Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 10/24/2007

Question
Hello!

I have a question regarding my son who is 2 1/2. Here is a quick list of "good" things:

Points to things of interest and things he sees, has always followed points
Has large vocabulary and can speak up to 15 word sentences
Has appropriate conversations for his age
Can answer why questions most of the time
can count
Can do 16 piece puzzles
teachers say he loves circle time
after teaching with repetition knows most letter and numbers
known all colors and shapes since 18 months
eye contact pretty good
cuddles
says "I love you" and expresses likes and dislikes
loves to share
has emotional reciprocation - although does not hit back "will say to the kid, what are you doing to me?"
Can play out verbally any pretend scenario with me for lengthy period
Saw his feelings hurt for the very first time the other day when a little girl rejected playing with him and he came crying to me saying the little girl was mean.

Now here are the concerns:
Animism- talks to everything. Has conversations with his fingers, his markers race each other, all his trains have conversations with each other. He could find anything and pretend with it or this animism as I've found out it is called. The salt and pepper shakers go to the park together. A piece of string is a swing for his finger. He seems to need this time everyday to play alone to function well. He also talks to himself quite a bit
TV Shows- He does like to quote lines from favorite TV shows and books. This is usually in the car or when he's alone in the crib. It's like a downtime daydreaming thing. I ask him what he's talking about and he'll tell me what book or TV show it's from.
Motor Skills- below average. Not interested in balls but can ride a tricycle
Fine Motor- Fine except writing (not copying circles yet). Can string beads, stack, manipulate tiny pegs, etc.
Sensory- Odd postures, but has a history of metabolic disease and low muscle tone (receiving OT for this) , occasionally flaps when very excited, sometimes like to move his head from side to side
Social- Seems to tense up (head and neck) sometimes when talking to other kids or trying to join in. This usually goes away in a few minutes after he is comfortable. I ask his daycare teachers and they say "HE DOES NOT HAVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS"
Behavior- Only is rigid about the bath at night (wants to have one). Other than that his routine changes daily. No tantrums out of the ordinary terrible twos. Is obsessed with my hair.

Should I be concerned about Aspergers with this? I was hoping the pretend play would rule it out, but is this to a new level? I'm confused.

Thanks  

Answer
Hi Kay,

I think you can relax. While early talking can indicate Asperger's it's not a certainty.

His recitations from books and TV are probably okay as he knows he's doing it and not using it as substitute for genuine communication. I think he's just enjoying replaying it for his own amusement during "down time."

I have a niece (now 15 and perfectly normal) who did the same kind of talking while playing behavior. She talked for each toy, seemed oblivious to all else around her and could do this for hours. She was especially fascinated with dinosaurs.

It is still possible that problems could develop later but I think it is unlikely.

You should be aware you probably have a very intelligent son. This, in and of itself, can create some social problems as time goes on. Kids tend to single out anyone they consider "different." It's not something we can control. Some highly intelligent kids manage this with ease and some do not. I don't know why our society is suspicious of those with high IQs but it is. Teach him that everyone has value regardless of their brain power.

Best wishes,
Catherine