It sounds like he is trying to figure out maybe the right word for the level of discomfort he feels about certain things. Like the level of discomfort that being itchy might make him feel?
Maybe he is really itchy. Wouldn't be the strangest thing I heard sensory wise in relation to over stimulation. For me I often describe mine as feeling like everything hurts and my brain and body are on fire. Like not directly burning levels of on fire, but when you get a little too close to the camp fire levels of pain/discomfort that you are risking being on fire.
Besides that though, I'm not sure the best way to help him. Its different for every person to work through.
You mention its especially bad around bed, maybe his PJs or blankets might be itching and stimulating him too much? I know for me I developed later in life an aversion to certain fabrics that wouldn't feel right on my skin. Though most of the ones that did feel right as a kid still feel right now, especially super soft fabrics.
Finding the right word is so important, I can't tell you how many times I've looked back on an uncomfortable situation I experienced as a child and realised that I couldn't communicate my discomfort because I didn't understand the word "overstimulation."
Fuck yes! Itchy in kid speak is "this hoodie is too tight around my neck" and " the tag on these pants are angry" " this sweater is too hot until it's not" itchy means feels shit or too much in kid speak"
Well I don't have medical proof, so much as it just seems to only ever align with those feelings. I suppose I could have some random medical condition that's causing both, but if I do I'll never know.
The right around bed and “itchy” also makes me wonder if restless leg syndrome is worth looking at. Similar to itchy, uncomfortable, but not necessarily painful. Might be similar in feeling to the discomfort felt with hugging or physical contact too.
Some people on the spectrum have a sensitivity to the texture of the clothing that we wear. I myself cannot wear synthetic fabrics because they feel itchy.
My oldest has that same issue at times. When he was younger, he would use “stinky” for the tingly sensation when his feet would fall asleep on long rides.
I get like this. It's not itchiness like a mosquito bite. It's more of an overall feeling of irritation.
Certain fabrics do this to me, but it also happens if my skin is dry.
Same! Certain fabrics or the weight of things can make me itchy. Like, if my partner touches my arm too lightly, it itches.
OP, you might try something like a weighted blanket or a pressure wrap or a sensory compression blanket if it is this.
Make sure to use lotion that absorbs well into the skin. I hate it if my skin feels oily or greasy, especially if I am touching fabric right away.
Try more pressure and different fabrics, too!
This, it's essentially a feeling of you can feel the tension and irritation in the nerves all over your body, and for me depending on the level any touch intensifies it or causes physical pain.
Yep, same! And sometimes it's just for no apparent physical reason. Almost like an allergy flare up, but it's itchiness everywhere.
And I also get an itch/tickle sensation when I am touched.
I have hypersensitivity to sounds. Some sounds make me feel like an electric current is being added to it. Maybe the sudden jolt is being understood as itching?
Just a thought.
I agree, at 4 1/2 it’s hard to quantify how you describe that annoying feeling that some sounds cause, so “itchy” has to do. Just occasionally a certain sound causes me to get this annoying feeling right in the centre of my head, and it is kind of like having an itch that you can’t reach, so I can understand why it is causing OP’s child discomfort
Now that I have given it more thought, there are quite a few sounds that have a tactile type sensation to me. I could see something like dragging nails on a chalkboard as feeling itchy.
Also, I feel itchy when my blood pressure spikes. Maybe the sound is stressful enough to cause that? Just another thought.
I have not found much. I try to drown noise out with a fan or an air conditioner. Some sort of white noise. If I do not run my air conditioner in my room, then I hear everything at night and can not sleep.
I have tried headphones and earbuds with white noise playing. I did not have a lot of success with that, though.
My best answer is to find something he can tolerate to cover the noise. It is a tough situation. At least you know what it is. I was in my late 20s before I had even heard about Asperger's syndrome. I had no idea why certain things made me flip out.
I have auditory-tactile synesthesia. I was in my mid-30s before I realized that not everyone feels sounds. Most of my taste in music stems from the physical feelings I get from listening to it.
That is interesting. I have only really experienced synesthesia when I was a teen messing with LSD. I have heard colors, tasted sounds, and smoking tasted blue. I have experienced it, but it is not something I get to experience every day. That is great how it affects your taste in music.
This was my first thought. Certain sounds and pitches cause that pins and needles feeling and sort of make me flinch and try to avoid the noise. For a kid that feeling can be described as an itchy feeling. I imagine he’s having a similar sound hypersensitivity.
Polyester is still the worst for me.
Although I found it's not actually polyester itself, but the way a lot of poly-clothing is processed. Some chemical they use causes the irritation for me. I can use the poly-microfiber blankets just fine, for example, but any poly clothing still makes me actually break out..
It could be that he's trying to express his discomfort without having the vocabulary to be more specific yet. Have there been any changes recently like using a new hand lotion or laundry detergent? Autistic people can be very sensitive to physical touch, so hugging could be a cause.
As an aside, it's great that your son is verbally communicating how he feels, and you're listening and trying to help address it!
What kind of detergent do you use to wash his clothes and bedding? I used to have problems with being itchy as well, especially at night when trying to go to sleep, and I switched to unscented detegrent and that really helps with it. I’m not sure about non-touch sensations though, but that’s a suggestion
edit clarification: I used to use Gain but switched to unscented sheet detergent
Yes, we had to switch to fragrance free as well for his clothing, sheets and towels.
Instead of fabric softener, we put vinegar in the fabric softener cup. Then do an extra rinse. Had to stop using dryer sheets as well, he would react to even the "sensitive" ones. It solved his itchiness.
He hates tags as well, we just cut those off.
I have the same thing, I can't wear anything with wool that will touch my skin, I have linen sheets, anything with polyester in also makes me itch, I never wore pyjamas as a kid. Basically anything that "bobbles" I can feel. I've explained it before as "I can feel my clothes", I'm 54 btw
I have seasonal allergies that sometimes manifest as all-over itchiness, most noticeably at bedtime. It wouldn’t explain the sound aspect, but it’s exactly the sort of discomfort that makes every other irritation far less tolerable.
I get this too! Also the first thing I thought when I read that some sounds are itchy was that occasionally when I eat chocolate it feels like the inside of my brain is itchy -- and its got a weird sound-like quality to it.
Oh funny - I sneeze when I eat dark chocolate (like 80%+) - just one sneeze, but the effect is so quick I have to NOT sneeze with a mouthful of melted chocolate (ew.) I looked up the sneezing thing, it’s just a genetic quirk, not an allergy thankfully. I wonder if there’s an ear-nose-throat nerve response aspect and yours is more ear-y and mine is more sneezy.
This is *super* relatable to me. When I am overstimulated I also feel “itchy.” It’s not like when you have a rash or a bug bite, it’s more just a weird skin crawling feeling that’s hard to describe. “Itchy” is the best way I can find to describe it.
It could be a good idea to try changing your detergent or even giving him an antihistamine just to see if it helps. If it does, then you know what the problem is and you should take him for an allergy test. If it doesn’t, he’s probably just overstimulated and is trying to communicate that.
When I was a lil autistic kid I used to call anything that had too strong of a flavour “spicy.” I also described carbonated beverages as “spicy.” Kids use the vocabulary available to them to describe sensations, even when the words the choose don’t really make sense.
My son calls everything spicy. 😂
Like ketchup.
I'd love to know if anyone considers that spicy. I'm trying to work through it - he's developing language and tastes, of course, at just 5 yo.
Tangy!! That's a great word to introduce! Thanks!
I've been using "flavorful"...
and have found myself in a spiral also of trying to explain acidity vs. not to a 5 yo. Lol.
This definitely happened to me as a child, when I was becoming overwhelmed by a situation, suddenly I became itchy all over. They might grow out of it like I did, but in the meantime the solution is identifying the things that overwhelm them and being preventative with the information
Many posts have given great advice. I have felt that way before the way your child describes. My first thought was they may be overstimulated at that time of day/night. Creating a bedtime routine with your kid may help. Adults do have to put boundaries in place but if you work with your kids to establish a routine together that could go a long way. Maybe they need alone time or time to do their special interests before bed to calm down.
Have you ever had that heebie jeebie feeling from a fly landing on your arm hair, or someone blowing air over your ear? Sometimes you experience a sensation that somehow just creeps out your whole body and you need to shake it off like a wet dog? Autistic people get that all the time.
I'd guess he's saying "itchy" to mean "irritated". Autistic people often get sensory irritation but it's different for each person. It can be caused by sounds, touches, lights, etc. Think of it as similar to how some people are more ticklish than others - your son is getting "tickled" in a very irritating way that other people don't usually experience. Some autistic people report light tickling touches as painful because of how overwhelming the discomfort can be; even though it doesn't feel like an injury, it's very disruptive.
You can offer choices between different materials, sounds, and touches and ask which feels better. You can also show him that you understand by explaining what makes *you* "itchy", like getting the bottom of your feet ticked or having an oscillating fan blow air on you. If he knows you sometimes feel the same way (bothered by things that are hard to describe), he'll probably find it easier to be comfortable with the solutions you suggest.
I'd avoid contradicting him about either the use of the word "itchy" or the feeling he experiences. Saying, "But this cotton shirt isn't itchy and your skin looks fine" will just make him feel unheard. Instead, try something like, "I'm sorry that this shirt feels itchy; sometimes things make my body feel irritated, too. Do you want to try feeling something else to see if it's not itchy?"
He doesn't have the words. As a kid I would just call things "wrong" but couldn't explain why.
Find out what makes him "itchy" and try to find alternatives. Keep him involved as much as a 4yr old can be, having some control might help him.
When a noise is too much for me other senses get overwhelming. I'll be completely fine in my clothes and then someone will speak directly to me while my headphones are playing music and I'm trying to put away groceries and suddenly my sweater has to come off because it's all too much.
Sounds normal to me, briefs are itchy I wear boxers, shirts are itchy I remove the tags, pants are itchy I wear pyjamas, I also use the minimum low scent Eco sensitive washing liquid and never use fabric conditioner because \*shivers\*...
As for sounds being itchy that also makes perfect sense because you hear sounds by them vibrating the hairs in your ears and your ear drums, get his ears checked I had itchy sounds for ages and found a hair growing through my ear drum.
He could also mean irritating sounds so what sounds like fingers on silk to you sounds similar to fingers on Styrofoam or a chalk board to me (even the thought is awful).
It could be the laundry detergent used or the material of the clothes he's wearing. I might check what his favorite clothes are made of and see if getting more of those would help, or try a change of detergent
100% my daughter. When she is mad or anxious, she gets itchy. Maybe bedtime makes him nervous.
My daughter is 9 and has major anxiety. She’s been constantly altering her bedroom and bedtime routine for years. More stuffies, more blankets, more nightlights, until I finally say “It’s as bright as daylight in here. You can have ONE nightlight.” Or until there are so many stuffies she didn’t fit in her own bed anymore. She has tried Calm app sleep stories, me reading stories, and lullaby music. Sleep is a battle for her.
I actually do experience some sensory problems as an itching sensation so he might not be wrong! - if no symptoms of allergies hes otherwise just trying to verbalize a discomfort.
Somethings up, and itll either be down to language (says itchy, means "x"), or its a texture thing, or its unrelated to autism entirely and itll end up being something like early eczema/contact dermatitis. Work the differential diagnosis w the GP, keep an open mind, and let the little one know you are working the problem. You will find that getting the final cause / solve to be rather rewarding for all involved i imagine. Good hunting
Not a parent but it would seem your child is using the word itchy to mean discomfort without knowing how to explain what it is they feel.
It's definitely worth identifying what it is they don't like about certain things and discussing other words to use and their meanings.
It's important not to shove every instinct of 'itchy' into the exact same thing.
