About Michelle 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)
Question Hello
Me my wife and my 4 year old son have been traveling a lot in last 4 years and have changed various places and countries of stay due to my work (At least 8 shifting in last 4 year). My 4 year old son has a following behavior.
1) He is very affectionate towards me and my wife and responds and likes being hugged or cuddled.
2) He responds to basic thing likes name, color, places, things, objects etc.
3) Though occasionally played with the children of his age group when he was 2-2.5 year old, but then never had a chance.
4) In Pre School or kindergarten he does not sit in one place and likes to stay on his own.
5) His physical development is better than kids of his age.
6) His communication is poor with the people around. He repeats when we say anything, but usually is not able to converse long or spontaneous.
7) Usually speaks and express his needs through 3-4 word sentences. Some time longer sentences also.
8) Likes songs and some TV programs.
9) At times recites nonsense words or make and hums sounds repeatedly.
10) Likes to go out and explore things. Can count from 1-100 and A-Z and name colors things etc. He is able to write some alphabets and numbers also. Can recite poems with little help. I am worried about his speech and social behavior. Are these a sign of Autistic child.
Answer It is hard to say if they are signs of a child with Autism, Autism like characteristics, Asperger's Syndrome, gifted, broader autism phenotype, or just a normally progressing precocious little boy. If you have concerns about the possibility of autism spectrum disorders, I would encourage you to complete the following questionnaire:
Child’s Name_______________________________Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder (Susan Mayes, PhD, Penn State College of Medicine)Check each item that applies to your child now or in the past
PROBLEMS WITH SOCIAL INTERACTION
__(1) Social isolationwithdrawn, aloof, avoids contact with others, or prefers to play alone rather than with peersparallel play along side but not with peersdifficulty establishing friendships__(2) Limited reciprocal interactionlimited social smile or eye contact (looks away, looks through people, looks at speaker’s mouth, needs tobe prompted to make eye contact, or does not make eye contact when communicating)limited sharing and showing (e.g., does not show a toy to an adult, seek recognition, or share anexperience or accomplishment with others)excessively rigid play with peers (dictates play according to his/her peculiar and repetitive interests and rules)enjoys physical or sensory play with others (e.g., tickling, chasing) but has limited reciprocal socialinteraction (e.g., does not play social games or games involving turn taking)
__(3) Self-absorbedself-absorbed or in own world (e.g., engages in self-stimulating behaviors, talks to self, or fantasizesexcessively about things such as movies or cartoons)oblivious to the presence of others or unresponsive to the social overtures of others
__(4) Socially indiscriminate behaviorinappropriately talks to or hugs strangersinvades personal space (gets too close to or touches others)no stranger/separation anxiety when young (not wary of strangers or upset if separated from parents)socially inappropriate, insensitive comments or behaviors (picks nose in public, asks personal questions)
__(5) Problems with social skillsdoes not appropriately initiate or sustain peer interaction though may interact well with adultspoor social reasoning (difficulty understanding social cues/comments, facial expressions, body language)wants to have friends but does not know how to make friendsPERSEVERATION
__(6) Narrow or unusual range of interests and play behaviorsobsessive preoccupations or extreme fixation on things such as certain movies or TV shows (reenacts orwatches the same movies over and over), computer games, letters, shapes, numbers, counting, objectsor topics (e.g., trains, dinosaurs, NASCAR, maps, planes, electricity, Yu-Gi-Oh, cartoon characters, etc.)unusual attachment to and holding or hoarding objects (e.g., small figures, string, other______)
__(7) Stereotyped and repetitive playrepetitive play (e.g., excessively lines up, sorts, spins, or throws objects; opens and closes thingsrepeatedly; plays with the same toys without variation; draws the same pictures repeatedly; other_____)disinterest in toys or lack of normal and varied imaginative playunusual preoccupation with parts of objects (e.g., repetitively spins wheels on a toy)
__(8) Upset with changedistressed by change (e.g., change in routine or schedule, parent takes a different car route home fromschool, furniture or child’s toys are moved, seasonal change in clothing, other______)difficulty with transitions (e.g., from one activity to another)extreme need to finish what he/she startsidiosyncratic or ritualized patterns (e.g., drinks only from a certain cup, wears only certain clothes, insiststhat food be arranged a certain way on a plate, other_____)insists that things be in a certain location or a certain way (e.g., doors must be closed, coats zipped, etc.)insists on doing things the same way every timeoverly precise and inflexible, upset if someone breaks a “rule,” rigid and literal thinking
__(9) Stereotypies (unusual repetitive movements such as hand flapping when excited, toe walking, bodyrocking, head shaking, body tensing, teeth clenching, teeth grinding while awake, finger movements, facialgrimacing, repeatedly running back and forth, twirling or spinning, pacing, playing with saliva, skin picking)SOMATOSENSORY DISTURBANCE
__(10) Excessive atypical craving and love of spinning, tickling, climbing, rocking, swinging, bouncing, jumping
__(11) Unresponsive at times to verbal input (not react when name called or spoken to, hearing questioned)
__(12) Hypersensitivityunusual hypersensitivity to some sounds (e.g., distress or covering ears in response to loud noise,motors, vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, baby crying, sirens, clapping, alarms, toilet flushing, people singing)unusual hypersensitivity to smell, light, or temperature
__(13) Distress with commotion or crowds (uncomfortable/anxious in large groups, theatres, cafeterias, parties)
__(14) Extreme fascination with spinning or repetitive movements (e.g., revolving fans, Wheel of Fortune,running water), linear patterns (e.g., credits on TV, window blinds), minute details, lights, shiny surfaces
__(15) Abnormal sensory inspectionexcessively smells, mouths, chews, licks, or rubs inanimate objects or surfacesrepetitively visually scrutinizes objects or finger movements close to eyesplaces ears against things that vibrate or hum or presses objects against face to an unusual degree
__(16) Tactile defensiveness or extreme dislike of:being touched or huggedtouching certain things or getting hands dirty or stickywater on self or clotheshaving face washed, teeth brushed, hair combed, or nails cutwalking in bare feetclothing that is tight, seams in clothes, or certain textures of clothing
__(17) High tolerance for pain (e.g., does not cry when hurt or does not respond normally to painful stimuli)
__(18) Sleep disturbance (e.g., difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, waking early in the morning)
__(19) Feeding problemsvery picky eater, limited food preferences, insists on eating only a few foodshypersensitivity to textures (e.g., lumps in food)retains food in mouth without swallowingeats inedible substancesother peculiar eating patterns (e.g., eats only one brand, color, or shape of a food, other____)ATYPICAL COMMUNICATION AND DEVELOPMENT
__(20) Language regression or slowing at approximately 1 to 2 years of age (e.g., speaking a few words at oneyear but then losing speech or normal early language development and later language is delayed)
__(21) Visual-motor skills (e.g., assembling puzzles, building with Legos, operating the VCR) significantly higherthan language skills during the preschool years or walking at a much earlier age than talking
__(22) Communication impairmentabsent or limited communicative speech but gestures to communicate (e.g., pulls an adult by the handand leads to what wants, hands an object to an adult for assistance, brings a cup to an adult for a drink)communicates verbally with others only when stressed or needing somethingdifficulty with reciprocal conversational speech (initiating and sustaining conversations, listening andresponding to what others say), talks at people, or one-sided conversations on topics of interest to self
__(23) Atypical vocalizations or speechunusual voice quality or modulation (e.g., high pitch, sing song voice, lack of intonation, etc.)screeches or makes other odd noises (e.g., growls, hums, etc.)unusual repetitive vocalizations and soundsidiosyncratic jargon as if talking in own languageecholalia (inappropriately mimics what others say, such as repeating instead of answering a question)sporadic speech (says a word or phrase once and rarely or never says it again)excessively recites from movies, cartoons, commercials, etc.uses rote or memorized phrases that are excessive, out of context, or not relevantmakes pronoun substitutions (e.g., says “you” when meaning “I”)excessively repetitive speech and questionsidiosyncratic thoughts and speech (makes up words, nonsensical speech, unique views and perceptions)
__(24) Special abilities that are significantly higher than other abilitiesexceptional rote memory (e.g., at an unusually young age, identifies numbers, letters, shapes, logos, andcolors; sings or hums tunes; memorizes car routes; counts; recites the alphabet; reads; spells; etc.)phenomenal vocabulary or ability to memorize movies, books, or factual informationremarkable ability to mimic movie or cartoon charactersoutstanding visual-mechanical skills (e.g., at an unusually young age, assembles puzzles, matchesshapes, operates a computer or VCR, figures out how things work, complex constructions with Legos)remarkable artistic or musical talentextremely well-developed gross motor skills with delayed development in other areas (in contrast to high-functioning children with autism who often have writing or coordination problems)
MOOD DISTURBANCE
__(25) Overreactivity, irritability, low frustration tolerance, agitation, tantrums, meltdowns, explosiveness,aggression, or self-injurious behavior (distressed by minor events or occurrences most children cantolerate, such as intrusions, activity interruptions, proximity, confinement, performance demands, writingtasks, or when things are not the way the child thinks they should be)
__(26) Moodiness and emotional lability (the cause for mood changes may not always apparent, such aslaughter or distress for no apparent reason)
__(27) Difficulty showing and recognizing emotions, emotionally unresponsive in some situations, lack ofempathy or emotional reciprocity (e.g., does not respond appropriately or provide comfort whensomeone is hurt or sad), or misinterprets the emotions or responses of others
__(28) Unusual fears, such as fear of elevators, steps, toilets, balloons, vacuums, tornadoes, other_____P
ROBLEMS WITH ATTENTION AND SAFETY
__(29) Selective attention, ability to hyperfocus on activities, objects, or topics of interest to self (e.g., lines uptoys, spins wheels, watches the same movie, assembles puzzles, builds with Legos, or draws picturesfor long periods of time), but is inattentive, impulsive, and fidgety at other times
__(30) Limited safety awareness, fearless, or oblivious to danger (e.g., unsafe climbing, wanders about house atnight, runs off by self, goes into traffic or water, walks off with strangers)
If 15 or more items are marked yes, you may want to consider sharing the information with your family physician. The following is also a good resource.
