AboutMichelle Fattig Expertise I can answer questions about educational testing, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Special Education, IEP, Learning Disabilities, Sensory Processing, Parent Advocacy, Response to Intervention, living and parenting with disabilities, parent rights in special education, school psychology, and more. I cannot provide a medical diagnosis.
Experience I am a school psychologist, medical technologist, author of the Annie Books series: Experience Aspeger's Syndrome and Attention Deficits Through the Eyes of a Child, RTI facilitator, ILCD facilitator, parent advocate, presenter, and researcher. My children and I have Asperger's, ADD/ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Organizations National Association of School Pyschologists, American Medical Technologists, Learning Disabilities Association of Nebraska
Education/Credentials Ed.S. in School Psychology, doctoral studies in SPED Law, SPED Systems Enhancement Leadership, and doctoral candidate Education Leadership. MT(AMT) and MLT(ASCP)
Expert: Michelle Fattig Date: 4/1/2008 Subject: curious if I should say something to a parent regarding her child
Question I care for a little boy who will be 2 years old shortly.
I have seen many children this age, I have 3 of my own children, received a degree in early childhood education, and worked in a daycare for several years before deciding to be a stay at home mom and watch a few kids for a little extra income. I have noticed quite a few things about this child that if he were mine I would be Most concerned about, his mother is extremely doting, has 2 much older children and acts as if all is fine, am I out of line if I tell her I think she should have him tested? If for nothing else at least for a speech delay? He rarely speaks, when he does speak it is only with a lot of prompting, he has only said a handful of words for me...although he can parrot ( repeat ) quite a few words he never uses his words independently. There are days if I did not go to great lengths to interact with him he would stay motionless in one place. He doesn't eat hardly anything although I try to get him to eat, even the things his mom says he likes he rarely eats, if I prompt him to try a bite sometimes he will take a bite but will just let it fall out of his mouth, I offered him a sucker one day thinking it was a nice treat and he didn't know what to do with it, I tried to get him to understand but he would put it in his mouth and take it out and not even lick it...I don't know I just thought that odd, he will make eye contact, but he doesn't act like he understands, he never gets excited about anything unless its about his sister coming in or his mom coming to pick him up. He is almost a different child around them but still almost no vocalization with them either. He has had a lot of time to adjust to being in my care, I have gone to great lengths to try and interest him in "playing" but he is a little loner. He will push cars, he likes the musical toys, but he puts toys in his mouth still quite a bit even though he is not teething. He does not interact with the other kids well, he had some issues with biting...I am now only watching him and I have my youngest son who is starting to walk...he seems happier now that we have fewer kids, and he does not interact well with my son, he either ignores him, or pushes him down. He does well with my cat...he loves to pet the cat. He likes music, and any show that has music and dancing...like the Wiggles...he will dance but not try and sing along. He will clap his hands, and point to things independently but if I ask him to point at an object I get a flat expression, if I ask him to point to his nose...even if I mime it as well, nothing, if I ask him to reach for the sky, put his hands in the air...just a blank look...I am the proud aunt of an autistic niece, I am no medical doctor, but I understand the importance of early intervention, am I wrong to say to his mother I fear he may have a speech delay and leave it at that? Or am I over reacting and all this is normal...it sure seems far from normal to me. I am sorry this is so long and disjointed but I am really at a loss as to what specifically to point out, without seeming like an uncaring person and saying...this little boy is odd, he is just hard to explain, but seriously, it is like he is not there, and then his mom picks him up and its like someone has turned the light on and he is "more there" if that makes any sense...I just want to be able to reach him even if his mom doesn't want to see anything wrong, if I could help at all I would feel better. Thank you.
It may come off wrong but I do care about him!
Answer It sounds as if you have very valid concerns, and yes it is best to seek early intervention. Approaching the mother would be appropriate, if you feel comfortable doing so. If you are not comfortable with the direct approach, most chid find agencies (early development network or local school districts) take referrals from daycare providers as well as doctors offices and other agencies. A checklist, available by typing "Checklist for Autism in Young Children (Susan Mayes, PhD, Penn" in a search engine, may be helpful for his mother in understanding and pursuing appropriate evaluations and/or services, or for you in initiating the referral process. I hope this is of help and wish you the best. I dearly wish my son's daycare providers had been so observant and caring.
