Most doctors now believe that hoarding is a type of OCD. For ASD kids, it could also be related to information processing: They can't distinguish what is important, they have trouble making decisions, or they develop an emotional attachment with "stuff". Theoretically, medication will help for some hoarding behaviors, but most doctors will not want to try it on someone so young.

Behavioral therapy is likely to be your best bet. Start by showing that you understand, and resist the urge to argue. Arguing with an ASD about hoarding won't work. You can try asking him questions about it to see why it is important, and why each piece is needed. A lot of kids are smart about things like this, and can gradually take control of their own desires when they realize it is hurting them.

The normal path for behavioral work is to start small. Pick out a single piece of junk and ask him if he can part with it for a few hours each day to let you put it in a box, in the garage, or out-of-sight in some other way. If he is able to part with it, praise him for his maturity and decision-making skills.

If he can gradually do without more and more stuff, or do without it for longer and longer periods, then see if you can find an appropriate reward (besides more stuff!) for each level of independence. If he gets to the point where he can throw something away on his own, praise him like he just invented a cure for cancer. This is hard to do, and anything you can offer to help will make it easier.

Cleaning out the stuff for him is (at best) a short-term solution. If he feels like he is not in control, then it might make the situation worse. If you can get him to gradually assume the responsibility, even if not the actual cleaning, it will give him a feeling of control and accomplishment that might lead to more progress later on.

Good Luck.

I have been dealing with this for years. I do exactly what you do, I go in and clean when he's not home. I just give him lots of bins to store his treasures and when they start overflowing, I clean house with a reward when he comes home to buy some new clay since I threw out all the old.

I just had this problem last night. I told him if you want to watch tv, you have to clean your room, and that means discarding all the Lego boxes that take up half the room. Or I won't buy more Legos if you can't keep them organized. When I woke up this morning all the boxes were outside of his room. I treat both of my son's the same, maybe it's right maybe it's wrong but either way he has to learn as well about keeping his personal space organized.

they like to keep everything i know it is hard but try to reward him if he throws packaging away it is a comfort to them

Me too no1mom. Wish i could get inside their head. You just made think if something. My son lives to shred paper at school. I wonder if he would shred all those papers he keeps or maybe some of them