Expert: James Michael Roan - 9/30/2009

Question
My son turned 3 in May. He was diagnosed with mild CP at the age of 6 months from Shands University in Gainesville, FL. He has been receiving services, like Speech, OT and PT was only for a short time at 1 year old. He also an immune deficiency as well. But he walks good, he runs alot and then falls and he walks on his tip toes. But what concerns me is his behavior. He attends therapy session for 3 hours on mondays. He has group play for an hour, speech for an hour and then OT for an hour. He will not interact with the other kids during group. He has a bad temper and everything has to be on his terms. He balls up his fists and shakes if you ask him to pick up his toys. He refuses to potty train. And the most puzzling is his reaction to someone singing to him or him being the center of attention (like all the kids at group play turning to him because the teacher was singing the good-bye song and said his name). His lip shakes, his eyes water, his body gets so tight, he yells, and then he is upset for next 20 minutes or so. He also gets services for our county school board in our home. The teacher is amazed at his reaction to her signing "Twikle Little Star" and said that she has never seen this before and doesn't know what to say or what to do. I have spoken to his doctors about him withdrawing from music and how he shakes and his eyes water (not like he is crying) and they don't believe me, I guess. But now others have seen it and no one understands why. Also none of his doctors have ever talked about Autism or anything else. They just all say that it is CP. What do you think about this. Tahnks for any help you can offer.

Answer
Hi Brooke;

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

I'm not sure what to make of this either since I am unable to observe him. The best thing to do is have you fill out the M-CHAT and send it to me with elaboration where necessary. Here is the link:

http://www.firstsigns.org/downloads/m-chat.PDF

Kind regards,
James



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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.