When my son was diagnosed at two my neurologist said he was in the middle. Well now 18 years later we consider him a little lower than aspergers because he knows no dangers and couldn't go past 9th grade school work. We were very lucky during his teenage years that we had no problems with his hormone levels. So in 9th grade we switched him to a CBI program and he has blossomed, learned things he would never have learned in school on how to survive day to day. He volunteers in two shoprite food stores packaging cookies and decorating cakes. Hopefully next year a job will be open for him part time.
We noticed his interest in Art since 5 and have always encouraged it. He is now an official artist and sells his paintings, donates them for auctions, and is the artist for the Autism Cares Foundation Award for the past two years. to see his art just go to autismartbymitchell.com.
I would say just enjoy your son, his little quirks, enter his world somedays and always bee there for him.
You will be a great mom, I know that because you are already reaching out. Never stop asking questions, no matter how silly they are, many of us have been through it, are going through it and can really be an ear, when you need one. Welcome

Most bad behaviors that most consider regression are actually caused by frustration irritation and sensory issues. As stated about some can be helped with allergy intervention, added supplements and therapies. I always throw meds in because for some they are needed.

I think the most important factor is finding the trigger to behaviors and avoid them. You hear slot that there is no trigger it just happens, however most of the time this is because the trigger is an internal trigger specific to the child and they are hard to detect. Sensory issues are often overlooked, so sights, sounds and smells really affect out children in a negative way so watch for that. Then when puberty sets in you have all kinds of body chemicals involved in changing their system. Coping mechanisms need to be instilled in the child from when they are young to help them through the tough times.

I also agree that early intervention is key and if you let something bad become a routine it is hard to deal with when they are older.

I believe that as life changes and expectations are raised, more social pressure or distinction, we do get worse until we find our place or adjust. Depression and aggression are just responses to the changing social and academic problems and knowing we're different. These all can level out in early 20's as long as they do not become rigid and isolated. That's when we "catch up" on a lot of social items enough to fake it at minimum.

That's a tough one. I think in my daughter's case, it seems like it is getting worse as she gets older. When I really look at it though, I think what is happening is that the behaviors are the same but she is growing older so that they are no longer developmentally appropriate for her and so they are then becoming more apparent.

An example study I saw today http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/25922445/

Short version some kids learned more adaptive behaviors than others from age 2-21 but mostly they did improve. (The full paper may say how many if any didn't improve at all but I didn't pay $30 for the full text...)

It also says that early intervention and parental involvement made a difference.