The more I think about what's going on with Gavin the more I am wondering if he's not just regressing again. We have experienced a few regressive phases in the past few years. In the past when they have hit they seem to effect some random part of Gavin's abilities. For example he has been brushing his own teeth for many years then all of a sudden he can't do it with out making a HUGE mess. Then he will walk out of the bathroom with toothpaste all over his face. Sometimes he will regain the ability after some time and practice.
The big issue is whether or not this is really happening or is he just playing us and exercising control in the only way he knows how to. Sometimes I really wonder because it's never the same thing. It always seems to be some random aspect of his life that he can no longer manage on his own.
Right now the huge issue is hygiene. He did really well for a while the all of a sudden he started using his shirts as a tissue. No matter how many times we remind him he still does it. He seems to forget within seconds of us reminding him. This phase has been going on all school year and he is destroying all his clothes.
How are you supposed to know what he can and cannot do when it seems to be constantly changing. This is one of the reasons he is such a complicated case. He floats on the spectrum instead of just being on the spectrum. If that even makes sense. It's so incredibly frustrating when he can't follow one or two step tasks.
I wish talking burned more calories because I would be in awesome shape with as often as we are repeating ourselves.
LT