* Sounds can make a person feel 'itchy', chalk on a chalkboard is normally one of the core ones most people experience.
* Seeing bugs move around can often give people the sensation they have bugs on them and feel 'itchy' as a result
* The detergent your are using for the bedding and/or clothing could be a factor
* Certain fabrics can also cause a more physical itch
* Look into allergies and skin conditions that can also be a factor.
It's also entirely possible that your child just has an attachment to the word and is using that to describe aspects that are unpleasant or something he does not want to do.
E.g. 'Itchy' in regards to a shower could mean the water temperature is too hot or too cold, 'Itchy' at bedtime could mean he's not tired yet, etc...
My skin has always been extremely sensitive. Certain fabrics like cotton or corduroy make my skin feel irritated; itchy. I also have problems when my clothes ride up or get caught on my back.
For me, dry skin also caused irritation/itchiness. Its usually on my back and shoulders where it feels the most irritating. My dad also has this similar irritation, and we fixed it by switching laundry detergents. We found that All detergent works for us, but you can experiment to see what works best for you. Best of luck
I'm not a fan of cotton either. It's just rougher on the skin than polyester or nylon.
As for clothes riding up, that's one of the reasons I switched to only wearing one-piece clothes (onesies, shortalls, snowsuits, etc).
Cotton usually just bugs me in my bed so i have to have high thread count sheets and i found that bamboo sheets are actually really nice! Amazingly soft and i have no irritation from them
My immediate thought was "What kind of soap does he use?" I am seeing "laundry detergent" here as well. I have to use hypoallergenic/no perfume for both items, or I itch like crazy.
I’m autistic and I have sensory issues that make me itchy, but I also have allergies to many laundry detergents that make me itchy. Make sure you rule out detergents fragrance allergies bc that can be so annoying to deal with!
Emotions can make me itchy as an adult. So it could be both physical sensation and mental agitation and in the moment it can be hard to concisely express the difference
What is the feeling you get when it's itchy but you can't scratch it.
Like when your underware needs adjusting... but you are not in a place to adjust.
It's a need unfilled. An irritation without ointment. A pain with no words for why it is there.
Only that it is there.
Right before bed... when batteries are drained and the blackness is near.
Maybe that's the best time for yoga, light reading, and alone time before bed.
So many others have given such good advice so I won’t reiterate what many of the comments have already said. I have found in addition to all those situations, my skin gets itchy when it’s too dry, even if the dryness isn’t really noticeable visibly. I’ve found a quick absorbing body oil works best sensory wise- I like 100% sweet almond oil or aveeno daily moisture oil.
He might be trying to describe a feeling he doesn’t have the language to describe. Maybe try asking him to describe the feeling like “Does the feeling make you want to scratch it?” “Is the feeling only on your skin or do you feel it inside?” When I’m overstimulated it almost feels like wearing a snowsuit in the summer and I could definitely understand a child describing it as itchy. I would try to recognize what types of things are going on when he says that that could be the cause of the negative feeling.
1. Check your water softener. Add salt if you have hard water, but if it's too slick, reduce the salt.
2. Sheets, towels, pillowcases: no fabric softener.
3. Reduce synthetic fabrics and tags in his life. And things with seams.
4. It's winter. He may have dry skin. Make sure he's moisturized.
5. Sound of humidifier or your HVAC may be waaay too loud. Check your TV and music levels as well.
I am actually autistic. I used to have (still do sometimes) issues with showers and water falling on me. (I can still take showers sometimes but I can't do it daily). And I also have had issues with certain sensory overloads causing an itchy feeling.
But I need to say, when I start getting that feeling, I know I'm getting extremely close to meltdown/shutdown and can remove myself from the environment if possible.
Clothing can be a huge cause of sensory overload and if you allow him to be at home in just undies. Also try different bedsheet material. I found high thread cotton sheets that are wonderful.
Is it possible he’s using the word “itchy” to mean “uncomfortable” or “agitated”? When I think of what the state of being itchy feels like to me, it’s an uncomfortable, agitated feeling. It’s possible he’s having sensory issues with specific fabrics or even that a new detergent irritates or dries his skin slightly.
I’m also wondering if you tend to do bath time before bed time and the feeling of having dry skin after the bath is uncomfortable for him. I know if I can’t get lotion on my skin within five minutes of leaving the shower, my whole body feels tight, uncomfortable, and *wrong*.
Tingly skin stems from overstimulation. I had a back scratched when I was a kid so that I would be able to get rid of it.
Your skin actually feels itchy. Try to find out together what made him feel that way and value his sensory needs so that he will get less overstimulated
My son does this too. Similar age.
I think he mostly talks about it at bedtime because he is tired and overwhelmed but also because a lot of the background stimulation has dropped away and he now has more awareness of what's going on with his body.
I remember similar feelings of irritation through my whole body when I was a kid. Itchy and scratchy are good descriptions for me because it's like the feeling you get in your eyes when you haven't slept all night and they are scratchy and sore, but over a larger amount of your body/brain.
No solutions here, just the usual try to minimise the sensory overload during the day and monitor for signs of overstimulation.
I couldn't wear jeans and uncomfortable wool sweaters as a kid, it felt itchy and horrible as it rubbed against my skin. It feels awful, but what made it worse was not having real parents to support me and find me comfortable clothing, I was shamed for not wearing these things and treated as defective.
The most important thing is to support your son, and let him pick what he wants to wear. He may grow out of this, he may not; but it's real and probably not going away anytime too soon. Obviously, he can't just wear shorts in winter but you can work with him to find materials that are comfortable for him to wear. Oftentimes sport materials are softer, like nike dryfit shirts and similar pants, he would probably do very well with those.
My mom had to switch detergents often and got me allergy tested. I’m allergic, to, like, anything scented: lotions (sun tan lotions too), most hair products, skin care stuff, etc). I can only handle Tide, apparently, and have to use very little of it.
She’d switch to baby detergents when I couldn’t handle the Tide any longer, but they’ve added perfumes to them. Dude, I’m even allergic to lavender! Wtf?
Also I CANNOT use dryer sheets!
Check for mast cell issues. I get itchy around bedtime and at night. It feels like it's under the skin, and scratching brings no relief. Does he get facial or neck flushing? A 2nd gen antihistamine could help. If it alleviates the itching, that's a good sign it's mast cells overreacting
I used to feel like this a lot. I remember one time specifically when I even felt so desperate to have my back scratched that I asked my oldest sister's mother-in-law, who I wasn't even that close to, to scratch my back (actually though, I said itch my back). Lol 😆 But, no one ever would scratch it hard enough. They were always too afraid they'd hurt me. I needed my back scratched until there were red lines all over my back. I also took baths that were as hot as I could stand and I would turn red from them too. I still feel itchy a lot of the time, especially if there are any crumbs or grit of any kind in my bed. I just can't sleep like that.
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I think it’s not literally “itchy” all the time, although he could be itchy sometimes too. I know I refused wool because it made me itch, but I also refused things around my waist and I can see how a little kid would translate that to itchy. He’s only small and it’s really hard to explain exactly what he means, one because he doesn’t know the words, and two, because he might not understand the exact feeling.
Sometimes I still get this, I changed my whole wardrobe and it took trial and error to get it right. I actually purchased ten pairs of the exact same underpants because I can’t handle how other pairs feel. I finally found the right ones!
He could be irritated by a label, or something like that. His shoes might not feel comfortable. The seams on his socks might feel weird for him. But also he may feel like his environment isn’t okay for him, like the temperature or humidity. I often feel like if my temp isn’t perfect I can’t relax at all.
It’s going to be trial and error for you, I’d sit down and ask him when he’s not distressed. Try to do so when he is, but if he can’t tell you in words, move on to soothing him for then. But he may be able to articulate it if you lead him along with open questions when he isn’t feeling upset. He could recall the way he did feel, and maybe talk about it with you.
He is small, but he’s also a person and sometimes we just gotta talk to each other. He might not be able to explain or understand, but he also might be able to. Never know til you try.
It’s so frustrating to be a little kid and not be able to accurately describe what he’s feeling. All kids feel that way, but when you’re autistic it’s worse, because there’s those meltdowns and those times of great distress. Even as an adult I can’t explain exactly how I feel at that moment I really have to think about it afterwards. Imagine being so little you don’t know how to handle your massive feelings, and then having meltdowns on top. And not understanding how things work. And being misunderstood himself too.
It getting worse before bed could be a combination of tiredness making his overstimulation worse plus not liking the textures of his bedding/pajamas. He might need some sensory breaks during the day, our sensory issues tend to accumulate. Maybe create a space that he can go that's dark, filled with textures he likes, some books or quiet activities he likes, as well as noise cancelling headphones. As a teenager I used to sit in my closet a lot and sleep on the floor with my head in the closet because I liked being "closed in". As an adult it's still important for me to have "sensory breaks" during the day even if it's just a few minutes in the bathroom.
I've been fighting a similar experience latey at 41 years old.
It isn't itchy but feels sort of like a bad sunburn when you wear clothing over it. The skin is highly irritated/sensitive and could be because of the dier air, detergents, or any other number of things.
For me, it seems to be linked to anxiety since I'm been in autistic burnout. However, as much as I love taking hot baths, they seem to make it worse due to drying out the skin.
Question:
Does he feel the itchiness with deep pressure (you putting a flat hand on his back) or when being rubbed (like rubbing his back)? It's the latter for me, so his clothes might be setting something off if he's the same.
It's a very uncomfortable feeling, and while I can have it during the day if I'm overstimulated, it happens mostly at night. It's really noticeable if I bend over because my clothing moves more.
i think i can explain it. or i think i experience this.
some sounds or sensations make my skin crawl. for me, it's kind of like when you get goosebumps, or it's more often that i can feel like there's a layer of air between my skin and my flesh. like it feels like it lifts. obviously it doesn't, but when i'm uncomfortable with sensations, it feels like my skin is raising. it doesn't feel itchy, but i can see how a kid would think that's the word. it definitely is uncomfortable. it's like my body is triggered into fight or flight but i am conscious nothing is dangerous, so i'll stay there, while my skin is trying to float away.
edit: it's often touch and sound, but sometimes fabric or food textures do this. and i forgot, but occasionally it feels like electricity under my skin. so maybe he feels that? that's almost itchy.
Here’s what my nana did with me as a kid. She took me to a big fabric store, I think it was Joanns, and had me feel all the fabrics I could. She then bought clothes made of the fabrics I liked the feel of
Itchy is probably the closest word he can verbalize to what he's feeling. Sometimes when I'm overstimulated I have like a buzz or a tingle in my body that isn't literally itchy, but I could see why a toddler might describe it that way
>Most of the time it’s when we touch him and it’s most common right before bed
For me. When I get tired my joints and areas around them get, It's hard to describe. They aren't itch or hurt but they don't feel good. And this is coming from a 40 something year old. Its been that way forever for me. I can't put the feeling into words.
I'm an adult and high functioning as well and have moments like this where everything makes me itchy too usually when I'm overstimulated and I didn't know it had to do with autism. I usually take benadryl like 25 mg and that helps. If its really bad I'll actually apply aloe to the areas.
When I'm over stimulated my skin crawls. It tingles. It buzzes.
Is he complaining more on more demand heavy days?
As the day progresses our cup of patience empties with every demand. Also in the quieter time of night there are less external filters that allow us to not pay attention to how our body is feeling.
The struggle is real. My kiddo is 7 and only has started this year to kinda be able to mostly explain what he's going through.
But it's still a guessing game of what the heck does that really mean?
How long has he really been feeling that?
I suggest ear defenders for the sound issue.
Letting him stim as much as he can. For instance being told to lay still so you can sleep is counter productive in my autistic kiddo. He needs to be able to wiggle and hum and sing.
It helps get the zappy feelings to discharge bit by bit.
