My son, after the 18 month immunizations was the same. He went to sleep that night taking and blowing kisses to his mom who was recording him on a Video Cam I had bought a week or two before. The next day, non verbal, and afflicted.
He’s 19 now, able to dress himself,microwave frozen meals, play classical music, transpose songs into other keys and seeing if I can recognize them, figure out how to operate electronics without a manual, but can’t add and subtract in order to do basic transactions.
To those blessed with “normal” kids that want to discount the experiences of those who are aware, I don’t envy you. A separate reality exists. Most autistics can communicate, non verbally with other spectrum individuals. They are not comfortable around others like them ,, possible due to the ability to read thoughts. Just a suspicion.
I have heard enough anecdotal evidence that I believe you and I believe there is a link. When I was a kid, no one was autistic.