Expert: James Michael Roan - 1/18/2006

Question
My son who is 3.5 years has been observed by a child psychologist and her professional opinion is that he is a high-functioning autistic. She believes that he would have a high non-verbal IQ and a low verbal IQ if he was tested now (she said that his IQ will be measured before entering kindergarten). He has been working with a speech and occupational therapist for almost a year and has made great strides.  According to the psychologist, his strengths are that he is very bright, very affectionate and easy-going (not a behavior problem) and will do what is asked of him. If we continue to get him all of the help that he needs throughout his childhood, is it possible that he will have a 'normal' life as an adult, marriage, children, career, etc.

Answer
Hi Alison;

It's always a great pleasure to answer this question! Definitely have him tested and assessed by the school. Make sure he has an IQ, and a thorough language assessment including receptive, expressive, and pragmatic (social) language. Also ask the psychologist to give a Gilliam Asperger's Disorder Scale (GADS). If the psychologist is correct, then your son most likely has Asperger's Syndrome (AS). Visit Tony Attwood's web site for information and resources. He's the number one expert in this area and he's honest!

The core deficit of high functioning autism(HFA) or AS is a social thinking and social communicative deficit. Speech and language therapy will address some of this, but he will need much more than they will provide. Your son will appear to do well if left on his own until age 8, when he will most likely be aware that he is different than others and begin to emotionally breakdown. Don't wait for this start immediately with his social skills training and intervention. Prior to this, he will most likely have behavior problems at school due to misreading the actions of others. Children/adults with AS have a concrete thinking style and struggle in the social snake-pit at school. This will lead to depression, because he will want to have friends and to be liked, but will not know how to make and keep friends. You will have to help him with that. He will probably be a target of bullies so you want the playground staff to watch him during recess. All of these struggles often lead to depression, so watch for that as well.  Make sure he has access to the school counselor throughout his school career. If he is diagnosed, and when he begins to sense he is different then sit him down and list his strengths first, social challenges second and explain to him he does not have a syndrome or a disorder but a unique "cognitive style" shared by millions of famous people. I suggest you look at Amazon.com for 2 books written by Professor Michael Fitzgerald, which describes many famous folks who have had and currently have AS.

As for a family and friends, he will do well if you follow up on my earlier advice. Their difficulty in relationships is that they, in their honesty, can say hurtful things. They struggle reading faces and body language so they need direct instruction in these areas. I know several couples where one has AS and the other does not. They work at it but they are as happy as anyone else. Your son, if he receives this ongoing lifelong support, will do fine.

Kind Regards,
James