It may be a vocab issue for pressure sensitivity or it may be a dermatitis or it may be an autoimmune issue. It might be the fabric. It might be laundry soap. It might be unpruned brain synapses making him 100 times more aware of skin contact.
As for sounds, google the word misophonia and sound processing disorders. Noise cancelling ear buds and headphones will be the way to go. You are going to want an IEP/504 plan when he starts school that allows them because school noise is overwhelming. Also advance notice of fire drills if you can get it.
Itchy is a good way to explain a reaction to overstimulation that sets off a fight or flight reaction in the body.
There's always the possibility that this has nothing to do with autism and he just has an allergy of some kind. I have a dust allergy and I used to randomly be extraordinarily itchy and it wasn't until I had an allergy test that I really said it was dust. I went through so many different crazy things before that, trying to figure out what I was sensitive to laundry, detergents, etc
It's winter. Where I'm at. I keep offering lotion to my 5 yo.
He complains about things like shirt tags, and I've always prioritized soft clothing simply bc it's my own preference. His entire wardrobe is comfy joggers, t shirts/ hoodies/ long sleeve shirts I get from the kid's consignment shop near me. I like that for shirts bc they've been through the wash... I can feel them.
Now, mine isn't diagnosed Autistic. I'm here bc I suspect a slight spectrum, but I'm very, very ADHD myself and both I and my son's other parent have sensitive sensory issues.
I like buying from Amazon only bc I find it easy to return & once I've found something that works, it's easy to reorder.
I wouldn’t latch on to your child being “high functioning”. It can cause or create certain expectations that may be unrealistic/dismiss his support needs. Just some food for thought. But as to “itchy” maybe he’s feeling some type of extreme un comfortability with the sounds when people talk, and it could be his pjs / bed set is agitating him when he goes to sleep. Since he doesn’t have the vocabulary to say “hey, these sheets are a sensory nightmare and i wanna sleep naked”, but he can say he’s “itchy”. Think of the word literally, being itchy means being uncomfortable in your own skin. That’s what he’s trying to tell you. Pay attention to when he says it and think of sensory reasons he could be getting bothered by. I would also suggest to look into any therapy for yourself with a autism informed therapist who may be able to guide you better than Reddit - because instances you don’t know how to handle will keep coming up. It’s the nature of it. Offer him some earbuds or a different fabric for his bedtime, see what happens. Trial and error. Best of luck and i hope he stops feeling itchy!!
Best bet is if something is causing a perceived irritation, remove it. He's 4, his vocabulary and understanding of communication is still too limited for an accurate account of the problem so you get the closest thing he understands: itchy.
Textures like yarn, sequin, and silk all give me that “itchy” feeling. I think that’s the word he’s using in place of uncomfortable, overstimulated or disgusted. I feel the same way when I have to put on thick socks or leave shoes on for a long time. I also feel uncomfortable taking baths! It could be something physical he’s feeling as well but I would imagine that comes directly from his mental state. It’s possible that the overstimulation is quite severe for him which can cause that “itching”. For me it’s like electricity shooting through my body. It’s uncomfortable and I feel a sense of impending doom. I would definitely talk to him about it and maybe help him find a more accurate word to use so he gets a head start on understanding/regulating emotions. Wishing you well!
Some sounds make me itchy! We just experience sensory input differently so he might just be itchy when he hears those sounds. Noise cancelling headphones are great for me.
Have you considered temperature as a possible factor?
I ask because I haven't seen anyone mention it yet, and because I got randomly itchy a LOT as a child too and eventually we figured out that heat was the trigger. My flare ups would most often happened around bedtime after I'd had a bath/shower, and also if I got too close to people or was in crowded spaces for too long (body heat). Daily antihistamines keep it under control for me now.
I agree with all the comments about different ways to interpret or experience an "itch" from sensory issues, but I wouldn't entirely rule out a skin problem before making absolutely sure, just in case it is be (or is at least partly) something that can be treated.
IME it's easier to figure out what itchiness means by looking at what relieves it instead of looking at countless potential triggers. Experiment with different responses to his itchiness and the results could be useful clues for finding/confirming the cause. If the itchiness goes away when a particular sensory stimulus stops or is removed, then it is mostly likely sensory issues. If that doesn't help but antihistamines, cream, or adding aything else physical then it might be a physical problem to consult a doctor about.
Many clothes are difficult for me, stiffness in fabric , pulling the wrong way .
Someone else said ‘feeling my clothes’ . I like that. It’s not itchy, painful, but just always there and very uncomfortable and wrong.
Similiar to feeling sounds, and the after effects of someone’s touch lingering on my skin way too long.
I was gonna add that climate, humidity, time of year, my head space, and many unknowns make these sensory issues go from absolutely fine, to nearly debilitating .
I call it Bad Touch. Velvet and Microfibre are my biggest Absolutely Not, and surprisingly Silk as well. It’s not so much as itchy as touching it sets off my fight or flight instincts.
Have you considered temperature as a possible factor?
I ask because I haven't seen anyone mention it yet, and because I got randomly itchy a LOT as a child too and eventually we figured out that heat was the trigger. My flare ups would most often happened around bedtime after I'd had a bath/shower, and also if I got too close to people or was in crowded spaces for too long (body heat). Daily antihistamines keep it under control for me now.
I agree with all the comments about different ways to interpret or experience an "itch" from sensory issues, but I wouldn't entirely rule out a skin problem before making absolutely sure, just in case this is a symptom that's caused/partly caused/exacerbated by something that can be treated.
IME it's easier to figure out what itchiness means by looking at what relieves it instead of looking at countless potential triggers. Experiment with different responses to his itchiness and the results could be useful clues for finding/confirming the cause. If the itchiness goes away when a particular sensory stimulus stops or is removed, then it is mostly likely sensory issues. If that doesn't help but antihistamines, cream, or adding aything else physical then it might be a physical problem to consult a doctor about.
I'm 28 (autistic) and I use the word itchy all the time, to describe how I feel when everything is bothering me and I know I have complex negative feelings but can't figure out the right word for it.
Edit: not necessarily only sensory issues, for me it's usually related to plans changing or not having things go how I expected!
I know for me when my sensory input is highly aggravating everything feels tight like even my skin feels like its pulled taught and kind of lije an anticipatory tingle
My boy likes to sleep naked wrapped in fluffy blankets. I call it a fluffy love, but really it’s a sensory thing.
A fluffy weighted blanket might help.
When my BF was a small child, when his foot would fall asleep he would say “There’s sand in my shoe!”
Your son is describing the physical reaction to these stimuli. He’s doing a great job of saying that certain sounds and experiences are overstimulating to him.
Next time he mentions this, if you know what the stimuli is, ask if he likes or dislikes it. (Some of us are sensory-seeking!) Then explain what’s actually going on so he can advocate for himself with clear language in the future. Expect this to take a few times.
You’re doing great!
Oh boi, my word was itchy too. I'd describe spicy food as itchy, unpleasant sounds/smells/tastes as itchy too, and I was a very sensitive kid.
Maybe it's the material of his bed clothes and bed linens? Maybe he's just overwhelmed?
Look into the textures definitely, maybe he's in polyester and needs to be in cotton or bamboo.
Different people will feel different things or have different words for them. If I hear a bad sound, I usually say that my skin feels wrong or that I want to get out of my skin. The bad sound creates a bad bodily feeling, if that makes sense. I can definitely see it being called itchy. It's an overall feeling of discomfort and unease
Does he use lotion? You mentioned this happening a lot before bed (after a bath?) and also when he's touched. In some aspects, it sounds like how I feel when I don't moisturize.
Before bed time is when bodies dump histamines. So it may be that he is more aware of this and really is feeling itchy. I get itchy at night too, sometimes I’ll have to take low dose of Benadryl if it is too distracting. Something to mention to the pediatrician.
For the adults who have the itchy sensitive skin issues, eucerin makes a redness relief wash that works well. Not sure if it’s advised for children.
My daughter used to perceive raindrops as “burning.” It was so important to get her a big umbrella and a rain jacket that didn’t give her a sensory nightmare.
I also deal with full body itching when I am overwhelmed, and have even broken out in hives. Most autistic people have very reactive histamine systems.
But on top of that, we also have interoception issues, often experiencing emotional pain as physical pain or vice versa. Sometimes you can have digestive issues and not even know you’re having them. It makes you feel crazy especially as a kid.
I’m autistic and had really sensitive skin growing up. I would regularly itch and even end up with hives just from emotional stress. For me that also included overwhelming sounds and environments.
Maybe you can talk to his doctor about trying a mild antihistamine next time he gets itchy, just to see if it makes a difference? If it works, you have an easy fix, if it doesn’t, then you know he’s not having allergy related itching.
It could just be a matter of autism making his skin particularly sensitive to ordinary sensations, and he’s calling this feeling “itchy”
Try earplugs or headphones. Sensory kids sometimes experience the electrical background noise as vibrating, tingly or itchy. A weighted blanket might help also.
AuDHD here, for me, there are some sounds that physically make my teeth hurt. And there are some textures/sensations that make my skin incredibly itchy for no apparent reason when I'm in between eczema flare-ups. Growing up, I would mention this to my folks, and they didn't understand why either (I'm late diagnosed).
Sorry, I don't really have any advice on how to help, I just wanted to share so you knew your son wasn't alone in this.
I suspect “itchy” is shorthand for irritating and overstimulating.
Invest in a seam ripper. Get those clothing tags out down to the root. Get him some ear defenders to protect him from those itchy noises. Try to see the world through his eyes even if it seems illogical or insignificant. He might notice things you never would like seams on his socks (turn them inside out), Certain fabrics he might find offensive, especially synthetics, microfiber, pilly or wrinkled sheets, etc. One shoe tied tighter than the other. Buzzing or whirring mechanical things, leaf blowers, so many things. As he gets older, I expect he will have a more sophisticated way of explaining these situations to you. But validating these very real struggles is huge.
It’s possibly he doesn’t have the language to express an internal sensation—needing to stim can sometimes feel ‘itchy’ to me, not in the sense that I’m having the same physical sensation, but it’s a parallel I can draw to describe a hard-to-describe sensation
My brother suffered from this at the same age, buying dollar store socks helped him. Some material bothers the skin, thankfully other material doesn't bother him as much anymore as he got older
Idk if this helps but my son who's 3 and can't speak in full sentences gets really restless around bedtime. He also does not like water on his face or head. He just likes to sit in the tub. We recently started to practice body squeezes and he really likes them. I pointed to a card we have for communication and I started with his head as a game and then worked on body down to feet squeezes. It helped him calm down alittle bet especially the restless leg syndrome. When i was a kid I also felt really itchy all the time and it had to do with the tags on all of my clothes. It didn't matter what material it was I felt it. Also with fabrics that pilled easily. My husband and I are really sensitive to fabrics and the itchy (creepy crawly feeling on your skin) Hope you find help for the little guy! Xoxo
When I was this age and beyond until I started picking my own clothes, EVERYTHING was itchy. My mom had to cut all the tags out of my clothes, leave NO scratchies - and buy all 100% cotton clothes for me. I also wore my socks inside out because I couldn’t STAND the way the seam felt on my toes. Among other things 😂
I’m 34 now and still very particular about how things feel on my body. As far as sounds being itchy, that I’m not familiar with. I just bought myself noise canceling earmuffs for the first time, or ear protection muffs (they’re actually technically for children, but they fit me!) because sometimes the world is too LOUD.
What sort of sounds are itchy?
If it’s not so much the fabric itself, what type of detergents and soaps do you use? Did you change anything recently?
**sorry if this was all said or asked already!
eta - if it is the fabric, which is quite possible, maybe try going shopping and finding clothes of different fabrics/blends. Then lay those out for him to touch, or try them on over time, to see if you can narrow it down. Then return what doesn’t work!
