Smelling things that aren't there, ?attention

MandyMc12 said:

Hi, 

This is my first post as I didn't know where else to go, my daughter is nearly 7 and we are currently waiting for an autism diagnosis, she was diagnosed with a severe language disorder when's she was 3. She also has other conditions as well. A few months ago she kept saying she could smell a yucky smell like farts, she then said it a few more times over about a week but I decided to ignore it and eventually she stopped saying it until the other day, when she blurted out 'who's farted' at the breakfast table, she's again said it a few more times but only when she's with me and never at school. Is it just an attention thing or something else?? Any help would be appreciated - Thankyou 

(I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.)

I do have a hightened sense of smell and some smells I find sickening and I cannot tolerate, such as the smell of bleach, body odour, rectal-related odours (poo and farts, in other words!), rice cakes, etc.  They make me wretch and panic.  I will often wipe my tongue on my shirt sleeve, as if to wash away the taste.  

Therefore, your daughter may be able to smell more acutely than the rest of your household.  

Sometimes, if I can concentrate hard, I feel that I can recall in my brain what certain things smell like, even though they are not present.  This may be me visualising a smell, or it could be just a figment of my autistic brain.  

People on the Autistic Spectrum can have better or worse senses than people who are not on the Autistic Spectrum.

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If she can acutely smell a bad odour, you could try encouraging her to whisper it in your ear, the next time she smells it.  This might help prevent embarassing situations.   

Thanks for all your replies, they have been very helpful and reassuring. My daughter is still saying it but I'm trying to play it down and hopefully she will stop saying it soon! 

My son went through exactly the same thing and he has grown out of it now.Or can tolerate smells a lot better. It can be overwhelming for kids on the spectrum and she probably can genuinly smell something you can't.I found a smell my son did like,which was not easy to do as all smells were too strong for him,but eventually we found he liked lavander so i put some on a hankerchief and he kept it in his pocket so he could smell it when he smelt something he couldn't handle.The best thing i think is to play the situation right down and try not to make it a big issue.I'm sure it will pass.Hope thats helpful.x

hi

some people on the spectrum have a heightened sense of smell, 2 of my kids do, and often say they can smell things that the rest of us cannot, she may well be able to smell somthing strange its just that you cannot.