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Asperger's with very new OCD type behaviour

khs666

Afternoon all.  First post, so please be gentle....

My 15 year old son has Noonan's, Aspergers (with associated ADHD) and many associated issues diagnosed (for instance sleep issues or dyspraxia). We are used to new behaviour but this one has us stumped and concerned.

Since a Parent's evening on tuesday, my son has been exhibiting what to us can only be described as OCD type behaviour both at school and around the house.  The behaviour is 'extreme tidyness' especially in his bedroom - everything doesn't necessarily have to be put away, but it all needs to be square in relation to the table, desk, floor, other piles or items and other furniture. He's even tidied up his wardrobe (into relevant piles) for the first time in 15 years without us asking. At school he has to have space, and pens, pencils, calculator etc have to be square on the desk. Books have to be in size order, with one corner being squared off.  The behaviour started on Wednesday morning, hasn't been seen before except for one instance, and literally he's gone from one state to another (messy to tidy) overnight.

We were wondering if anyone had come across such behaviour before?  We think it's anxiety induced due to the parents evening, but he won't say why.

Ta very muchly

Kev

Parents

  • OCD is often part and parcel of ASD, or can be co-morbid, the jury's out on the total facts of the matter (you might find this interesting:

    http://www.ocfoundation.org/eo_aspergers.aspx)

    Now ASD is complex, and "pure" OCD has brain differences as well.

    At least 70% of people with ASD have a co-morbid condition (as you know from your son).

    From the research I have done, OCD usually starts around adolescence onwards, the type of OCD you get in Asperger's often has a much earlier onset.

    I have Asperger's and I have OCD habits, which appear to be in-built to my condition, as it's not severe and I don't feel something bad will happen if I don't do them, it's just a compulsion.  For me, it's about controlling my world, as the world is an anxiety-causing place.

    My youngest daughter is HFA and she has always been so messy and disorganised, never looks properly when trying to find things, never puts things away etc.  Almost overnight, at age 8 she has suddenly wanted to become tidy.  She is now more bothered by mess and I thought she would be a messy person for life.  I believe she also has ADHD and have asked her school to recommend to her paediatrician she be assessed.

    My eldest daugher has AS and has always, from the earliest age been obsessively tidy, everything has to be in it's proper place and lined up and put away in the same order.  She also has bouts of hand-washing OCD and is very particular about having a messy mouth after eating, washing hands after eating even if there is nothing on them, stains on her clothing, touching anything she thinks is dirty.  I still believe that this is just her obsessive nature as part of her AS rather than separate OCD as she never expresses anxiety over her habits and doesn't appear to have intrusive thoughts etc. which a true OCD-er would do.

    Your son has probably just got to an age where he realises he has more control over his world than he realised and is taking action with one thing he can, which is organising his belongings.  It is probably related to anxiety as you suggest.  Maybe the parent's evening has been a trigger but you may find he continues in this vein, it may be coincidental with the timing.  I presume you have talked to him about the parent's evening being nothing to worry about and it's only school work it's not the end of the world etc.?

Reply

  • OCD is often part and parcel of ASD, or can be co-morbid, the jury's out on the total facts of the matter (you might find this interesting:

    http://www.ocfoundation.org/eo_aspergers.aspx)

    Now ASD is complex, and "pure" OCD has brain differences as well.

    At least 70% of people with ASD have a co-morbid condition (as you know from your son).

    From the research I have done, OCD usually starts around adolescence onwards, the type of OCD you get in Asperger's often has a much earlier onset.

    I have Asperger's and I have OCD habits, which appear to be in-built to my condition, as it's not severe and I don't feel something bad will happen if I don't do them, it's just a compulsion.  For me, it's about controlling my world, as the world is an anxiety-causing place.

    My youngest daughter is HFA and she has always been so messy and disorganised, never looks properly when trying to find things, never puts things away etc.  Almost overnight, at age 8 she has suddenly wanted to become tidy.  She is now more bothered by mess and I thought she would be a messy person for life.  I believe she also has ADHD and have asked her school to recommend to her paediatrician she be assessed.

    My eldest daugher has AS and has always, from the earliest age been obsessively tidy, everything has to be in it's proper place and lined up and put away in the same order.  She also has bouts of hand-washing OCD and is very particular about having a messy mouth after eating, washing hands after eating even if there is nothing on them, stains on her clothing, touching anything she thinks is dirty.  I still believe that this is just her obsessive nature as part of her AS rather than separate OCD as she never expresses anxiety over her habits and doesn't appear to have intrusive thoughts etc. which a true OCD-er would do.

    Your son has probably just got to an age where he realises he has more control over his world than he realised and is taking action with one thing he can, which is organising his belongings.  It is probably related to anxiety as you suggest.  Maybe the parent's evening has been a trigger but you may find he continues in this vein, it may be coincidental with the timing.  I presume you have talked to him about the parent's evening being nothing to worry about and it's only school work it's not the end of the world etc.?

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