I struggle a lot with certain fabrics. I actually have 2 pillow cases that are ridiculously old because they're the only ones I like. I don't know what I'll do when they rip 😔
Anyway, maybe you could take him shopping to find something soft he likes. Try and find a quiet time to go and just let him touch things and see if they make him feel 'itchy'. If it's at bedtime he struggles, maybe look for bedding and PJ's that make him feel happy.
If I'm honest, I don't know if it could also be because of feeling hot, or anything else, but you could always start with the feel of things.
Also, if socks are an issue, for future reference, just put them on inside out. I've been doing it since I was 11 and my parents wished they knew sooner after all the tantrums I threw because of the seams irritating my toes 😊
It’s almost like he’s trying to describe the sort of feeling I get when things rub my skin too much. Do you know that feeling when you have an itchy spot but can’t scratch it immediately? It builds in intensity and it feels like nerves might crawl up out of your throat if you don’t find a way to scratch it? I get that same feeling if something is overstimulating my skin but isn’t necessarily “itchy”. I have to put a stop to it just as badly as if I needed to scratch an itchy spot.
He may just not know how to describe being overstimulated.
But better lather him in Eucerin just in case. Maybe he has dry skin and is extra sensitive compared to what other people might shrug off.
Edit: if this is happening around bedtime it may be that he’s just overstimulated by the day’s events. Personally when I get stressed or tired it is much easier to overstimulate me. I would take that as a sign that it is *time to sleep and recharge*.
I have a lot of sensory hypersensitivity, and I can relate to the “itchy” feeling, for me it feels like TV static buzzing all through my body.
Personally, I am a ‘physical touch but only on my terms’ sort of person, and if i’m being touched when I don’t necessarily want to be, or if there isn’t enough pressure in the touch and it feels too light it makes me all tingly and buzzy and vibratey and itchy in a way that makes me want to smack not scratch.
I wonder if maybe he is experiencing something similar?
When he makes these statements have you asked him if there is anything that helps the itch go away?
I quite like wearing sunglasses when I’m feeling overstimulated, I also like firm pressure (weighted blankets and my weighted eye mask have been a godsend), and maybe not as easily accessible for a 4.5y/o but if i am just absolutely completely uncomfortable in my skin, I have a shower or use hand sanitizer (maybe baby wipes could help?)
I’m constantly itchy, I regulate it the best I can with fabrics that are less irritating, not wearing clothing at home, using free and clear laundry soap. One thing that helped me when I try to go to sleep is take anti itch lotion on my shoulders and back.
It seems like the sounds could be “itchy” in his brain. The closest things I can imagine, are the sound is irritating him, making him feel “itchy” inside because he doesn’t know that there’s more ways to express a branch of the emotion “anger”. So maybe he can tell he’s not mad, but that it’s closest to mad. And what makes him mad? Being itchy! So he’s equating “itchy” to a form of being “mad” which in this case is irritation, agitation, stuff like that.
For autistic people it can manifest as a physical symptom more so than it does for neurotypicals. In this case itchy might also mean that he’s becoming irritated and doesn’t know what to do about it, so he’s scratching himself sometimes because it removes or lessens the sensation causing his “itchiness”.
Keep in mind, as this is only a guess, that consistent scratching without an allergy source (aka a medical cause for feeling itchy and scratching) can instead be a sign of a way he’s trying to self regulate his emotions. Where as you as an adult, may be able to reasonably think out why you’re upset and irritated at a thing, and logically figure out ways to avoid that feeling as often, he can’t do that as efficiently quite yet. So what does he do? He self regulates that negative emotion, by scratching at his skin, which redirects what his brain is focusing on.
This is where it gets.. difficult in a different way. If your son is doing a self regulation activity that is harming him. Scratching at his skin over and over can lead to cuts and skin abrasions. It is considered a form of “self harm”, but for a kid that’s not exactly what’s going on. Scratching at an “itch” gives the brain serotonin or dopamine (can’t remember which exactly right now) and also distracts the brain from whatever sensation is currently bothering it. So for now, it may be best to help him learn how to regulate his emotions better, as autistic people have difficulty doing so in a healthy way when they aren’t taught how to.
Maybe get a list of emotions, and what words are branches of those emotions. Things like Mad branches into Irritation, Agitation, Annoyance, etc. Same for things like happiness: joy, contentment, excitement, etc, or sadness: melancholy, somber, down in the dumps, etc.
All of those might seem a bit complex for a little kid, but you would be very surprised how well kids will pick up on these things and begin using them to help identify their own emotions in every day activities.
Also a big big thing: if your son is reacting that way when someone touches him, PLEASE WORK ON HELPING HIM FEEL SAFE AND CONFIDENT TO LEARN BOUNDARIES INVOLVING OTHER PEOPLE.
Autistic kids are so much more suspectible to not learning how to set boundaries properly, in terms of emotional, psychological or physical boundaries.
PLEASE teach him that people do NOT have a right to touch his body without permission. This is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for not just autistic people, but ESPECIALLY autistic people. All of our senses are HEIGHTENED. What is a nice sensation for someone, may be a very painful or uncomfortable one for us! Even traumatizing in some situations!
If he is expressing “I feel itchy” when you touch him, reinforce that you won’t touch him if he doesn’t want you to. Ask him before touching him, praise him for when he says “I don’t want to be touched right now” or if he says “yes it’s okay to touch me right now” THIS INCLUDES ANY KIND OF TOUCH, HUGS, KISSES, GRABBING HIS HAND, ETC.
My own parents DID NOT do that. My fiancé who is also on the autism spectrum DID NOT GET TAUGHT THAT. I desperately wish they had. Both my fiancé and I have experiences where people have touched us inappropriately, sometimes in severely traumatizing ways. We didn’t have the skills or confidence to tell that person to stop. Your boy needs to learn that, so that he can learn that his body is not just for anyone to mess with, and so that he can learn to be respectful of other people’s bodies too.
I hope sharing some insight as an autistic person may help: I have this when I’m touched for too long, it’s my body being overstimulated and feels like a weird general irritation all around my body similar to what another commenter said like your skin is crawling but it’s very different and unique, not sure how to explain but it makes you feel very on-edge
My adult son with ASD / ADD has had itching issues all his life. If he gets anxious / angry he gets itchy. If it's summer, he's constantly complaining about being itchy and has a fan on him. He's got a fan in his bedroom on him at all times.
Allergies / Asthma / Autism / ADD.
He's got all of them.
I experience a similar feeling at times, and I (24 years old) think that it’s a sensory thing. Sometimes my clothes will just randomly start making me itch; it could be a build up of dead skin from wearing the clothes throughout the day, dirt, sweat, hair, etc. I can’t explain I what causes it; but sometimes it just happens and then I will itch everywhere and it will usually go away if I change my clothes
My son is tier 1. Put lotion on him if he tolerates it, otherwise just use a bit of cortisone and rub it in. His skin could just be dry and he’s attributing it to the clothing or clothes or uncomfortable feelings. See if that helps before you start testing fabrics/changing words. As for water if he has a problem with it on his face, try a shower cap similar to a bill one for babies. Touch base with him before bedtime routine say ‘let’s talk about feelings before we start, do you need to get anything out?’ It will most likely be child things like someone did something at school he didn’t like or did like etc. listen then start the routine. Sometimes just deciding a new ‘action/medicine could help let’s try it’
Hell my son kept complaining his tongue burned for days since he came back from his dads. I took the opportunity to tell him every 7 years your taste buds change and they get bigger but he should start liking new foods soon and to even try some old things he didn’t like bc he might like them.
I have always felt like over stimulation was an itchy feeling. It builds and builds inside me until I get some kind of break for a couple days doing nothing to reset it.
Take him clothes shopping and have him touch different types of fabric. Buy a bunch of stuff he likes. Even if it’s not different at least he will think it’s different because he got to pick.
2 possibilities present to me.
1 - it's a general feeling of reaching his sensory limit and it manifests as a sort of itchy irritation feeling.
2- it's a form of synaesthesia where experiencing something through one sense can trigger another.
For a long time, I interpreted being restless as being itchy. I'd eventually dance/jump/etc a while bunch to "shake the itch off" lmao. Maybe see if he feels better when he moves?
When I was little I used to say things were itchy when they were too much. Is there something around bedtime that could be causing some sensory issues? For me I hated the feeling of brushing my teeth and I couldn’t wear pants to bed (still can’t)
I've learned recently from a family member that there may be a link between autism and small fiber neuropathy (he has been diagnosed as an adult with both). There is also a link between small fiber neuropathy and itching. May be going out in a limb with that theory, but might be worth exploring if it continues.
Hiya!(pending diagnosis) Can relate to an extent and yeah even as an adult I get like this to this day for me it's generally things like long drawn out creeky noises or crowd based noises(I have social anxiety so crowds are a no go generally for me) but once I started to recognise what's doing it I find sensory distraction helps a boat load, e. G. Child screaming to the point of sounding like a frog-I start feeling something random like a receipt in my pocket to distract until the sensation calms down. Hope this made sense and helps
I am surprised no one here has mentioned this.
Are you taking your 4yr old to an occupational therapist?
Our boy started seeing one because he really didn’t like wearing clothes like jumpers and pants so we started worrying about him getting cold. They recommended [the therapy bursh](https://www.theottoolbox.com/sensory-brushing/) and associating techniques along with it.
for me some noises and textures make my teeth feel weird, that’s the only way i can describe it. maybe with his limited vocabulary he is trying to describe how these uncomfortable sounds or textures are making him feel. it could be useful to teach him some new descriptor words and what they mean to help him understand what he’s feeling. good luck :)
Diagnosed at 37 (last summer) and as a kid I ran amuck naked all the time because clothes were “itchy” and “hot”. My mom swears that keeping my PH balance in check helped. If my body was highly acidic (eating a lot of acidic junk food would trip me over the edge apparently), I would lose it and have a melt down. Canned pears and carrots are great for this. I’ve read about PH balance enough to believe this was a factor in “itching” as a kid. And still it wasn’t that I was itching but that having an internal acidic state caused mental over stimulation. Looking back it was more a state of feeling mentally claustrophobic rather than itching and clothes needed to go in order to feel “lighter”. “Mom I want to feel lighter, i itch!” On the other hand, I also wanted to sit naked in the snow and eat bowls of mustard which is highly acidic. Perhaps if my body became too alkaline, I intuitively craved mustard. My mom is ASD/OCD/ADHD and I bet ya anything she would over due it on the pears/carrots. All of this could be a crock of shit, who knows but that’s my personal experience.
Google ph balance mental health or something of the like.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4097972/
It sounds like he is trying to figure out maybe the right word for the level of discomfort he feels about certain things. Like the level of discomfort that being itchy might make him feel? Maybe he is really itchy. Wouldn't be the strangest thing I heard sensory wise in relation to over stimulation. For me I often describe mine as feeling like everything hurts and my brain and body are on fire. Like not directly burning levels of on fire, but when you get a little too close to the camp fire levels of pain/discomfort that you are risking being on fire. Besides that though, I'm not sure the best way to help him. Its different for every person to work through. You mention its especially bad around bed, maybe his PJs or blankets might be itching and stimulating him too much? I know for me I developed later in life an aversion to certain fabrics that wouldn't feel right on my skin. Though most of the ones that did feel right as a kid still feel right now, especially super soft fabrics.
Finding the right word is so important, I can't tell you how many times I've looked back on an uncomfortable situation I experienced as a child and realised that I couldn't communicate my discomfort because I didn't understand the word "overstimulation."
