Expert: James Michael Roan - 11/12/2008

Question
We have noticed that our 32 month old daughter is very hyper, "tunes us out" & fails to follow our direction unless we get in her face and ask her to do it. She is bouncing of the walls and often avoids eye contact (although she'll look at us when we ask her to or when we explain things to her). Her preschool noticed the same thing plus not talking (she talks at home though), walking on her toes (she does that on & off & never curls them under), and no pretend play (but she does do pretend play a lot at home). The preschool seemed to suggest she has autism. Can she be autistic yet still talk (3-5 word sentences (although simple onse like I dont' like it, Emi went shopping with Daddy etc) in two languages - she's bilingual). However, her sentences are not very clear. It's difficult to understand her. Or could it be something else? We are concerned because she exhausts us with her energy, exhibits defiant behavior, avoids, but not always, eye contact. She also likes shouting and is not very cuddly although she'll kiss & hug us when we ask. She just does not seem like other 2.5 year olds...

Answer
Hi Monika;

Please remeber that I do not diagnose over the internet, just provide education related information.

Some behavior at preschool could be attributed to her being exposed to two languages. If her speech is not echolalic and true to the context, it is not likely she has an autism spectrum disorder although a high functioning form of autism cannot be ruled out at this point. The left prefrontal cortex at the subcortical level (involuntary) is implicated in AD/HD and autism associated behaviors, so it is often difficult at this age to separate these.

Take the M-CHAT and score it at : http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwpsy/faculty/M-CHAT.pdf

Let me know the results and provide details for your answers for a better answer from me.

Kind regards,
James





James Roan Bio:

James Roan (roanpsych@gmail.com) has been consulting in the areas of autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and learning difficulties in the United States and in Ireland for over ten years. James Roan has traveled to Galway, Limerick, Mayo, Clare, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and other cities and counties across Ireland assessing children and adults, and consulting with solicitors (lawyers) in defense of children with disability and with enforcement of their rights. James Roan was the consulting psychologist responsible for many of the autism and ADHD screening tools and other content for www.accessspecialneeds.com. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors.