothing But the Truth

So Help Me God...

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com

[mailto:Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of davick92

Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 7:48 AM

To: Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com

Subject: Re: Puberty and Regression

Thankyou for this explanation. It does make sense.

-Vicky

>

> Hi

> I am in the UK and i work in a residential school for children with

> autism, SLD, and challenging behaviour.

> it is very common for people with autism to regress when they hit

> puberty. often long dis-appeared behaviours re-surface and new

ones

> develop. The reason for this is normally as the person fells they

> are losing control of their body, getting feelings they don't

> understand and the physical change, they have to take control in

some

> other way.

> As we know people with austism like to have control of situations-

> often the most noise sensitive person is also the loudest- this is

> because they are then in control of the noise (volume, pitch and

how

> long the noise lasts for).

> my advice is to pick your battles, in the grand scheme of things

> which of her behaviours can you pignore and let her do and which

need

> to be addressed don't try to change everything. However, be aware

of

> behaviours esculating and getting out of control. an example of

this

> is: i worked bit a boy of 12 very limited language and no

expressive

> language, after going to the toilet would wash and dry his hands

then

> dry the sink. over time this behaviour esculated into him wnating

to

> dry the inside of the toilet and the floor and the urinals ect. in

> the end we had to get him out if the toilet area and wash his hands

> with anti-bacterial wipes.

> hope this is a help to you.

> Hang in there it will get better.

>

[Guest guest]

I haven't. Thanks, . I've asked her to write it down and that hasn't

helped. I play with her every day, and one of her most common blank spots is

when she wants to play. She can blurt that out " I want to play with YOU! "

and she points to me, but when I ask her what she wants to play, she never

has an answer. We wrote down all the things we do (there's 25 or 30

games/activities on our list now), but even when I tell her to get her list,

she gets it, she picks one out in her head, but she can't tell me. I have to

guess. It's not just a game with her, either. She cannot say it for some

reason.

Thanks for that suggestion, . I'm going to get a magnet board.

Don

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls

[mailto:Autism_in_Girls ] On Behalf Of West

Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 4:31 PM

To: Autism_in_Girls

Subject: RE: Re: Puberty and Regression

Hi Don

Have you tried keeping a picture board near by so when the words are lost

she can just put to what she needs. Like a drink , food , tv etc? I find

this helps with Amy if I get it out before she gets upset.

From: thewholetruth@ <mailto:thewholetruth%40comcast.net> comcast.net

<thewholetruth@ <mailto:thewholetruth%40comcast.net> comcast.net>

Subject: RE: Re: Puberty and Regression

To: Autism_in_Girls@ <mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

yahoogroups.com

Received: Friday, 2 January, 2009, 11:22 AM

We haven't moved, but my daughter is getting worse, not regressing, as she's

never had this symptom to this degree before. She's 10 now, and maybe it's

puberty? We don't know.

She can't find the words sometimes for the simplest of things, like wanting

butter on her noodles, or sometimes just being unable to ask us questions.

We can see that she wants to ask us something, as she'll walk right up to us

and look us in the eye with anticipation on her face. But when we ask what

she wants she just stares back at us, unable to find the words. Othertimes

she is very able to ask us for what she needs or wants. Sometimes we'll

guess, (in fact, we always end up guessing when this happens) but most of

the time she doesn't have this blank spot. Typically, she gets up and comes

in and says " I'm hungry " . Other times, she can't find the words to tell us

what's on her mind, and when we ask what she wants, she eventually ends up

crying, unable to find the words. It's always something simple, and we

always end up discovering what it is eventually after my wife lays down with

her and guesses about everything in her life.

We are both very gentle with her, we don't ever badger her or get agitated

with her. We know she suffers from some social anxiety when she's in a room

with strangers or kids she doesn't know, but always, when introduced to

another child she's off and running, playing like she's known the child

forever. Initiating is a problem for my Madison. It always has been, and

we've got her in Social Skills class right now, and it's helped. But this

blanking out has suddenly gotten worse and I thought I'd ask if it's

something someone here has encountered and (ideally) overcome.

She didn't used to have this going on so frequently. Anyone have any

experience with this symptom, and find a way to help your child overcome it?

Thanks in advance,

Don

The Whole Truth

Nothing But the Truth

So Help Me God...

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com

[mailto:Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of davick92

Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 7:48 AM

To: Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com

Subject: Re: Puberty and Regression

Thankyou for this explanation. It does make sense.

-Vicky

>

> Hi

> I am in the UK and i work in a residential school for children with

> autism, SLD, and challenging behaviour.

> it is very common for people with autism to regress when they hit

> puberty. often long dis-appeared behaviours re-surface and new

ones

> develop. The reason for this is normally as the person fells they

> are losing control of their body, getting feelings they don't

> understand and the physical change, they have to take control in

some

> other way.

> As we know people with austism like to have control of situations-

> often the most noise sensitive person is also the loudest- this is

> because they are then in control of the noise (volume, pitch and

how

> long the noise lasts for).

> my advice is to pick your battles, in the grand scheme of things

> which of her behaviours can you pignore and let her do and which

need

> to be addressed don't try to change everything. However, be aware

of

> behaviours esculating and getting out of control. an example of

this

> is: i worked bit a boy of 12 very limited language and no

expressive

> language, after going to the toilet would wash and dry his hands

then

> dry the sink. over time this behaviour esculated into him wnating

to

> dry the inside of the toilet and the floor and the urinals ect. in

> the end we had to get him out if the toilet area and wash his hands

> with anti-bacterial wipes.

> hope this is a help to you.

> Hang in there it will get better.

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Don

Again taking away so many choices for the games may help as well. Break it down

to say OK which of these 4 games will we play today? And rotate the games to

keep it interesting. I find if my kids have to many options it will often lead

to another meltdown about which want they 'really " want to pick.

 

From: thewholetruth@ <mailto:thewholetru th%40comcast. net> comcast.net

<thewholetruth@ <mailto:thewholetru th%40comcast. net> comcast.net>

Subject: RE: Re: Puberty and Regression

To: Autism_in_Girls@ <mailto:Autism_ in_Girls% 40yahoogroups. com>

yahoogroups. com

Received: Friday, 2 January, 2009, 11:22 AM

We haven't moved, but my daughter is getting worse, not regressing, as she's

never had this symptom to this degree before. She's 10 now, and maybe it's

puberty? We don't know.

She can't find the words sometimes for the simplest of things, like wanting

butter on her noodles, or sometimes just being unable to ask us questions.

We can see that she wants to ask us something, as she'll walk right up to us

and look us in the eye with anticipation on her face. But when we ask what

she wants she just stares back at us, unable to find the words. Othertimes

she is very able to ask us for what she needs or wants. Sometimes we'll

guess, (in fact, we always end up guessing when this happens) but most of

the time she doesn't have this blank spot. Typically, she gets up and comes

in and says " I'm hungry " . Other times, she can't find the words to tell us

what's on her mind, and when we ask what she wants, she eventually ends up

crying, unable to find the words. It's always something simple, and we

always end up discovering what it is eventually after my wife lays down with

her and guesses about everything in her life.

We are both very gentle with her, we don't ever badger her or get agitated

with her. We know she suffers from some social anxiety when she's in a room

with strangers or kids she doesn't know, but always, when introduced to

another child she's off and running, playing like she's known the child

forever. Initiating is a problem for my Madison. It always has been, and

we've got her in Social Skills class right now, and it's helped. But this

blanking out has suddenly gotten worse and I thought I'd ask if it's

something someone here has encountered and (ideally) overcome.

She didn't used to have this going on so frequently. Anyone have any

experience with this symptom, and find a way to help your child overcome it?

Thanks in advance,

Don

The Whole Truth

Nothing But the Truth

So Help Me God...

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com

[mailto:Autism_ in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of davick92

Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 7:48 AM

To: Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com

Subject: Re: Puberty and Regression

Thankyou for this explanation. It does make sense.

-Vicky

>

> Hi

> I am in the UK and i work in a residential school for children with

> autism, SLD, and challenging behaviour.

> it is very common for people with autism to regress when they hit

> puberty. often long dis-appeared behaviours re-surface and new

ones

> develop. The reason for this is normally as the person fells they

> are losing control of their body, getting feelings they don't

> understand and the physical change, they have to take control in

some

> other way.

> As we know people with austism like to have control of situations-

> often the most noise sensitive person is also the loudest- this is

> because they are then in control of the noise (volume, pitch and

how

> long the noise lasts for).

> my advice is to pick your battles, in the grand scheme of things

> which of her behaviours can you pignore and let her do and which

need

> to be addressed don't try to change everything. However, be aware

of

> behaviours esculating and getting out of control. an example of

this

> is: i worked bit a boy of 12 very limited language and no

expressive

> language, after going to the toilet would wash and dry his hands

then

> dry the sink. over time this behaviour esculated into him wnating

to

> dry the inside of the toilet and the floor and the urinals ect. in

> the end we had to get him out if the toilet area and wash his hands

> with anti-bacterial wipes.

> hope this is a help to you.

> Hang in there it will get better.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks . That's a good word, there. I should have thought about that.

Thank you!

Don

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls

[mailto:Autism_in_Girls ] On Behalf Of West

Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 6:19 PM

To: Autism_in_Girls

Subject: RE: Re: Puberty and Regression

Hey Don

Again taking away so many choices for the games may help as well. Break it

down to say OK which of these 4 games will we play today? And rotate the

games to keep it interesting. I find if my kids have to many options it will

often lead to another meltdown about which want they 'really " want to pick.

From: thewholetruth@ <mailto:thewholetru th%40comcast. net> comcast.net

<thewholetruth@ <mailto:thewholetru th%40comcast. net> comcast.net>

Subject: RE: Re: Puberty and Regression

To: Autism_in_Girls@ <mailto:Autism_ in_Girls% 40yahoogroups. com>

yahoogroups. com

Received: Friday, 2 January, 2009, 11:22 AM

We haven't moved, but my daughter is getting worse, not regressing, as she's

never had this symptom to this degree before. She's 10 now, and maybe it's

puberty? We don't know.

She can't find the words sometimes for the simplest of things, like wanting

butter on her noodles, or sometimes just being unable to ask us questions.

We can see that she wants to ask us something, as she'll walk right up to us

and look us in the eye with anticipation on her face. But when we ask what

she wants she just stares back at us, unable to find the words. Othertimes

she is very able to ask us for what she needs or wants. Sometimes we'll

guess, (in fact, we always end up guessing when this happens) but most of

the time she doesn't have this blank spot. Typically, she gets up and comes

in and says " I'm hungry " . Other times, she can't find the words to tell us

what's on her mind, and when we ask what she wants, she eventually ends up

crying, unable to find the words. It's always something simple, and we

always end up discovering what it is eventually after my wife lays down with

her and guesses about everything in her life.

We are both very gentle with her, we don't ever badger her or get agitated

with her. We know she suffers from some social anxiety when she's in a room

with strangers or kids she doesn't know, but always, when introduced to

another child she's off and running, playing like she's known the child

forever. Initiating is a problem for my Madison. It always has been, and

we've got her in Social Skills class right now, and it's helped. But this

blanking out has suddenly gotten worse and I thought I'd ask if it's

something someone here has encountered and (ideally) overcome.

She didn't used to have this going on so frequently. Anyone have any

experience with this symptom, and find a way to help your child overcome it?

Thanks in advance,

Don

The Whole Truth

Nothing But the Truth

So Help Me God...

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com

[mailto:Autism_ in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of davick92

Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 7:48 AM

To: Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com

Subject: Re: Puberty and Regression

Thankyou for this explanation. It does make sense.

-Vicky

>

> Hi

> I am in the UK and i work in a residential school for children with

> autism, SLD, and challenging behaviour.

> it is very common for people with autism to regress when they hit

> puberty. often long dis-appeared behaviours re-surface and new

ones

> develop. The reason for this is normally as the person fells they

> are losing control of their body, getting feelings they don't

> understand and the physical change, they have to take control in

some

> other way.

> As we know people with austism like to have control of situations-

> often the most noise sensitive person is also the loudest- this is

> because they are then in control of the noise (volume, pitch and

how

> long the noise lasts for).

> my advice is to pick your battles, in the grand scheme of things

> which of her behaviours can you pignore and let her do and which

need

> to be addressed don't try to change everything. However, be aware

of

> behaviours esculating and getting out of control. an example of

this

> is: i worked bit a boy of 12 very limited language and no

expressive

> language, after going to the toilet would wash and dry his hands

then

> dry the sink. over time this behaviour esculated into him wnating

to

> dry the inside of the toilet and the floor and the urinals ect. in

> the end we had to get him out if the toilet area and wash his hands

> with anti-bacterial wipes.

> hope this is a help to you.

> Hang in there it will get better.

>

[Guest guest]

So am I correct in concluding that my daughter is the only one who has

periodic times of being incapable of speaking? I had hoped someone had

experienced this before on this board. I'm surprised.

Don

The Whole Truth

Nothing But the Truth

So Help Me God...

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls

[mailto:Autism_in_Girls ] On Behalf Of

thewholetruth@...

Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 4:23 PM

To: Autism_in_Girls

Subject: RE: Re: Puberty and Regression

We haven't moved, but my daughter is getting worse, not regressing, as she's

never had this symptom to this degree before. She's 10 now, and maybe it's

puberty? We don't know.

She can't find the words sometimes for the simplest of things, like wanting

butter on her noodles, or sometimes just being unable to ask us questions.

