Expert: Paul Johnson - 11/19/2011

Question
My son is 17 yrs old with an undiagnosed developmental disability, I am currently in the process of making doctor appts for him.  Currently he is having behavioral issues not characteristic to him, and has a past of the following: hair twirling as a baby, rocking back and forth to music as baby, very quiet demeanor whole life, acting as if deaf but not, holding stool at potty training age, "computer genius" since age of 12, focus on taking things apart and putting them together, unscrewing the bolts off the kitchen table legs as toddler, peculiar behavior with fans and string, I thought he was making cat toys with string, but he said that wasn't his initial intent, puts strings on fans, takes fan out of computer to spin them, picks face and skin, was tested at school and found to have cognitive and or auditory learning deficiencies in elementary school, periodic difficulties with school work, although he presents as extremely intelligent in math, science, music, engineering and computers.  Do you think my son may have high functioning autism or asbergers, or other sensory disorder?

Answer
Hey Susan,

Thank you for your question.

It would not be a good way to use my talents nor would it be responsible of me to make diagnosis via the Internet. Do I think your 17 year old son have characteristics of an ASD?
Sure there are characteristics present. You already felt that too so you certainly have my blessing to identify a competent clinician that understands Autism and have him assessed.

I think at 17 he is at an age where he will have strong feelings about how he views self so A caveat would be to discuss carefully how he might feel about being labeled as on the Autism Spectrum of Disorders before he's assessed. If you were to subject it upon him he may resist whatever outcome ensue.