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Autism/Questions Answered by Expert Catherine Ridenour
| Subject | Date Asked |
| High Functioning Aspergers | 2/8/2012 |
| Q: My son is 12 years old and in 6th grade (middle school). He was diagnosed with ADHD (severe) in ... A: If your son has an IEP, ask for an update meeting on the grounds that the transition from one ... | |
| Parenting a strong willed H FA child | 1/17/2012 |
| Q: Our daughter is a six year old HFA 1st grader. She was adopted from Guatemala in 2005 and diagnosed ... A: Defiance is a common thing in HFA kids. Many autistic spectrum individuals are extremely intelligent ... | |
| Fear of Animals | 1/1/2012 |
| Q: My friend has a 5 yr old who is Diagnosed Autistic. He is high functioning, but has a SEVERE fear of ... A: Let's start with the limited vocabulary. It's important to remember that he may have far better ... | |
| PDD | 11/27/2011 |
| Q: My daughter who is 4 and 1/2 years old was recently diagnosed with PDD. She is very bright, has a ... A: This is a difficult question because it is impossible to know what started this behavior. She may ... | |
| PreK Problems | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: My daughter is 4 yr old with Autism in an ESE PreK program throught the local elementary school. ... A: If your daughter is attending a program on a regular basis, I would be asking what they plan to do ... | |
| anger outburst | 10/27/2011 |
| Q: My daughter is almost 8 diagnosed with asd. She has outburst of complete defiance with hitting, ... A: It is very important to try and figure out what triggers these outbursts. Most often, the child is ... | |
| Private School Discipline Procedures | 10/25/2011 |
| Q: My high functioning 8 year old autistic son is currently in a private school for the first time this ... A: Your plan for the meeting looks good. I know it's hard when you feel your child is being wronged, ... | |
| imaginative play | 10/22/2011 |
| Q: I have written before regarding my son who is now coming up to three and awaiting appointment for a ... A: It's good to hear from you again. As you know, the symptoms of autism vary from child to child. I ... | |
| High School / College / Career | 10/7/2011 |
| Q: I just read the question from Laurel about her son who is currently in college and trying to find ... A: It is wonderful that you are already looking toward her post high school educational options. ... | |
| ASD 16 yr old obsessed with gas websites | 8/30/2011 |
| Q: I've got a 16 year old son. He was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome when he was a child. He's not ... A: This is so "far out" it's not easy to believe. I going to take you seriously and give you a straight ... | |
| autism and interaction | 8/28/2011 |
| Q: My son does not have a diagnosis of autism, however he does have a delay in both expressive and ... A: I understand your confusion. One reason it is called a "spectrum" is that each child seems to have a ... | |
| Hand Flapping | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: My son has not been diagnosed with Austism, but he has flaps his hands. He is 4 and has done this ... A: In the absences of any other symptoms, I would just ignore it for now. Drawing attention to it will ... | |
| lack of respect | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: My daughter will be 8 in November. She has AS. She is very high functioning and does reasonably well ... A: She probably does forget to be nice. She lacks the instinctive understanding of other people's ... | |
| having an autistic 'step son' and a new baby | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: shortly after his boys moved in with us from chilli. we live in Minnesota. there mom was planning on ... A: It is very common for an autistic child to react in this way to the arrival of a new baby. He does ... | |
| How important is socialization for children? | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: My 9 year old recently diagnosed autistic, highly intelligent and very bright son is homeschooled ... A: You ask some very important questions. I'm thrilled to hear from a parent who has given such depth ... | |
| Help at home | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a 13 year old son diagnosed Autistic. I am a stay at home mom and I try to do most of my ... A: If your son has an "official" medical diagnosis, he may qualify for respite care or a day school ... | |
| BEHAVIOR | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: im wondering if you could answer a simple question. My son is 3 years old and has no diaganosis as ... A: Since autism is a "spectrum" disorder, meaning that it ranges from classic, severe autism all the ... | |
| autism | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: i have my son which he seems to have an autism symptoms ! and to tell the truth we are taking him to ... A: I don't think the ankle twisting is because of the autism but some weakness in the leg. A good ... | |
| Parenting a High Functioning Child | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: My son has made some huge progress physically. He is smart and very good at book knowledge. He is ... A: First of all, yelling will accomplish nothing. Your son will simply filter it out or retreat into ... | |