We can see that she wants to ask us something, as she'll walk right up to us

and look us in the eye with anticipation on her face. But when we ask what

she wants she just stares back at us, unable to find the words. Othertimes

she is very able to ask us for what she needs or wants. Sometimes we'll

guess, (in fact, we always end up guessing when this happens) but most of

the time she doesn't have this blank spot. Typically, she gets up and comes

in and says " I'm hungry " . Other times, she can't find the words to tell us

what's on her mind, and when we ask what she wants, she eventually ends up

crying, unable to find the words. It's always something simple, and we

always end up discovering what it is eventually after my wife lays down with

her and guesses about everything in her life.

We are both very gentle with her, we don't ever badger her or get agitated

with her. We know she suffers from some social anxiety when she's in a room

with strangers or kids she doesn't know, but always, when introduced to

another child she's off and running, playing like she's known the child

forever. Initiating is a problem for my Madison. It always has been, and

we've got her in Social Skills class right now, and it's helped. But this

blanking out has suddenly gotten worse and I thought I'd ask if it's

something someone here has encountered and (ideally) overcome.

She didn't used to have this going on so frequently. Anyone have any

experience with this symptom, and find a way to help your child overcome it?

Thanks in advance,

Don

The Whole Truth

Nothing But the Truth

So Help Me God...

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls@ <mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

yahoogroups.com

[mailto:Autism_in_Girls@ <mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of davick92

Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 7:48 AM

To: Autism_in_Girls@ <mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Puberty and Regression

Thankyou for this explanation. It does make sense.

-Vicky

>

> Hi

> I am in the UK and i work in a residential school for children with

> autism, SLD, and challenging behaviour.

> it is very common for people with autism to regress when they hit

> puberty. often long dis-appeared behaviours re-surface and new

ones

> develop. The reason for this is normally as the person fells they

> are losing control of their body, getting feelings they don't

> understand and the physical change, they have to take control in

some

> other way.

> As we know people with austism like to have control of situations-

> often the most noise sensitive person is also the loudest- this is

> because they are then in control of the noise (volume, pitch and

how

> long the noise lasts for).

> my advice is to pick your battles, in the grand scheme of things

> which of her behaviours can you pignore and let her do and which

need

> to be addressed don't try to change everything. However, be aware

of

> behaviours esculating and getting out of control. an example of

this

> is: i worked bit a boy of 12 very limited language and no

expressive

> language, after going to the toilet would wash and dry his hands

then

> dry the sink. over time this behaviour esculated into him wnating

to

> dry the inside of the toilet and the floor and the urinals ect. in

> the end we had to get him out if the toilet area and wash his hands

> with anti-bacterial wipes.

> hope this is a help to you.

> Hang in there it will get better.

>

[Guest guest]

don sorry did not read of this post until this time. Yes I to have of

this off and on much of the life of me too and cant recall of the

words and trying hard to find them and sometimes want of to intertact

but cant and find the anxiety shuts of me down/ there has been of

times or episodes of not being of able to speak a single word for

much long as 3 months and that for me was of felt to be fo willful

choosing to not speak by the family of me and it was not met with

good fashions by them in regards to me but in reality it was that i

to could not be of to speak at all and could not ... the words were

of there inside of me at times and when went to try to speak of them

out they would scatter or get lost in that process leaving me not

able to speak and oddly this mostly happend in my puberty times.... I

to have of no answers to thew whys of it but it was during the time

of me in crisis at 13-to young adult life off and on and during that

time was of also much SIB and constant cycling of tears and

agitations and self aggressions because of the severe feeling of over

all frustrations and felt as if the body of me was of so disconected

and nothing was of in sync or working in any unified fashions.

Now at peri-menapause I to think much of this is of causing me

similar issues but not as severe because in over all have of gained

of some life skills that did not have of back then but it is of very

similar and can cycle me quickly to a regressive sort of state and

much more pronounced autistic presentations that emerge stronger and

more pronounced that some feel these things are of new to me and they

are of not but just emerging from the past that happens because I to

at that moment do not feel in sync or in control of my responses due

to the duress or overloaded feeling from fear, panic, and anxiety.

such as now am of cycling because of the overload of the holidays,

where at one point sleeped too much and then was of a shut down mode

and now in pains and cant be of to sleep and up and down much of the

night and this causes me agitated feeling and frustrations because

not getting a healthy sleep and not functioning to my best. this also

can mean for self getting of sick as the sleep and behavior is of my

strongest indicator that I to be of ill and this happens before any

ral symptoms show of me such as fever or things of that. Lately the

ear will feel funny and then it loses it sounds for a time and it

sounds as if in a tunnel for a time and this is of annoying. Or will

hear of the ear making this loud drumming noise that is of rythmic

and causes me to get agitated too because not like of that sound in

my brain going off and off at random times.

