Expert: James Michael Roan - 4/14/2006

Question
I have a 5 yr old son which has a PDD-NOS diagnostic by one psycologist and Asperger by another. Some tell me that because his earlier characteristics he is a classic autistic; hand flapping,no eye contact, delayed speech,delayed development, tip toed walking, toy alignment, hated physical contact, afraid o loud noises, skin alergies, limited diet,echolalia, and many others.  He has overcome many of these characteristics and at the present time he is verbal still having few problems with both receptive and spoken language , he is obsessive, his diet still very limited, he is social mostly with adults very few children and only if he knows them for a long time, has some rituals, does not like changes,self stimulation, repeats sentences or frases three times, say I love you only when he needs something, tantrums, screams when getting hair cut, and some other behaviors.  
Which is it classic autism, AS or PDD-NOS?  

Answer
Hi Yolanda;

Most researchers in the realm of autism are currently arguing about just this topic. Most, however, agree that AS, high functioning autism, and PDD-NOS are really the same thing. Personally, my experience would lead me to consider a more classic high functioning autism (HFA). As interventions effect a positive change many children can move up the spectrum towards AS/HFA/PDD. There is no current definitive differences between them.

I hope this helps a little.

Kind regards,
James