Expert: James Michael Roan - 2/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello,  I am concerned about some behaviors in one of my 14 month old twin boys.

This are my concerns:
- Eye contact is not great when I’m holding him.  
- Sometimes I call him few times before he reacts to his name
- He babbles, and says very few words not clearly
- He is not cuddly but likes for you to pick him up and hold him
- He rarely comes to me to get some attention like his brother does
- Plays throwing his toys about (recently my husband show him that and now he does not want to stop it)
- He plays on the side when he seeing me playing with his brother)
- Does not bring me things to show me
- Has been reaching his milestones latter than his brother, but now can walk holding onto the furniture
- He likes chasing and tickling games (then he laughs a lot)
- He fights with his brother for toys but rarely for my attention
- In the indoor playground he goes to explore, but checks all the time if I am around
- he sometimes trays to feed me if I initiate it
- he understand "no" but when I say it to harsh he starts crying

I have to mention, his bother always comes to me and I have been giving him much more attention. Looking after the boys alone makes me feel so tired at times and have not been interacting, playing and teaching them things enough since they were born neither.


I do not know if my son is like this because of a lack of my attention...

I am very scared that may be there is something wrong with him. Please help

Thank you very much
Anna




ANSWER: Hi Anna;

No, your behavior is not, in any way, responsible for your son's behavior. He certainly appears to have some degree of social delay, but difficult to know if he is on the autism spectrum. How does he behave and what does he do around other children his age? Does he like to spin or watch spinning things. Is he attracted to hanging or dangley strings? Does he stare at his fingers from the corner of his eye? Does he have unusual sensory seeking or sensory avoidance behaviors like not wanting hair cut or washed? Tell me all about any unusual behaviors you have observed.

Kind regards,
James










Disclaimer:

While James Michael Roan has attempted to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, the information is provided in good faith without any express or implied warranty. The purpose of this web site is to provide information to families with children, teens, and adults with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay. James Michael Roan Consulting does not prefer any one organization to another, and it is not responsible for the information listed on an organization's web site, or any disseminated information either verbal or written. Please be advised we are not giving medical advice and that circumstances can dictate different treatments. If these issues affect you or your loved ones you should seek professional advice. This site is operated for informational purposes only. At no time will James Michael Roan attempt to diagnose or dismiss a potential diagnosis over the Internet. We hope that you find my resources useful.



Bio

James Roan is a certified school psychologist who 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 (http://www.jamesroan.com). James earned his M.Ed. in School Psychology and M. Ed. in Adult Education and receives ongoing post graduate training in autism at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. 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 disabilities. James Roan was the consulting psychologist responsible for many of the autism and AD/HD screening tools and other content for Access Special Needs.Com. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford Ireland in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors. James has conducted formal assessments of students in the Autism Unit in the Claddagh National School in County Galway Ireland.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi,
Thank you very much for answering my question.

You asked me:
Does he like to spin or watch spinning things  NO
Is he attracted to hanging or dangley strings  NO
Does he stare at his fingers from the corner of his eye NO Does he have unusual sensory seeking or sensory avoidance behaviors like not wanting hair cut or washed - he seems to like holding a fabric (sometimes)

- I noticed when upset he sometimes flaps his arms
- Mouths his toys toys (the 2 top teeth are coming)
- Throws toys around, but when I showed him how to play with his car, he does it very well now
- he gets occupied with one toy for longer periods od time

I am not sure if that could have had an impact on his behaviour...
We speak 3 languages at home
I interacted with him and played very little, it is like he had to learn to play alone
His brother is extremely demanding, he takes his toys and pushes him away from me
We did not go out much, very rerly socialized
They watched TV a lot

I have made big changes:
For the last 3 weeks I have been giving him lots of one to one attention, played with him on the floor, TV was off
As a result he has been improving from one day to another
He was
- much happier, had so much greater eye contact, he was smailing, chasing his brother, they even played a ball together, he followed his brother to climb up onto the furniture, smiled at him and started to come to me so much more. When tired first time ever he put his had on my chest and stayed in my arms for longer periods of time

Before he has been a daddy's boy. My husband use to bath him and bottlefed him at bed time. Now I do those things and look likes me more

On the other hand I am still worried. For the last 3 weeks first time ever I have been showing him how to wave bye bye - no response, it is like he does not copy my gestures, or facial expression, does not want to clap... He repeats some words, but I'm not sure if he knows their meaning

Family doctor had a look at him. She sad he looked fine to her and that he had too much eye contact.

I have a feeling his is somehow different. My husband cannot see anything wrong.

Sorry my post is so long, and I'm sorry for any mistakes. English is my second language.

Thank you one more!
Kind regards
Anna

Answer
Hi Anna;

Unfortunately, eye contact is not a reliable indicator of higher functioning forms of autism like PDD-NOS/Asperger's syndrome (AS). The fact that he has made such good gains since you have been interacting more with him is a good sign. Try and keep that up. Some children come with low imitation skills. Some due to an autism spectrum disorder and some due to social/communication delay. It is hard for me to discern this without observing him. Try a small group game with his brother and he using music and imitation. Try patty cake first with his brother and then with him. Make sure he is watching his brother in order to learn what to do. Imitation skills are crucial to intellectual and communication development. There are also good children's DVDs out there as well, but first do this with he and his brother or other child his age. Kids learn mostly from peers and not adults. Let me know how this works out.

Oh yes, definitely limit television for both of them to no more than an hour per day.

Kind regards,
James




Disclaimer:

While James Michael Roan has attempted to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, the information is provided in good faith without any express or implied warranty. The purpose of this web site is to provide information to families with children, teens, and adults with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay. James Michael Roan Consulting does not prefer any one organization to another, and it is not responsible for the information listed on an organization's web site, or any disseminated information either verbal or written. Please be advised we are not giving medical advice and that circumstances can dictate different treatments. If these issues affect you or your loved ones you should seek professional advice. This site is operated for informational purposes only. At no time will James Michael Roan attempt to diagnose or dismiss a potential diagnosis over the Internet. We hope that you find my resources useful.



Bio

James Roan is a certified school psychologist who 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 (http://www.jamesroan.com). James earned his M.Ed. in School Psychology and M. Ed. in Adult Education and receives ongoing post graduate training in autism at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. 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 disabilities. James Roan was the consulting psychologist responsible for many of the autism and AD/HD screening tools and other content for Access Special Needs.Com. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford Ireland in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors. James has conducted formal assessments of students in the Autism Unit in the Claddagh National School in County Galway Ireland.