Also when not of sleeping well it triggers the fibromyalgia to where

my nerves throb much like sharp pains and then stays like a bee sting

for a few minutes and then fads to come back again like that of labor

pains.right now it is of from under my arm pit to my elbow and then

from the back of my thigh to my knees. and in my neck causing head

aches.

but back to topic... I to also find some days I to just need of

internal quiet and so just not feel motivated to speak at all and

will maybe say only a few words and if others keep of coming to my

space with the expectations of words I to get of easily frustrated

and agitated to them. I to feel bad afterwards but unable to fix of

the issues becuase cant communicate the need or if can they still do

not respect of it because they cant understand the logic of need for

internal quiet. this is of a differnet reason for non speaking that

what you express is of happening to you daughter though.

I to think hers is of recall issues and a shut down of that function

when she is of out of sync inside. if she isof able to write or type

maybe she can be of encouraged if she feels words are fragmenting and

getting lost in the process of speaking she can type out her thinking

on a small notebook sort of lap top computer for you. typing seems to

free that barrier from me when it happens.

sondra

[Guest guest]

Don,

I sometimes feel that my daughter could be experiencing this as well,

however due to her age (5) it's hard to say for sure.

There are times when you really think she was going to say something, but

then her whole demeanor changes and she just says " I'm Sad " Which is really

the only emotion she has a word for and she gets 'sad' quite often.

I've wondered before if maybe she's getting sad because she had something

lined up to say to someone and then she couldn't say it.

Just this past Friday we were at Sam's club to have lunch in the cafe with

her dad and as we were leaving we ran into a classmate. He is also on the

specturm but has a lot more language use than she does. He noticed her and

we stopped to say hi. She was excited to see him and hugged him (she's big

into hugs - we even have to remind her when we go some places that it's not

a place for hugs, otherwise she'll hug everyone that is close enough!) and

it seemed she had something to say to his parents, but then she hung her

head and just said " I'm sad " They hugged and comforted her but it didn't

bring back the ability to say what she wanted to say.

If we ask WHY are you sad, she just says " I said " (that or she's just

repeating " I'm Sad " - which we're not 100% sure of due to her speech)

I didn't respond before, because we're way to far from having any answers or

even ideas of how to help... but I definately don't think that you are alone

in this.

Theresa

>

> So am I correct in concluding that my daughter is the only one who has

> periodic times of being incapable of speaking? I had hoped someone had

> experienced this before on this board. I'm surprised.

>

> Don

>

> The Whole Truth

> Nothing But the Truth

> So Help Me God...

>

> _____

>

> From: Autism_in_Girls <Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

> [mailto:Autism_in_Girls <Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>]

> On Behalf Of

> thewholetruth@... <thewholetruth%40comcast.net>

> Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 4:23 PM

> To: Autism_in_Girls <Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

> Subject: RE: Re: Puberty and Regression

>

> We haven't moved, but my daughter is getting worse, not regressing, as

> she's

> never had this symptom to this degree before. She's 10 now, and maybe it's

> puberty? We don't know.

>

> She can't find the words sometimes for the simplest of things, like wanting

> butter on her noodles, or sometimes just being unable to ask us questions.

> We can see that she wants to ask us something, as she'll walk right up to

> us

> and look us in the eye with anticipation on her face. But when we ask what

> she wants she just stares back at us, unable to find the words. Othertimes

> she is very able to ask us for what she needs or wants. Sometimes we'll

> guess, (in fact, we always end up guessing when this happens) but most of

> the time she doesn't have this blank spot. Typically, she gets up and comes

> in and says " I'm hungry " . Other times, she can't find the words to tell us

> what's on her mind, and when we ask what she wants, she eventually ends up

> crying, unable to find the words. It's always something simple, and we

> always end up discovering what it is eventually after my wife lays down

> with

> her and guesses about everything in her life.

>

> We are both very gentle with her, we don't ever badger her or get agitated

> with her. We know she suffers from some social anxiety when she's in a room

> with strangers or kids she doesn't know, but always, when introduced to

> another child she's off and running, playing like she's known the child

> forever. Initiating is a problem for my Madison. It always has been, and

> we've got her in Social Skills class right now, and it's helped. But this

> blanking out has suddenly gotten worse and I thought I'd ask if it's

> something someone here has encountered and (ideally) overcome.

