Expert: Celtica - 4/8/2008

Question
Hello, I have a 5 month old son that the doctor suspects is Autistic. My son has to sleep in a swing every night and has done so since 2 months old, he requires the constant motion while sleeping and waking of rocking. He is not rolling over yet and is unable to reach out and not able to grasp objects unless they are placed in his had and then he does not hold them for long. He hates loud noises and will flinch violently at these and then cry like he has been harmed. He does not tolerate the sounds of his siblings playing or the tv to loud. He does not hold on to you when you pick him up like most infants do he will remain with his arms down to his sides. When we pick him up he does not go limp like infants do that anticipate being picked up he instead is stiff. He will not make eye contant and if he does it is for far less that 15 seconds and he cries all of the time, I do not mean that he cries an hour or two during the day I mean out of 12 hours that he is awake there is only about 30 minutes that he is not crying. He has violent tantrums to activity, going out in public or the missing of his bath time and then he does not have to have a reason to have a tantrum either.... these tantrums are marked by arching of the back, throwning his head and body backwards and screaming at the top of his lungs. He keeps his fist clenched almost all of the time. He hates toys and would rather look at something that has red or blue in it and anything that he can cover his face with(a piece of paper that does not rattle to loud) He has a flat affect to his face most of the time when not crying and shows no other emotion. He can be forced to laugh a little by tickling him over and over at the collar bone but starts to cry soon after this is started. He will stare at the wall, ceiling fan(it is not on) and anything that may be shiny and moving. I know that this is not all of his symptoms that he is showing but I will not list them all unless you want them. Do you feel that the doctor is correct and that these symptoms are something that is of concern. All that I have researched points to Autism but I wanted to ask your opnion. I know that you cannot diagnose and I am not asking you to all I am asking is do you THINK this could be Autism. Thank You in advance for you answer. Nickie Saxton

Answer
Hi Nickie,

I don't think autism is diagnosable at such a young age (children are usually not diagnosed before the age of two). However, if you're worried, go and see an expert (not your family doctor).
What your write about your child does indeed sound a bit like autism, but he may "just" have sensory integration dysfunction which makes it difficult for him to deal with touch and noises. This is a condition which can also occur in otherwise "normal" people.
You probably could talk to your doctor about this possiblilty too.

I'm sorry I can't express myself very clearly today, I'm very tired.
I'm also sorry I can't help you more.
C.