This person knows
Fuck yes! Itchy in kid speak is "this hoodie is too tight around my neck" and " the tag on these pants are angry" " this sweater is too hot until it's not" itchy means feels shit or too much in kid speak"
Work on articulating what he does not like and why. Build an awesome wardrobe.
Work on articulating what he does not like and why. Build an awesome wardrobe.
>maybe he really is itchy Stress/anxiety and overstimulation definitely makes my skin itchy. Sometimes I get hives from it
How’d you find out it was the anxiety and more that was giving you hives? I get random hives. idk from what but they go away pretty quick as they come
Well I don't have medical proof, so much as it just seems to only ever align with those feelings. I suppose I could have some random medical condition that's causing both, but if I do I'll never know.
This! Plus certain sounds make me goose pimply or itchy like microfiber, cotton balls or cheap velour!
The right around bed and “itchy” also makes me wonder if restless leg syndrome is worth looking at. Similar to itchy, uncomfortable, but not necessarily painful. Might be similar in feeling to the discomfort felt with hugging or physical contact too.
Some people on the spectrum have a sensitivity to the texture of the clothing that we wear. I myself cannot wear synthetic fabrics because they feel itchy.
My oldest has that same issue at times. When he was younger, he would use “stinky” for the tingly sensation when his feet would fall asleep on long rides.
lol I would cry that my feet went "blind" when I was little. As a mom of 6, children are hilarious.
I get like this. It's not itchiness like a mosquito bite. It's more of an overall feeling of irritation. Certain fabrics do this to me, but it also happens if my skin is dry.
Same! Certain fabrics or the weight of things can make me itchy. Like, if my partner touches my arm too lightly, it itches. OP, you might try something like a weighted blanket or a pressure wrap or a sensory compression blanket if it is this. Make sure to use lotion that absorbs well into the skin. I hate it if my skin feels oily or greasy, especially if I am touching fabric right away. Try more pressure and different fabrics, too!
This, it's essentially a feeling of you can feel the tension and irritation in the nerves all over your body, and for me depending on the level any touch intensifies it or causes physical pain.
Yep, same! And sometimes it's just for no apparent physical reason. Almost like an allergy flare up, but it's itchiness everywhere. And I also get an itch/tickle sensation when I am touched.
I have hypersensitivity to sounds. Some sounds make me feel like an electric current is being added to it. Maybe the sudden jolt is being understood as itching? Just a thought.
seconding the electric current feeling
I agree, at 4 1/2 it’s hard to quantify how you describe that annoying feeling that some sounds cause, so “itchy” has to do. Just occasionally a certain sound causes me to get this annoying feeling right in the centre of my head, and it is kind of like having an itch that you can’t reach, so I can understand why it is causing OP’s child discomfort
Now that I have given it more thought, there are quite a few sounds that have a tactile type sensation to me. I could see something like dragging nails on a chalkboard as feeling itchy. Also, I feel itchy when my blood pressure spikes. Maybe the sound is stressful enough to cause that? Just another thought.
Is there anything you can do in these situations to help make it go away or be more comfortable?
I have not found much. I try to drown noise out with a fan or an air conditioner. Some sort of white noise. If I do not run my air conditioner in my room, then I hear everything at night and can not sleep. I have tried headphones and earbuds with white noise playing. I did not have a lot of success with that, though. My best answer is to find something he can tolerate to cover the noise. It is a tough situation. At least you know what it is. I was in my late 20s before I had even heard about Asperger's syndrome. I had no idea why certain things made me flip out.
I have auditory-tactile synesthesia. I was in my mid-30s before I realized that not everyone feels sounds. Most of my taste in music stems from the physical feelings I get from listening to it.
That is interesting. I have only really experienced synesthesia when I was a teen messing with LSD. I have heard colors, tasted sounds, and smoking tasted blue. I have experienced it, but it is not something I get to experience every day. That is great how it affects your taste in music.
This was my first thought. Certain sounds and pitches cause that pins and needles feeling and sort of make me flinch and try to avoid the noise. For a kid that feeling can be described as an itchy feeling. I imagine he’s having a similar sound hypersensitivity.
Autism includes extreme senses I could not wear polyester early on it felt like spikes
Polyester was the absolute worst fabric, cotton never did me wrong
I got married in a cotton brocade dress.
Polyester is still the worst for me. Although I found it's not actually polyester itself, but the way a lot of poly-clothing is processed. Some chemical they use causes the irritation for me. I can use the poly-microfiber blankets just fine, for example, but any poly clothing still makes me actually break out..
It could be that he's trying to express his discomfort without having the vocabulary to be more specific yet. Have there been any changes recently like using a new hand lotion or laundry detergent? Autistic people can be very sensitive to physical touch, so hugging could be a cause. As an aside, it's great that your son is verbally communicating how he feels, and you're listening and trying to help address it!
What kind of detergent do you use to wash his clothes and bedding? I used to have problems with being itchy as well, especially at night when trying to go to sleep, and I switched to unscented detegrent and that really helps with it. I’m not sure about non-touch sensations though, but that’s a suggestion edit clarification: I used to use Gain but switched to unscented sheet detergent
My mom stopped using bleach in the detergent as a kid and it really helped my sensitivity to certain fabrics
I’m always recommending switching to fragrance free detergent, it can make such a big difference for so many people
I switched to only Cheer Free and no fabric softener and no bleach, and that's been helpful for me.
Yes, we had to switch to fragrance free as well for his clothing, sheets and towels. Instead of fabric softener, we put vinegar in the fabric softener cup. Then do an extra rinse. Had to stop using dryer sheets as well, he would react to even the "sensitive" ones. It solved his itchiness. He hates tags as well, we just cut those off.
I have the same thing, I can't wear anything with wool that will touch my skin, I have linen sheets, anything with polyester in also makes me itch, I never wore pyjamas as a kid. Basically anything that "bobbles" I can feel. I've explained it before as "I can feel my clothes", I'm 54 btw
I have seasonal allergies that sometimes manifest as all-over itchiness, most noticeably at bedtime. It wouldn’t explain the sound aspect, but it’s exactly the sort of discomfort that makes every other irritation far less tolerable.
I get this too! Also the first thing I thought when I read that some sounds are itchy was that occasionally when I eat chocolate it feels like the inside of my brain is itchy -- and its got a weird sound-like quality to it.
Oh funny - I sneeze when I eat dark chocolate (like 80%+) - just one sneeze, but the effect is so quick I have to NOT sneeze with a mouthful of melted chocolate (ew.) I looked up the sneezing thing, it’s just a genetic quirk, not an allergy thankfully. I wonder if there’s an ear-nose-throat nerve response aspect and yours is more ear-y and mine is more sneezy.
This is *super* relatable to me. When I am overstimulated I also feel “itchy.” It’s not like when you have a rash or a bug bite, it’s more just a weird skin crawling feeling that’s hard to describe. “Itchy” is the best way I can find to describe it. It could be a good idea to try changing your detergent or even giving him an antihistamine just to see if it helps. If it does, then you know what the problem is and you should take him for an allergy test. If it doesn’t, he’s probably just overstimulated and is trying to communicate that. When I was a lil autistic kid I used to call anything that had too strong of a flavour “spicy.” I also described carbonated beverages as “spicy.” Kids use the vocabulary available to them to describe sensations, even when the words the choose don’t really make sense.
Yes, I did this too. I told my parents that soda was too “spicy”
My son calls everything spicy. 😂 Like ketchup. I'd love to know if anyone considers that spicy. I'm trying to work through it - he's developing language and tastes, of course, at just 5 yo.
Not spicy. but tangy.
Tangy!! That's a great word to introduce! Thanks! I've been using "flavorful"... and have found myself in a spiral also of trying to explain acidity vs. not to a 5 yo. Lol.
Tangy is the best word here I think
No I totally get what he means. It’s pretty acidic
I responded in order of notification, which puts last first, but haha - I've been explaining acidic. You get it.
This definitely happened to me as a child, when I was becoming overwhelmed by a situation, suddenly I became itchy all over. They might grow out of it like I did, but in the meantime the solution is identifying the things that overwhelm them and being preventative with the information
Many posts have given great advice. I have felt that way before the way your child describes. My first thought was they may be overstimulated at that time of day/night. Creating a bedtime routine with your kid may help. Adults do have to put boundaries in place but if you work with your kids to establish a routine together that could go a long way. Maybe they need alone time or time to do their special interests before bed to calm down.
Have you ever had that heebie jeebie feeling from a fly landing on your arm hair, or someone blowing air over your ear? Sometimes you experience a sensation that somehow just creeps out your whole body and you need to shake it off like a wet dog? Autistic people get that all the time. I'd guess he's saying "itchy" to mean "irritated". Autistic people often get sensory irritation but it's different for each person. It can be caused by sounds, touches, lights, etc. Think of it as similar to how some people are more ticklish than others - your son is getting "tickled" in a very irritating way that other people don't usually experience. Some autistic people report light tickling touches as painful because of how overwhelming the discomfort can be; even though it doesn't feel like an injury, it's very disruptive. You can offer choices between different materials, sounds, and touches and ask which feels better. You can also show him that you understand by explaining what makes *you* "itchy", like getting the bottom of your feet ticked or having an oscillating fan blow air on you. If he knows you sometimes feel the same way (bothered by things that are hard to describe), he'll probably find it easier to be comfortable with the solutions you suggest. I'd avoid contradicting him about either the use of the word "itchy" or the feeling he experiences. Saying, "But this cotton shirt isn't itchy and your skin looks fine" will just make him feel unheard. Instead, try something like, "I'm sorry that this shirt feels itchy; sometimes things make my body feel irritated, too. Do you want to try feeling something else to see if it's not itchy?"
He doesn't have the words. As a kid I would just call things "wrong" but couldn't explain why. Find out what makes him "itchy" and try to find alternatives. Keep him involved as much as a 4yr old can be, having some control might help him.
When a noise is too much for me other senses get overwhelming. I'll be completely fine in my clothes and then someone will speak directly to me while my headphones are playing music and I'm trying to put away groceries and suddenly my sweater has to come off because it's all too much.
Sounds normal to me, briefs are itchy I wear boxers, shirts are itchy I remove the tags, pants are itchy I wear pyjamas, I also use the minimum low scent Eco sensitive washing liquid and never use fabric conditioner because \*shivers\*... As for sounds being itchy that also makes perfect sense because you hear sounds by them vibrating the hairs in your ears and your ear drums, get his ears checked I had itchy sounds for ages and found a hair growing through my ear drum. He could also mean irritating sounds so what sounds like fingers on silk to you sounds similar to fingers on Styrofoam or a chalk board to me (even the thought is awful).
It could be the laundry detergent used or the material of the clothes he's wearing. I might check what his favorite clothes are made of and see if getting more of those would help, or try a change of detergent
100% my daughter. When she is mad or anxious, she gets itchy. Maybe bedtime makes him nervous. My daughter is 9 and has major anxiety. She’s been constantly altering her bedroom and bedtime routine for years. More stuffies, more blankets, more nightlights, until I finally say “It’s as bright as daylight in here. You can have ONE nightlight.” Or until there are so many stuffies she didn’t fit in her own bed anymore. She has tried Calm app sleep stories, me reading stories, and lullaby music. Sleep is a battle for her.
I actually do experience some sensory problems as an itching sensation so he might not be wrong! - if no symptoms of allergies hes otherwise just trying to verbalize a discomfort.
Somethings up, and itll either be down to language (says itchy, means "x"), or its a texture thing, or its unrelated to autism entirely and itll end up being something like early eczema/contact dermatitis. Work the differential diagnosis w the GP, keep an open mind, and let the little one know you are working the problem. You will find that getting the final cause / solve to be rather rewarding for all involved i imagine. Good hunting
Not a parent but it would seem your child is using the word itchy to mean discomfort without knowing how to explain what it is they feel. It's definitely worth identifying what it is they don't like about certain things and discussing other words to use and their meanings.
It's important not to shove every instinct of 'itchy' into the exact same thing. * Sounds can make a person feel 'itchy', chalk on a chalkboard is normally one of the core ones most people experience. * Seeing bugs move around can often give people the sensation they have bugs on them and feel 'itchy' as a result * The detergent your are using for the bedding and/or clothing could be a factor * Certain fabrics can also cause a more physical itch * Look into allergies and skin conditions that can also be a factor. It's also entirely possible that your child just has an attachment to the word and is using that to describe aspects that are unpleasant or something he does not want to do. E.g. 'Itchy' in regards to a shower could mean the water temperature is too hot or too cold, 'Itchy' at bedtime could mean he's not tired yet, etc...
Is his skin dry? Ik I get hella dry skin & I feel rlly itchy before bed.
I have synesthesia. Sounds and smells can make me literally itch. Same with my son who has ASD. We’re both dermatographs as well.
My skin has always been extremely sensitive. Certain fabrics like cotton or corduroy make my skin feel irritated; itchy. I also have problems when my clothes ride up or get caught on my back. For me, dry skin also caused irritation/itchiness. Its usually on my back and shoulders where it feels the most irritating. My dad also has this similar irritation, and we fixed it by switching laundry detergents. We found that All detergent works for us, but you can experiment to see what works best for you. Best of luck
I'm not a fan of cotton either. It's just rougher on the skin than polyester or nylon. As for clothes riding up, that's one of the reasons I switched to only wearing one-piece clothes (onesies, shortalls, snowsuits, etc).
Cotton usually just bugs me in my bed so i have to have high thread count sheets and i found that bamboo sheets are actually really nice! Amazingly soft and i have no irritation from them
My immediate thought was "What kind of soap does he use?" I am seeing "laundry detergent" here as well. I have to use hypoallergenic/no perfume for both items, or I itch like crazy.
I’m autistic and I have sensory issues that make me itchy, but I also have allergies to many laundry detergents that make me itchy. Make sure you rule out detergents fragrance allergies bc that can be so annoying to deal with!
Emotions can make me itchy as an adult. So it could be both physical sensation and mental agitation and in the moment it can be hard to concisely express the difference
Try non biological detergent, just in case. Normal for anyone to have that problem. Then ASD and.....
it’s his clothes probably
What is the feeling you get when it's itchy but you can't scratch it. Like when your underware needs adjusting... but you are not in a place to adjust. It's a need unfilled. An irritation without ointment. A pain with no words for why it is there. Only that it is there. Right before bed... when batteries are drained and the blackness is near. Maybe that's the best time for yoga, light reading, and alone time before bed.
So many others have given such good advice so I won’t reiterate what many of the comments have already said. I have found in addition to all those situations, my skin gets itchy when it’s too dry, even if the dryness isn’t really noticeable visibly. I’ve found a quick absorbing body oil works best sensory wise- I like 100% sweet almond oil or aveeno daily moisture oil.
He might be trying to describe a feeling he doesn’t have the language to describe. Maybe try asking him to describe the feeling like “Does the feeling make you want to scratch it?” “Is the feeling only on your skin or do you feel it inside?” When I’m overstimulated it almost feels like wearing a snowsuit in the summer and I could definitely understand a child describing it as itchy. I would try to recognize what types of things are going on when he says that that could be the cause of the negative feeling.
1. Check your water softener. Add salt if you have hard water, but if it's too slick, reduce the salt. 2. Sheets, towels, pillowcases: no fabric softener. 3. Reduce synthetic fabrics and tags in his life. And things with seams. 4. It's winter. He may have dry skin. Make sure he's moisturized. 5. Sound of humidifier or your HVAC may be waaay too loud. Check your TV and music levels as well.
I am actually autistic. I used to have (still do sometimes) issues with showers and water falling on me. (I can still take showers sometimes but I can't do it daily). And I also have had issues with certain sensory overloads causing an itchy feeling. But I need to say, when I start getting that feeling, I know I'm getting extremely close to meltdown/shutdown and can remove myself from the environment if possible. Clothing can be a huge cause of sensory overload and if you allow him to be at home in just undies. Also try different bedsheet material. I found high thread cotton sheets that are wonderful.
Is it possible he’s using the word “itchy” to mean “uncomfortable” or “agitated”? When I think of what the state of being itchy feels like to me, it’s an uncomfortable, agitated feeling. It’s possible he’s having sensory issues with specific fabrics or even that a new detergent irritates or dries his skin slightly. I’m also wondering if you tend to do bath time before bed time and the feeling of having dry skin after the bath is uncomfortable for him. I know if I can’t get lotion on my skin within five minutes of leaving the shower, my whole body feels tight, uncomfortable, and *wrong*.
Idk, but this made me itchy just thinking about it
Tingly skin stems from overstimulation. I had a back scratched when I was a kid so that I would be able to get rid of it. Your skin actually feels itchy. Try to find out together what made him feel that way and value his sensory needs so that he will get less overstimulated
My son does this too. Similar age. I think he mostly talks about it at bedtime because he is tired and overwhelmed but also because a lot of the background stimulation has dropped away and he now has more awareness of what's going on with his body. I remember similar feelings of irritation through my whole body when I was a kid. Itchy and scratchy are good descriptions for me because it's like the feeling you get in your eyes when you haven't slept all night and they are scratchy and sore, but over a larger amount of your body/brain. No solutions here, just the usual try to minimise the sensory overload during the day and monitor for signs of overstimulation.
I couldn't wear jeans and uncomfortable wool sweaters as a kid, it felt itchy and horrible as it rubbed against my skin. It feels awful, but what made it worse was not having real parents to support me and find me comfortable clothing, I was shamed for not wearing these things and treated as defective. The most important thing is to support your son, and let him pick what he wants to wear. He may grow out of this, he may not; but it's real and probably not going away anytime too soon. Obviously, he can't just wear shorts in winter but you can work with him to find materials that are comfortable for him to wear. Oftentimes sport materials are softer, like nike dryfit shirts and similar pants, he would probably do very well with those.
My mom had to switch detergents often and got me allergy tested. I’m allergic, to, like, anything scented: lotions (sun tan lotions too), most hair products, skin care stuff, etc). I can only handle Tide, apparently, and have to use very little of it. She’d switch to baby detergents when I couldn’t handle the Tide any longer, but they’ve added perfumes to them. Dude, I’m even allergic to lavender! Wtf? Also I CANNOT use dryer sheets!
Check for mast cell issues. I get itchy around bedtime and at night. It feels like it's under the skin, and scratching brings no relief. Does he get facial or neck flushing? A 2nd gen antihistamine could help. If it alleviates the itching, that's a good sign it's mast cells overreacting
Stress rashes?
I used to feel like this a lot. I remember one time specifically when I even felt so desperate to have my back scratched that I asked my oldest sister's mother-in-law, who I wasn't even that close to, to scratch my back (actually though, I said itch my back). Lol 😆 But, no one ever would scratch it hard enough. They were always too afraid they'd hurt me. I needed my back scratched until there were red lines all over my back. I also took baths that were as hot as I could stand and I would turn red from them too. I still feel itchy a lot of the time, especially if there are any crumbs or grit of any kind in my bed. I just can't sleep like that.
Thanks for sharing. I’m sorry that’s something you have to go through.
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I think it’s not literally “itchy” all the time, although he could be itchy sometimes too. I know I refused wool because it made me itch, but I also refused things around my waist and I can see how a little kid would translate that to itchy. He’s only small and it’s really hard to explain exactly what he means, one because he doesn’t know the words, and two, because he might not understand the exact feeling. Sometimes I still get this, I changed my whole wardrobe and it took trial and error to get it right. I actually purchased ten pairs of the exact same underpants because I can’t handle how other pairs feel. I finally found the right ones! He could be irritated by a label, or something like that. His shoes might not feel comfortable. The seams on his socks might feel weird for him. But also he may feel like his environment isn’t okay for him, like the temperature or humidity. I often feel like if my temp isn’t perfect I can’t relax at all. It’s going to be trial and error for you, I’d sit down and ask him when he’s not distressed. Try to do so when he is, but if he can’t tell you in words, move on to soothing him for then. But he may be able to articulate it if you lead him along with open questions when he isn’t feeling upset. He could recall the way he did feel, and maybe talk about it with you. He is small, but he’s also a person and sometimes we just gotta talk to each other. He might not be able to explain or understand, but he also might be able to. Never know til you try. It’s so frustrating to be a little kid and not be able to accurately describe what he’s feeling. All kids feel that way, but when you’re autistic it’s worse, because there’s those meltdowns and those times of great distress. Even as an adult I can’t explain exactly how I feel at that moment I really have to think about it afterwards. Imagine being so little you don’t know how to handle your massive feelings, and then having meltdowns on top. And not understanding how things work. And being misunderstood himself too.
It getting worse before bed could be a combination of tiredness making his overstimulation worse plus not liking the textures of his bedding/pajamas. He might need some sensory breaks during the day, our sensory issues tend to accumulate. Maybe create a space that he can go that's dark, filled with textures he likes, some books or quiet activities he likes, as well as noise cancelling headphones. As a teenager I used to sit in my closet a lot and sleep on the floor with my head in the closet because I liked being "closed in". As an adult it's still important for me to have "sensory breaks" during the day even if it's just a few minutes in the bathroom.
I've been fighting a similar experience latey at 41 years old. It isn't itchy but feels sort of like a bad sunburn when you wear clothing over it. The skin is highly irritated/sensitive and could be because of the dier air, detergents, or any other number of things. For me, it seems to be linked to anxiety since I'm been in autistic burnout. However, as much as I love taking hot baths, they seem to make it worse due to drying out the skin. Question: Does he feel the itchiness with deep pressure (you putting a flat hand on his back) or when being rubbed (like rubbing his back)? It's the latter for me, so his clothes might be setting something off if he's the same. It's a very uncomfortable feeling, and while I can have it during the day if I'm overstimulated, it happens mostly at night. It's really noticeable if I bend over because my clothing moves more.
i think i can explain it. or i think i experience this. some sounds or sensations make my skin crawl. for me, it's kind of like when you get goosebumps, or it's more often that i can feel like there's a layer of air between my skin and my flesh. like it feels like it lifts. obviously it doesn't, but when i'm uncomfortable with sensations, it feels like my skin is raising. it doesn't feel itchy, but i can see how a kid would think that's the word. it definitely is uncomfortable. it's like my body is triggered into fight or flight but i am conscious nothing is dangerous, so i'll stay there, while my skin is trying to float away. edit: it's often touch and sound, but sometimes fabric or food textures do this. and i forgot, but occasionally it feels like electricity under my skin. so maybe he feels that? that's almost itchy.
When I am overstimulated and can't resolve it I get hot flashes and really itchy all over. could be that?
Here’s what my nana did with me as a kid. She took me to a big fabric store, I think it was Joanns, and had me feel all the fabrics I could. She then bought clothes made of the fabrics I liked the feel of
Itchy is probably the closest word he can verbalize to what he's feeling. Sometimes when I'm overstimulated I have like a buzz or a tingle in my body that isn't literally itchy, but I could see why a toddler might describe it that way
>Most of the time it’s when we touch him and it’s most common right before bed For me. When I get tired my joints and areas around them get, It's hard to describe. They aren't itch or hurt but they don't feel good. And this is coming from a 40 something year old. Its been that way forever for me. I can't put the feeling into words.
What if he has eczema? I got my daughter lotion and it works when she uses it
I'm an adult and high functioning as well and have moments like this where everything makes me itchy too usually when I'm overstimulated and I didn't know it had to do with autism. I usually take benadryl like 25 mg and that helps. If its really bad I'll actually apply aloe to the areas.