>

> She didn't used to have this going on so frequently. Anyone have any

> experience with this symptom, and find a way to help your child overcome

> it?

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

> Don

>

> The Whole Truth

> Nothing But the Truth

> So Help Me God...

>

> _____

>

> From: Autism_in_Girls@

<mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com<Autism_in_Girls%2540yahoogroups.com>

> >

> yahoogroups.com

> [mailto:Autism_in_Girls@

<mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com<Autism_in_Girls%2540yahoogroups.com>

> >

> yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of davick92

> Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 7:48 AM

> To: Autism_in_Girls@

<mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com<Autism_in_Girls%2540yahoogroups.com>

> >

> yahoogroups.com

> Subject: Re: Puberty and Regression

>

> Thankyou for this explanation. It does make sense.

>

> -Vicky

>

>

> >

> > Hi

> > I am in the UK and i work in a residential school for children with

> > autism, SLD, and challenging behaviour.

> > it is very common for people with autism to regress when they hit

> > puberty. often long dis-appeared behaviours re-surface and new

> ones

> > develop. The reason for this is normally as the person fells they

> > are losing control of their body, getting feelings they don't

> > understand and the physical change, they have to take control in

> some

> > other way.

> > As we know people with austism like to have control of situations-

> > often the most noise sensitive person is also the loudest- this is

> > because they are then in control of the noise (volume, pitch and

> how

> > long the noise lasts for).

> > my advice is to pick your battles, in the grand scheme of things

> > which of her behaviours can you pignore and let her do and which

> need

> > to be addressed don't try to change everything. However, be aware

> of

> > behaviours esculating and getting out of control. an example of

> this

> > is: i worked bit a boy of 12 very limited language and no

> expressive

> > language, after going to the toilet would wash and dry his hands

> then

> > dry the sink. over time this behaviour esculated into him wnating

> to

> > dry the inside of the toilet and the floor and the urinals ect. in

> > the end we had to get him out if the toilet area and wash his hands

> > with anti-bacterial wipes.

> > hope this is a help to you.

> > Hang in there it will get better.

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

theresa it may be that any and all emotions she experiences is of

matched with the script of sad and thus because she lacks

conversational speech she has no other words to use but this script

because she is of feeling happy to see her friend but is of not knowing

the words to express her emotion so assigns of it the script of being

of sad.... she may be to have processed this froma book or TV show

where the emotion of sad was of being shown and it registered to her to

some degree but maybe not in complete and thus she uses of this script

as a filler for words when she does not have of her own words yet.

you can try of to model simple scripts to her when she is of in a peer

sort of situation but if she is of low verbal only use of a 1-2 word

script for her to gain of some interactive skills in, but do not use of

the same scripts each time but alter them so they can be of a more

natural interaction and not so robotic in fashion. such as learning to

say hi or wave to them and maybe if she is of eating share to her peer

about her having lunch with dad sorts of words.....she is of still

young yet so this will be of a time for the process of this to work for

her but the modeling is of good for her to gain of some insight to the

way in to which to have of success in simple age fashions interactions

among peers.

sondra

[Guest guest]

I was out of town and just got to reading your post. My daughter is 10

and is like this much of the time. Occasionally, she can come up to us

and say she is hungry or thirsty. But, if we ask her what she wants to

eat, she can't tell us. She says " I don't know. " So, we have to give

her choices. We give her 2 or 3 options and then her eyes brighten up

when she finally knows the right word and says it. She has to hear the

word first before she knows what to say. Its like she knows what she

wants already, but just can't find the right word. We have tried

picture cards with her in the past, and it has helped at times. So, no,

you are not alone in this.

-Vicky

>

> So am I correct in concluding that my daughter is the only one who has

> periodic times of being incapable of speaking? I had hoped someone had

> experienced this before on this board. I'm surprised.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Throughout my life I have experienced the inability to speak. Mostly when it

happens now it is due to stress and emotions. I get to a point where the words

will just not come, I can make noises and speak some, but what I am needing to

say is just not there.

 

Another thing that happens to me all of the time is when I think of two words

that may mean the same thing or close to the same thing, I often combine the two

and make a new word. Now I know that as soon as I have spoken it outloud that it

is not really a word and I am not trying to combine the two, my brain did it on

its own. I usually correct myself if others look at me funny and choose one of

the two, or just go on if it goes unnoticed or unchallenged.

 

You'd be surprised how many people find a verbal wall from time to time. Again,

as a child it happened to me all of the time, where I could picture what I

wanted to say, but when it came to actually saying it, nothing comes out.

 

This is probably due to damage or wiring issues in my brain and is part of my

autism.

