Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 7/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Valerie,

My son suffers from cerebral palsy but lately the question
whether
or not he also suffers from autism has been troubling me. I
tried
browsing several sites but somehow could not get exact
explanations
on how to differ both disorders since my son shows several
symptoms
of autism like hand-flapping and also lining up lego blocks
so
precisely. I have a blog (www.s13ky.wordpress.com), please
have a
look if you don't mind.

I surely hope that your expertise would clear up our minds.

Best regards,

Eky

Srikaya 54B Cinere Estate
Jakarta-Indonesia

ANSWER: Hi Eky

Nice blog! Something I have been meaning to do!

Anyway, it is not uncommon for me to see children with multiple diagnoses. Though you didn't go into specifics, it appears that the hand-flapping and lining up of legos are characteristics of autism. Are there other sensory issues as well?

I am not a person that focuses on diagnoses anyway. I instead focus on behaviors and what can be done about them. How old is your son?

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

QUESTION: Thank you for the answer, Valerie. My son is 6 years old.
Sensory has always been an issue due to his lack of oxygen
during delivery. At first he had trouble with balance and
coordination, thank God he improves a lot ever since we
enrolled him in a school for special needs (physiotherapy &
sensory integration) Now he is coping with his motoric fine
muscles. He still has trouble with eye-hand coordination
(pencil skill).

Best regards,

Eky

Srikaya 54B Cinere Estate
Jakarta-Indonesia  

Answer
Hi Eky

So you have been dealing with the sensory issues since he was born. I guess you could safely say he has some characteristics of autism. Good luck with everything and if you have a specific problem in the future you would like help on, don't hesitate to write back.