Help with meltdowns

Just to take up that issue of puberty it can be both earlier than usual or later than usual, even very delayed. The authority most people cite is Isabell Henault (2006) Asperger's Syndrome and Sexuality from adolescence through adulthood (Jessica Kingsley Publishers). The section on puberty is pages 19-37. She then goes on to inappropriate sexual behaviours and social skills.

I find it a bit too clinical and have a sense it was written in the context of individuals in an institutional environment - ie difficult to relate to from an able aspergers perspective.

But the trouble is there just isn't enough around on this subject, as Mhairi suggests, this is a very difficult problem for many chuildren and adults on the spectrum.

Where I think it is relevant for an 11 year old is that this will be being discussed by his peers at school. He may not be able to identify readily with what he hears (and sees). Also his social skills may not be able to distinguish bluff, boasting, exaggeration and all the other ways young boys deal with this kind of exploration. If he doesn't appear able to keep up he's going to get name-calling, including gay or ***.

I do wonder whether sexuality plays a part when meltdowns start in early puberty. People on the spectrum just cannot compete "on a level playing field" with the amount of innuendo, bragging and sheer nonsense that will be going on around him at school.

I've made this point on other posts. Sexuality is a crucial issue - it doesn't get discussed in here the way you might expect it should. Autism is no rightful place for prudishness.

Just to take up that issue of puberty it can be both earlier than usual or later than usual, even very delayed. The authority most people cite is Isabell Henault (2006) Asperger's Syndrome and Sexuality from adolescence through adulthood (Jessica Kingsley Publishers). The section on puberty is pages 19-37. She then goes on to inappropriate sexual behaviours and social skills.

I find it a bit too clinical and have a sense it was written in the context of individuals in an institutional environment - ie difficult to relate to from an able aspergers perspective.

But the trouble is there just isn't enough around on this subject, as Mhairi suggests, this is a very difficult problem for many chuildren and adults on the spectrum.

Where I think it is relevant for an 11 year old is that this will be being discussed by his peers at school. He may not be able to identify readily with what he hears (and sees). Also his social skills may not be able to distinguish bluff, boasting, exaggeration and all the other ways young boys deal with this kind of exploration. If he doesn't appear able to keep up he's going to get name-calling, including gay or ***.

I do wonder whether sexuality plays a part when meltdowns start in early puberty. People on the spectrum just cannot compete "on a level playing field" with the amount of innuendo, bragging and sheer nonsense that will be going on around him at school.

I've made this point on other posts. Sexuality is a crucial issue - it doesn't get discussed in here the way you might expect it should. Autism is no rightful place for prudishness.