Expert: James Michael Roan - 12/20/2007

Question
QUESTION: My daughter had dt,ot and speech therapy from ages 6mos to 3years old. She still has speech 2x a week. She had a weakness on her left side and couldn't use arms bilateral. As her therapist worked through that they all realized she had SID. She had no imaginative play, couldn't take loud or large places. She said her first babble at age 2 and 3 mos. She said her first word at 2 and half. She also was born with lower tone. Drooled also. Never received a diagnosis for anything. She has speech still and has a little fine motors skills problems still, also won't jump into any new or loud situation. Could she of had autism and grown out of it.

ANSWER: Hi Noreen;

What is SID? I would consider exploring a nonverbal learning disability on the Internet. Although fairly rare, it looks a lot like autism. Although you improve with intervention you do not grow out of it.

Kind regards,
James

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

QUESTION: Sensory integration dysfunction, or sensory processing is SID. If you were me would you seek out a diagnosis or leave it alone if it now seems she is doing fine except a few quirks. Are there any known things that come up later in life if left on diagnosed.

Answer
Hi Noreen;

An "accurate" diagnosis can:

1. Inform and guide intervention.

2. Depersonalize behavior so your daughter does not blame herself for social difficulties later in life.

3. Direct academic interventions and direct education about the condition itself.

If your daughter suffers significant enough social delays she may become the target of bullies and she may develop clinical depression.

Kind regards,
James