 

http://speakup.today.com

Subject: Re: Puberty and Regression

To: Autism_in_Girls

Date: Sunday, January 4, 2009, 2:05 PM

I was out of town and just got to reading your post. My daughter is 10

and is like this much of the time. Occasionally, she can come up to us

and say she is hungry or thirsty. But, if we ask her what she wants to

eat, she can't tell us. She says " I don't know. " So, we have to give

her choices. We give her 2 or 3 options and then her eyes brighten up

when she finally knows the right word and says it. She has to hear the

word first before she knows what to say. Its like she knows what she

wants already, but just can't find the right word. We have tried

picture cards with her in the past, and it has helped at times. So, no,

you are not alone in this.

-Vicky

>

> So am I correct in concluding that my daughter is the only one who has

> periodic times of being incapable of speaking? I had hoped someone had

> experienced this before on this board. I'm surprised.

>

>

[Guest guest]

this also triggered another things for me that as an older teen and

or adult I to often felt that everyone thinked like me and knew of my

thinking without words as if they knew my thinking and so did feel

motivated to speak at times but felt frustrated when what my brain

wanted did not magically appear LOL but this did not happen often but

was aware of it as i to thinked back to my memory of words and what

was of going on inside of my brain at the moment.

Now more and more aware that otehrs can think differently than me and

so now have to adpat and compensate for that thinking more. sometimes

I to over compensate and use of too much words to express a thinking

for fear that others will not understand of my thinking so not sure

exactly yet of how to balance of that out.

I to also know when working in board meetings at times the thinking

would be of clear and so would try of to express a thinking to only

find the minute the other board members shared of my name verbally

the words and thinking would just scatter and this was of frustrating

and so would have to try to write of it out and then could later can

come back to it and read of it to the group.

I to hate of that as it makes me feel stupid and it shouts out my

challenges that I to try to keep if hidden at times and not want of

known of to others for fear they will see as me as not functional or

smart.

sondra

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Vicki! It's comforting to know we're not alone. I haven't found

any kind of solution anywhere online and thought maybe someone here might

have found a way over that mountain. I appreciate you letting me know it

might just be a common thing for girls on the Spectrum.

Don

The Whole Truth

Nothing But the Truth

So Help Me God...

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls

[mailto:Autism_in_Girls ] On Behalf Of davick92

Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 2:06 PM

To: Autism_in_Girls

Subject: Re: Puberty and Regression

I was out of town and just got to reading your post. My daughter is 10

and is like this much of the time. Occasionally, she can come up to us

and say she is hungry or thirsty. But, if we ask her what she wants to

eat, she can't tell us. She says " I don't know. " So, we have to give

her choices. We give her 2 or 3 options and then her eyes brighten up

when she finally knows the right word and says it. She has to hear the

word first before she knows what to say. Its like she knows what she

wants already, but just can't find the right word. We have tried

picture cards with her in the past, and it has helped at times. So, no,

you are not alone in this.

-Vicky

>

> So am I correct in concluding that my daughter is the only one who has

> periodic times of being incapable of speaking? I had hoped someone had

> experienced this before on this board. I'm surprised.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much, Theresa. It means a lot to read your post today!

Don

The Whole Truth

Nothing But the Truth

So Help Me God...

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls

[mailto:Autism_in_Girls ] On Behalf Of Theresa

Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 6:33 AM

To: Autism_in_Girls

Subject: Re: Re: Puberty and Regression

Don,

I sometimes feel that my daughter could be experiencing this as well,

however due to her age (5) it's hard to say for sure.

There are times when you really think she was going to say something, but

then her whole demeanor changes and she just says " I'm Sad " Which is really

the only emotion she has a word for and she gets 'sad' quite often.

I've wondered before if maybe she's getting sad because she had something

lined up to say to someone and then she couldn't say it.

Just this past Friday we were at Sam's club to have lunch in the cafe with

her dad and as we were leaving we ran into a classmate. He is also on the

specturm but has a lot more language use than she does. He noticed her and

we stopped to say hi. She was excited to see him and hugged him (she's big

into hugs - we even have to remind her when we go some places that it's not

a place for hugs, otherwise she'll hug everyone that is close enough!) and

it seemed she had something to say to his parents, but then she hung her

head and just said " I'm sad " They hugged and comforted her but it didn't

bring back the ability to say what she wanted to say.

If we ask WHY are you sad, she just says " I said " (that or she's just

repeating " I'm Sad " - which we're not 100% sure of due to her speech)

I didn't respond before, because we're way to far from having any answers or

even ideas of how to help... but I definately don't think that you are alone

in this.

