Expert: James Michael Roan - 10/7/2009

Question
Hello, I have a concern about my 10 months old boy. He has not start babbling yet. He is quiet most of the time. Few times a day we can hear him squeal but not very often. He likes to play by himself. If I read him or show him some new toy he is listening to me only for a few seconds and then move somewhere else. He does not make good eye contact with me. When I call him he turns his head to me but sometimes I have to call him many times before he does. He likes to crawl to our dog's food bowls - he does it many time a day, we always pick him up and say "NO" and put him on the other side of the room but he will go there again and if call him when he is on his way there, he does not even react to it. He does it for several months now. He does not understand to word "NO" at all. He does not wave bey bey, dos not like pat a cake, does not like if I sign to him, does not imitate me at all. He likes to play peek a boo. He smiles but not often. He is almost walking. When I pick him up from daycare he almost never look at me (even though he is not playing at the time), he does not crawl to me and does not smile. He always looks somewhere else and moves his eyes immediately I move to his view. He loves our dog and always pet her and comes to her. He does not have any problem to fall a sleep the most of the time. He likes sucking on his thumb and that it all he needs to fall asleep. He smiles at other - he was smiling at his doctor at his 9 months check up so Dr. said that he is fine but I am very concern. Could this all be a sign of the autism? I've been very frustrated. Please help me! Thank you very much!

Answer
Hi Ivana;

Please understand that I do not, at any time, attempt to diagnose or rule out a diagnosis or condition over the Internet.

It does sound like, at the very least, he may have a communication and social delay. Call the special education/services department at your school district to refer your son for an Early Intervention (Birth-to-three) evaluation. Mention autism, however he is too young for them to diagnose autism. If he has autism then his communication and social development will be low enough for him to receive the services he needs. The assessment and/or services, if he qualifies for them, are at school district expense.

Kind regards,
Jim

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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 assessment professional 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.