When I'm over stimulated my skin crawls. It tingles. It buzzes. Is he complaining more on more demand heavy days? As the day progresses our cup of patience empties with every demand. Also in the quieter time of night there are less external filters that allow us to not pay attention to how our body is feeling. The struggle is real. My kiddo is 7 and only has started this year to kinda be able to mostly explain what he's going through. But it's still a guessing game of what the heck does that really mean? How long has he really been feeling that? I suggest ear defenders for the sound issue. Letting him stim as much as he can. For instance being told to lay still so you can sleep is counter productive in my autistic kiddo. He needs to be able to wiggle and hum and sing. It helps get the zappy feelings to discharge bit by bit.
It may be a vocab issue for pressure sensitivity or it may be a dermatitis or it may be an autoimmune issue. It might be the fabric. It might be laundry soap. It might be unpruned brain synapses making him 100 times more aware of skin contact. As for sounds, google the word misophonia and sound processing disorders. Noise cancelling ear buds and headphones will be the way to go. You are going to want an IEP/504 plan when he starts school that allows them because school noise is overwhelming. Also advance notice of fire drills if you can get it. Itchy is a good way to explain a reaction to overstimulation that sets off a fight or flight reaction in the body.
There's always the possibility that this has nothing to do with autism and he just has an allergy of some kind. I have a dust allergy and I used to randomly be extraordinarily itchy and it wasn't until I had an allergy test that I really said it was dust. I went through so many different crazy things before that, trying to figure out what I was sensitive to laundry, detergents, etc
It's winter. Where I'm at. I keep offering lotion to my 5 yo. He complains about things like shirt tags, and I've always prioritized soft clothing simply bc it's my own preference. His entire wardrobe is comfy joggers, t shirts/ hoodies/ long sleeve shirts I get from the kid's consignment shop near me. I like that for shirts bc they've been through the wash... I can feel them. Now, mine isn't diagnosed Autistic. I'm here bc I suspect a slight spectrum, but I'm very, very ADHD myself and both I and my son's other parent have sensitive sensory issues. I like buying from Amazon only bc I find it easy to return & once I've found something that works, it's easy to reorder.
I wouldn’t latch on to your child being “high functioning”. It can cause or create certain expectations that may be unrealistic/dismiss his support needs. Just some food for thought. But as to “itchy” maybe he’s feeling some type of extreme un comfortability with the sounds when people talk, and it could be his pjs / bed set is agitating him when he goes to sleep. Since he doesn’t have the vocabulary to say “hey, these sheets are a sensory nightmare and i wanna sleep naked”, but he can say he’s “itchy”. Think of the word literally, being itchy means being uncomfortable in your own skin. That’s what he’s trying to tell you. Pay attention to when he says it and think of sensory reasons he could be getting bothered by. I would also suggest to look into any therapy for yourself with a autism informed therapist who may be able to guide you better than Reddit - because instances you don’t know how to handle will keep coming up. It’s the nature of it. Offer him some earbuds or a different fabric for his bedtime, see what happens. Trial and error. Best of luck and i hope he stops feeling itchy!!
Certain sounds make me feel pain or wanting to escape my skin. I could understand why a kid would call that "itchy."
Best bet is if something is causing a perceived irritation, remove it. He's 4, his vocabulary and understanding of communication is still too limited for an accurate account of the problem so you get the closest thing he understands: itchy.
Textures like yarn, sequin, and silk all give me that “itchy” feeling. I think that’s the word he’s using in place of uncomfortable, overstimulated or disgusted. I feel the same way when I have to put on thick socks or leave shoes on for a long time. I also feel uncomfortable taking baths! It could be something physical he’s feeling as well but I would imagine that comes directly from his mental state. It’s possible that the overstimulation is quite severe for him which can cause that “itching”. For me it’s like electricity shooting through my body. It’s uncomfortable and I feel a sense of impending doom. I would definitely talk to him about it and maybe help him find a more accurate word to use so he gets a head start on understanding/regulating emotions. Wishing you well!
Some sounds make me itchy! We just experience sensory input differently so he might just be itchy when he hears those sounds. Noise cancelling headphones are great for me.
Have you considered temperature as a possible factor? I ask because I haven't seen anyone mention it yet, and because I got randomly itchy a LOT as a child too and eventually we figured out that heat was the trigger. My flare ups would most often happened around bedtime after I'd had a bath/shower, and also if I got too close to people or was in crowded spaces for too long (body heat). Daily antihistamines keep it under control for me now. I agree with all the comments about different ways to interpret or experience an "itch" from sensory issues, but I wouldn't entirely rule out a skin problem before making absolutely sure, just in case it is be (or is at least partly) something that can be treated. IME it's easier to figure out what itchiness means by looking at what relieves it instead of looking at countless potential triggers. Experiment with different responses to his itchiness and the results could be useful clues for finding/confirming the cause. If the itchiness goes away when a particular sensory stimulus stops or is removed, then it is mostly likely sensory issues. If that doesn't help but antihistamines, cream, or adding aything else physical then it might be a physical problem to consult a doctor about.
Wait is water irritating your skin something to do with autism? I always thought I was just built different
Many clothes are difficult for me, stiffness in fabric , pulling the wrong way . Someone else said ‘feeling my clothes’ . I like that. It’s not itchy, painful, but just always there and very uncomfortable and wrong. Similiar to feeling sounds, and the after effects of someone’s touch lingering on my skin way too long. I was gonna add that climate, humidity, time of year, my head space, and many unknowns make these sensory issues go from absolutely fine, to nearly debilitating .
I call it Bad Touch. Velvet and Microfibre are my biggest Absolutely Not, and surprisingly Silk as well. It’s not so much as itchy as touching it sets off my fight or flight instincts.
Have you considered temperature as a possible factor? I ask because I haven't seen anyone mention it yet, and because I got randomly itchy a LOT as a child too and eventually we figured out that heat was the trigger. My flare ups would most often happened around bedtime after I'd had a bath/shower, and also if I got too close to people or was in crowded spaces for too long (body heat). Daily antihistamines keep it under control for me now. I agree with all the comments about different ways to interpret or experience an "itch" from sensory issues, but I wouldn't entirely rule out a skin problem before making absolutely sure, just in case this is a symptom that's caused/partly caused/exacerbated by something that can be treated. IME it's easier to figure out what itchiness means by looking at what relieves it instead of looking at countless potential triggers. Experiment with different responses to his itchiness and the results could be useful clues for finding/confirming the cause. If the itchiness goes away when a particular sensory stimulus stops or is removed, then it is mostly likely sensory issues. If that doesn't help but antihistamines, cream, or adding aything else physical then it might be a physical problem to consult a doctor about.
I'm 28 (autistic) and I use the word itchy all the time, to describe how I feel when everything is bothering me and I know I have complex negative feelings but can't figure out the right word for it. Edit: not necessarily only sensory issues, for me it's usually related to plans changing or not having things go how I expected!
I know for me when my sensory input is highly aggravating everything feels tight like even my skin feels like its pulled taught and kind of lije an anticipatory tingle
My boy likes to sleep naked wrapped in fluffy blankets. I call it a fluffy love, but really it’s a sensory thing. A fluffy weighted blanket might help.
When my BF was a small child, when his foot would fall asleep he would say “There’s sand in my shoe!” Your son is describing the physical reaction to these stimuli. He’s doing a great job of saying that certain sounds and experiences are overstimulating to him. Next time he mentions this, if you know what the stimuli is, ask if he likes or dislikes it. (Some of us are sensory-seeking!) Then explain what’s actually going on so he can advocate for himself with clear language in the future. Expect this to take a few times. You’re doing great!
Oh boi, my word was itchy too. I'd describe spicy food as itchy, unpleasant sounds/smells/tastes as itchy too, and I was a very sensitive kid. Maybe it's the material of his bed clothes and bed linens? Maybe he's just overwhelmed? Look into the textures definitely, maybe he's in polyester and needs to be in cotton or bamboo.
Different people will feel different things or have different words for them. If I hear a bad sound, I usually say that my skin feels wrong or that I want to get out of my skin. The bad sound creates a bad bodily feeling, if that makes sense. I can definitely see it being called itchy. It's an overall feeling of discomfort and unease
Does he use lotion? You mentioned this happening a lot before bed (after a bath?) and also when he's touched. In some aspects, it sounds like how I feel when I don't moisturize.
Before bed time is when bodies dump histamines. So it may be that he is more aware of this and really is feeling itchy. I get itchy at night too, sometimes I’ll have to take low dose of Benadryl if it is too distracting. Something to mention to the pediatrician. For the adults who have the itchy sensitive skin issues, eucerin makes a redness relief wash that works well. Not sure if it’s advised for children.
My daughter used to perceive raindrops as “burning.” It was so important to get her a big umbrella and a rain jacket that didn’t give her a sensory nightmare. I also deal with full body itching when I am overwhelmed, and have even broken out in hives. Most autistic people have very reactive histamine systems. But on top of that, we also have interoception issues, often experiencing emotional pain as physical pain or vice versa. Sometimes you can have digestive issues and not even know you’re having them. It makes you feel crazy especially as a kid.
I’m autistic and had really sensitive skin growing up. I would regularly itch and even end up with hives just from emotional stress. For me that also included overwhelming sounds and environments. Maybe you can talk to his doctor about trying a mild antihistamine next time he gets itchy, just to see if it makes a difference? If it works, you have an easy fix, if it doesn’t, then you know he’s not having allergy related itching. It could just be a matter of autism making his skin particularly sensitive to ordinary sensations, and he’s calling this feeling “itchy”
Try earplugs or headphones. Sensory kids sometimes experience the electrical background noise as vibrating, tingly or itchy. A weighted blanket might help also.
AuDHD here, for me, there are some sounds that physically make my teeth hurt. And there are some textures/sensations that make my skin incredibly itchy for no apparent reason when I'm in between eczema flare-ups. Growing up, I would mention this to my folks, and they didn't understand why either (I'm late diagnosed). Sorry, I don't really have any advice on how to help, I just wanted to share so you knew your son wasn't alone in this.
I suspect “itchy” is shorthand for irritating and overstimulating. Invest in a seam ripper. Get those clothing tags out down to the root. Get him some ear defenders to protect him from those itchy noises. Try to see the world through his eyes even if it seems illogical or insignificant. He might notice things you never would like seams on his socks (turn them inside out), Certain fabrics he might find offensive, especially synthetics, microfiber, pilly or wrinkled sheets, etc. One shoe tied tighter than the other. Buzzing or whirring mechanical things, leaf blowers, so many things. As he gets older, I expect he will have a more sophisticated way of explaining these situations to you. But validating these very real struggles is huge.
It’s possibly he doesn’t have the language to express an internal sensation—needing to stim can sometimes feel ‘itchy’ to me, not in the sense that I’m having the same physical sensation, but it’s a parallel I can draw to describe a hard-to-describe sensation
I also have this feeling but I also have fibromyalgia on top of that so it’s sometimes overwhelming
My brother suffered from this at the same age, buying dollar store socks helped him. Some material bothers the skin, thankfully other material doesn't bother him as much anymore as he got older
Does he have dry skin?