Theresa

On 1/4/09, thewholetruth@ <mailto:thewholetruth%40comcast.net> comcast.net

<thewholetruth@ <mailto:thewholetruth%40comcast.net> comcast.net> wrote:

>

> So am I correct in concluding that my daughter is the only one who has

> periodic times of being incapable of speaking? I had hoped someone had

> experienced this before on this board. I'm surprised.

>

> Don

>

> The Whole Truth

> Nothing But the Truth

> So Help Me God...

>

> _____

>

> From: Autism_in_Girls@ <mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

yahoogroups.com <Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

> [mailto:Autism_in_Girls@ <mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

yahoogroups.com<Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>]

> On Behalf Of

> thewholetruth@ <mailto:thewholetruth%40comcast.net> comcast.net

<thewholetruth%40comcast.net>

> Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 4:23 PM

> To: Autism_in_Girls@ <mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

yahoogroups.com <Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com>

> Subject: RE: Re: Puberty and Regression

>

> We haven't moved, but my daughter is getting worse, not regressing, as

> she's

> never had this symptom to this degree before. She's 10 now, and maybe it's

> puberty? We don't know.

>

> She can't find the words sometimes for the simplest of things, like

wanting

> butter on her noodles, or sometimes just being unable to ask us questions.

> We can see that she wants to ask us something, as she'll walk right up to

> us

> and look us in the eye with anticipation on her face. But when we ask what

> she wants she just stares back at us, unable to find the words. Othertimes

> she is very able to ask us for what she needs or wants. Sometimes we'll

> guess, (in fact, we always end up guessing when this happens) but most of

> the time she doesn't have this blank spot. Typically, she gets up and

comes

> in and says " I'm hungry " . Other times, she can't find the words to tell us

> what's on her mind, and when we ask what she wants, she eventually ends up

> crying, unable to find the words. It's always something simple, and we

> always end up discovering what it is eventually after my wife lays down

> with

> her and guesses about everything in her life.

>

> We are both very gentle with her, we don't ever badger her or get agitated

> with her. We know she suffers from some social anxiety when she's in a

room

> with strangers or kids she doesn't know, but always, when introduced to

> another child she's off and running, playing like she's known the child

> forever. Initiating is a problem for my Madison. It always has been, and

> we've got her in Social Skills class right now, and it's helped. But this

> blanking out has suddenly gotten worse and I thought I'd ask if it's

> something someone here has encountered and (ideally) overcome.

>

> She didn't used to have this going on so frequently. Anyone have any

> experience with this symptom, and find a way to help your child overcome

> it?

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

> Don

>

> The Whole Truth

> Nothing But the Truth

> So Help Me God...

>

> _____

>

> From: Autism_in_Girls@

<mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com<Autism_in_Girls%2540yahoogroups.co

m>

> >

> yahoogroups.com

> [mailto:Autism_in_Girls@

<mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com<Autism_in_Girls%2540yahoogroups.co

m>

> >

> yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of davick92

> Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 7:48 AM

> To: Autism_in_Girls@

<mailto:Autism_in_Girls%40yahoogroups.com<Autism_in_Girls%2540yahoogroups.co

m>

> >

> yahoogroups.com

> Subject: Re: Puberty and Regression

>

> Thankyou for this explanation. It does make sense.

>

> -Vicky

>

>

> >

> > Hi

> > I am in the UK and i work in a residential school for children with

> > autism, SLD, and challenging behaviour.

> > it is very common for people with autism to regress when they hit

> > puberty. often long dis-appeared behaviours re-surface and new

> ones

> > develop. The reason for this is normally as the person fells they

> > are losing control of their body, getting feelings they don't

> > understand and the physical change, they have to take control in

> some

> > other way.

> > As we know people with austism like to have control of situations-

> > often the most noise sensitive person is also the loudest- this is

> > because they are then in control of the noise (volume, pitch and

> how

> > long the noise lasts for).

> > my advice is to pick your battles, in the grand scheme of things

> > which of her behaviours can you pignore and let her do and which

> need

> > to be addressed don't try to change everything. However, be aware

> of

> > behaviours esculating and getting out of control. an example of

> this

> > is: i worked bit a boy of 12 very limited language and no

> expressive

> > language, after going to the toilet would wash and dry his hands

> then

> > dry the sink. over time this behaviour esculated into him wnating

> to

> > dry the inside of the toilet and the floor and the urinals ect. in

> > the end we had to get him out if the toilet area and wash his hands

> > with anti-bacterial wipes.

> > hope this is a help to you.

> > Hang in there it will get better.

> >

>

>