Expert: James Michael Roan - 1/25/2008

Question
My daughter is 7 years old and very smart.She scores high on standarized testing, some even peaking to 12th grade levels. Whenever we have a family gathering, she seems to have some sort of break down feeling as though she was mistreated or an unfair act has taken place. At school she has friends but often when I pick her up she is playing alone stating she just wanted to, no one would play with her or they did not want to play her game. She is VERY bossy and often walks away when her classmates are not willing to play the game as she wishes. This behavior has gotten better but in the past, from like preschool through 1st grade, she was having problems on the playground..A I MUST HAVE CONTROL kind of attitude. I saw a special on Nightline and was wondering if I am overreacting or could this be some type of Autism that has gone unnoticed. I have talked to her physician a few years ago about the behavior being unpleasing but now the social skills also has me concerned.

Answer
Hi Ms Smith;

I really don't have enough data from you to help so I recommend you go to this site http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/tests/cast_test.asp

and download the CAST and CAST scoring key. I am happy you discuss the results with you further.

Kind regards,
James