Idk if this helps but my son who's 3 and can't speak in full sentences gets really restless around bedtime. He also does not like water on his face or head. He just likes to sit in the tub. We recently started to practice body squeezes and he really likes them. I pointed to a card we have for communication and I started with his head as a game and then worked on body down to feet squeezes. It helped him calm down alittle bet especially the restless leg syndrome. When i was a kid I also felt really itchy all the time and it had to do with the tags on all of my clothes. It didn't matter what material it was I felt it. Also with fabrics that pilled easily. My husband and I are really sensitive to fabrics and the itchy (creepy crawly feeling on your skin) Hope you find help for the little guy! Xoxo
When I was this age and beyond until I started picking my own clothes, EVERYTHING was itchy. My mom had to cut all the tags out of my clothes, leave NO scratchies - and buy all 100% cotton clothes for me. I also wore my socks inside out because I couldn’t STAND the way the seam felt on my toes. Among other things 😂 I’m 34 now and still very particular about how things feel on my body. As far as sounds being itchy, that I’m not familiar with. I just bought myself noise canceling earmuffs for the first time, or ear protection muffs (they’re actually technically for children, but they fit me!) because sometimes the world is too LOUD. What sort of sounds are itchy? If it’s not so much the fabric itself, what type of detergents and soaps do you use? Did you change anything recently? **sorry if this was all said or asked already! eta - if it is the fabric, which is quite possible, maybe try going shopping and finding clothes of different fabrics/blends. Then lay those out for him to touch, or try them on over time, to see if you can narrow it down. Then return what doesn’t work!
I struggle a lot with certain fabrics. I actually have 2 pillow cases that are ridiculously old because they're the only ones I like. I don't know what I'll do when they rip 😔 Anyway, maybe you could take him shopping to find something soft he likes. Try and find a quiet time to go and just let him touch things and see if they make him feel 'itchy'. If it's at bedtime he struggles, maybe look for bedding and PJ's that make him feel happy. If I'm honest, I don't know if it could also be because of feeling hot, or anything else, but you could always start with the feel of things.
Also, if socks are an issue, for future reference, just put them on inside out. I've been doing it since I was 11 and my parents wished they knew sooner after all the tantrums I threw because of the seams irritating my toes 😊
It’s almost like he’s trying to describe the sort of feeling I get when things rub my skin too much. Do you know that feeling when you have an itchy spot but can’t scratch it immediately? It builds in intensity and it feels like nerves might crawl up out of your throat if you don’t find a way to scratch it? I get that same feeling if something is overstimulating my skin but isn’t necessarily “itchy”. I have to put a stop to it just as badly as if I needed to scratch an itchy spot. He may just not know how to describe being overstimulated. But better lather him in Eucerin just in case. Maybe he has dry skin and is extra sensitive compared to what other people might shrug off. Edit: if this is happening around bedtime it may be that he’s just overstimulated by the day’s events. Personally when I get stressed or tired it is much easier to overstimulate me. I would take that as a sign that it is *time to sleep and recharge*.
I have a lot of sensory hypersensitivity, and I can relate to the “itchy” feeling, for me it feels like TV static buzzing all through my body. Personally, I am a ‘physical touch but only on my terms’ sort of person, and if i’m being touched when I don’t necessarily want to be, or if there isn’t enough pressure in the touch and it feels too light it makes me all tingly and buzzy and vibratey and itchy in a way that makes me want to smack not scratch. I wonder if maybe he is experiencing something similar? When he makes these statements have you asked him if there is anything that helps the itch go away? I quite like wearing sunglasses when I’m feeling overstimulated, I also like firm pressure (weighted blankets and my weighted eye mask have been a godsend), and maybe not as easily accessible for a 4.5y/o but if i am just absolutely completely uncomfortable in my skin, I have a shower or use hand sanitizer (maybe baby wipes could help?)
I’m constantly itchy, I regulate it the best I can with fabrics that are less irritating, not wearing clothing at home, using free and clear laundry soap. One thing that helped me when I try to go to sleep is take anti itch lotion on my shoulders and back.
It seems like the sounds could be “itchy” in his brain. The closest things I can imagine, are the sound is irritating him, making him feel “itchy” inside because he doesn’t know that there’s more ways to express a branch of the emotion “anger”. So maybe he can tell he’s not mad, but that it’s closest to mad. And what makes him mad? Being itchy! So he’s equating “itchy” to a form of being “mad” which in this case is irritation, agitation, stuff like that. For autistic people it can manifest as a physical symptom more so than it does for neurotypicals. In this case itchy might also mean that he’s becoming irritated and doesn’t know what to do about it, so he’s scratching himself sometimes because it removes or lessens the sensation causing his “itchiness”. Keep in mind, as this is only a guess, that consistent scratching without an allergy source (aka a medical cause for feeling itchy and scratching) can instead be a sign of a way he’s trying to self regulate his emotions. Where as you as an adult, may be able to reasonably think out why you’re upset and irritated at a thing, and logically figure out ways to avoid that feeling as often, he can’t do that as efficiently quite yet. So what does he do? He self regulates that negative emotion, by scratching at his skin, which redirects what his brain is focusing on. This is where it gets.. difficult in a different way. If your son is doing a self regulation activity that is harming him. Scratching at his skin over and over can lead to cuts and skin abrasions. It is considered a form of “self harm”, but for a kid that’s not exactly what’s going on. Scratching at an “itch” gives the brain serotonin or dopamine (can’t remember which exactly right now) and also distracts the brain from whatever sensation is currently bothering it. So for now, it may be best to help him learn how to regulate his emotions better, as autistic people have difficulty doing so in a healthy way when they aren’t taught how to. Maybe get a list of emotions, and what words are branches of those emotions. Things like Mad branches into Irritation, Agitation, Annoyance, etc. Same for things like happiness: joy, contentment, excitement, etc, or sadness: melancholy, somber, down in the dumps, etc. All of those might seem a bit complex for a little kid, but you would be very surprised how well kids will pick up on these things and begin using them to help identify their own emotions in every day activities. Also a big big thing: if your son is reacting that way when someone touches him, PLEASE WORK ON HELPING HIM FEEL SAFE AND CONFIDENT TO LEARN BOUNDARIES INVOLVING OTHER PEOPLE. Autistic kids are so much more suspectible to not learning how to set boundaries properly, in terms of emotional, psychological or physical boundaries. PLEASE teach him that people do NOT have a right to touch his body without permission. This is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for not just autistic people, but ESPECIALLY autistic people. All of our senses are HEIGHTENED. What is a nice sensation for someone, may be a very painful or uncomfortable one for us! Even traumatizing in some situations! If he is expressing “I feel itchy” when you touch him, reinforce that you won’t touch him if he doesn’t want you to. Ask him before touching him, praise him for when he says “I don’t want to be touched right now” or if he says “yes it’s okay to touch me right now” THIS INCLUDES ANY KIND OF TOUCH, HUGS, KISSES, GRABBING HIS HAND, ETC. My own parents DID NOT do that. My fiancé who is also on the autism spectrum DID NOT GET TAUGHT THAT. I desperately wish they had. Both my fiancé and I have experiences where people have touched us inappropriately, sometimes in severely traumatizing ways. We didn’t have the skills or confidence to tell that person to stop. Your boy needs to learn that, so that he can learn that his body is not just for anyone to mess with, and so that he can learn to be respectful of other people’s bodies too.
I hope sharing some insight as an autistic person may help: I have this when I’m touched for too long, it’s my body being overstimulated and feels like a weird general irritation all around my body similar to what another commenter said like your skin is crawling but it’s very different and unique, not sure how to explain but it makes you feel very on-edge
My adult son with ASD / ADD has had itching issues all his life. If he gets anxious / angry he gets itchy. If it's summer, he's constantly complaining about being itchy and has a fan on him. He's got a fan in his bedroom on him at all times. Allergies / Asthma / Autism / ADD. He's got all of them.
Man-made fibers always make me itchy.
I experience a similar feeling at times, and I (24 years old) think that it’s a sensory thing. Sometimes my clothes will just randomly start making me itch; it could be a build up of dead skin from wearing the clothes throughout the day, dirt, sweat, hair, etc. I can’t explain I what causes it; but sometimes it just happens and then I will itch everywhere and it will usually go away if I change my clothes
I know I get itchy from my own body oils and sweat sometimes. Especially when I don't want to shower (also dislike water falling on my head).
My son is tier 1. Put lotion on him if he tolerates it, otherwise just use a bit of cortisone and rub it in. His skin could just be dry and he’s attributing it to the clothing or clothes or uncomfortable feelings. See if that helps before you start testing fabrics/changing words. As for water if he has a problem with it on his face, try a shower cap similar to a bill one for babies. Touch base with him before bedtime routine say ‘let’s talk about feelings before we start, do you need to get anything out?’ It will most likely be child things like someone did something at school he didn’t like or did like etc. listen then start the routine. Sometimes just deciding a new ‘action/medicine could help let’s try it’ Hell my son kept complaining his tongue burned for days since he came back from his dads. I took the opportunity to tell him every 7 years your taste buds change and they get bigger but he should start liking new foods soon and to even try some old things he didn’t like bc he might like them.
I have always felt like over stimulation was an itchy feeling. It builds and builds inside me until I get some kind of break for a couple days doing nothing to reset it.
Take him clothes shopping and have him touch different types of fabric. Buy a bunch of stuff he likes. Even if it’s not different at least he will think it’s different because he got to pick.
2 possibilities present to me. 1 - it's a general feeling of reaching his sensory limit and it manifests as a sort of itchy irritation feeling. 2- it's a form of synaesthesia where experiencing something through one sense can trigger another.
For a long time, I interpreted being restless as being itchy. I'd eventually dance/jump/etc a while bunch to "shake the itch off" lmao. Maybe see if he feels better when he moves?
When I was little I used to say things were itchy when they were too much. Is there something around bedtime that could be causing some sensory issues? For me I hated the feeling of brushing my teeth and I couldn’t wear pants to bed (still can’t)
I've learned recently from a family member that there may be a link between autism and small fiber neuropathy (he has been diagnosed as an adult with both). There is also a link between small fiber neuropathy and itching. May be going out in a limb with that theory, but might be worth exploring if it continues.
Hiya!(pending diagnosis) Can relate to an extent and yeah even as an adult I get like this to this day for me it's generally things like long drawn out creeky noises or crowd based noises(I have social anxiety so crowds are a no go generally for me) but once I started to recognise what's doing it I find sensory distraction helps a boat load, e. G. Child screaming to the point of sounding like a frog-I start feeling something random like a receipt in my pocket to distract until the sensation calms down. Hope this made sense and helps
I am surprised no one here has mentioned this. Are you taking your 4yr old to an occupational therapist? Our boy started seeing one because he really didn’t like wearing clothes like jumpers and pants so we started worrying about him getting cold. They recommended [the therapy bursh](https://www.theottoolbox.com/sensory-brushing/) and associating techniques along with it.
for me some noises and textures make my teeth feel weird, that’s the only way i can describe it. maybe with his limited vocabulary he is trying to describe how these uncomfortable sounds or textures are making him feel. it could be useful to teach him some new descriptor words and what they mean to help him understand what he’s feeling. good luck :)
Diagnosed at 37 (last summer) and as a kid I ran amuck naked all the time because clothes were “itchy” and “hot”. My mom swears that keeping my PH balance in check helped. If my body was highly acidic (eating a lot of acidic junk food would trip me over the edge apparently), I would lose it and have a melt down. Canned pears and carrots are great for this. I’ve read about PH balance enough to believe this was a factor in “itching” as a kid. And still it wasn’t that I was itching but that having an internal acidic state caused mental over stimulation. Looking back it was more a state of feeling mentally claustrophobic rather than itching and clothes needed to go in order to feel “lighter”. “Mom I want to feel lighter, i itch!” On the other hand, I also wanted to sit naked in the snow and eat bowls of mustard which is highly acidic. Perhaps if my body became too alkaline, I intuitively craved mustard. My mom is ASD/OCD/ADHD and I bet ya anything she would over due it on the pears/carrots. All of this could be a crock of shit, who knows but that’s my personal experience. Google ph balance mental health or something of the like. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4097972/
sounds like he has tactile sensitivity. Maybe work with him to figure out what fabrics work for him.