| Son wants to be himself but can't | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: Recently our 24-year-old son who has Asperger's syndrome has told us he wants to be himself, but ... A: The short answer is yes, tell him he's adult and your approval is not required. Making mistakes is ... | |
| grieving losses | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: How can parents help a 26 year-old son with Asperger, recently diagnosed, deal with the feelings of ... A: Yes, I think he's grieving and probably very scared. But, I think it's very important to point out ... | |
| 21/2 yr old has no speech now | 4/30/2011 |
| Q: my grandson was right on task. could count to ten. say names. ask what's this. whats that.. ... A: Since I'm not a doctor, I can't say if the febrile seizure caused this problem. It has been proven ... | |
| autism and agoraphobia | 4/29/2011 |
| Q: my 4 year old son was recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, he has great language skills ... A: Reluctance to leave home is probably linked to his comfort with the familiar surroundings and ... | |
| Neighbor with Aspergers | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: Our neighbors have a 7 year old son with aspergers. He is a wonderful child, but recently started ... A: This is a very difficult situation for everyone. Your first priority has to be your son's safety. ... | |
| Hi | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: My mom is always spoiling my little brother to the point that he's 5 but needs to be fed by my ... A: I don't know why this is happening but if he is her "last" child, she may be unable to let go of ... | |
| Mild Autism Spectrum Disorder | 4/12/2011 |
| Q: Our daughter joined our family at 22 months of age and has since been adopted by us. The Office of ... A: Your daughter has some very unique and challenging issues that are beyond my experience, but I think ... | |
| likes to roll over bumps | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: My son is 3 1/2, seen by neurologist 2x, in special ed preschool 12.1.1. but being moved to ... A: You're right, placement means more than diagnosis. Keep working with the school to find the ideal ... | |
| My husband has issues with my Aspie son | 4/6/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I have been together for almost 6 years now. My 13-year-old son from a previous ... A: Since you and your husband have been together for six years, your son's behavior cannot be a ... | |
| School concerned over son's internet use | 4/6/2011 |
| Q: I got a phone-call from one of my son's teachers telling me they were concerned about our son's ... A: I'm going to hazard a guess that your son has experienced some heart arrhythmia. The cause could be ... | |
| Another Question Divorce and Autism | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: Well, the thing with him though he doesn't seem like his brother, where his brother I can see him as ... A: If your boyfriend is as mature as you say, he can just say, "no" to his mother. He is a legal adult ... | |
| Autism and Divorces | 4/2/2011 |
| Q: I'm 24 years old and the girlfriend of a 19 year old autistic boy. His younger brother, 18, is also ... A: It's important to analyze who is the more supportive parent. His mother is probably over-protective, ... | |
| Bedtime | 3/30/2011 |
| Q: My son is almost 4. We had him totally set with a routine of snack, milk, bed and a "big boy" bed. I ... A: I assume, since you are posting this here, that your son is on the autistic spectrum. The arrival ... | |
| Son upset due to something his father did... | 3/16/2011 |
| Q: My son is 21 years old; he's managed to work since he was 16, within the UK state benefit rules. He ... A: I think your husband needs to talk to his son and tell him he is sorry for doing something stupid ... | |
| My Stepson Has Asperger's | 3/14/2011 |
| Q: I found this Q&A "Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 7/4/2009" just today and it's the closest thing I've ... A: Sleep disorders seem to be common with kids on the autistic spectrum. They often don't need as much ... | |
| My Stepson Has Asperger's | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: I found this Q&A "Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 7/4/2009" just today and it's the closest thing I've ... A: Step-parenting is hard no matter whether the children are "normal" or not. Anytime a child has a ... | |
| Daughter poorly due to classmates' bullying... off school for 2 weeks | 2/21/2011 |
| Q: I am 43, and my husband is 45. We've been married since we were 19, and have 2 children, a ... A: Your daughter has been intentionally poisoned and is being harassed. This is unacceptable under ANY ... | |
| displays of affection | 2/20/2011 |
| Q: My grandson (8) was diagnosed as High Achieving Autism. His mother refuses to accept this label and ... A: High Functioning Autistic kids can often to well in school, academically. Most are very bright. ... | |
| How to deal with unwanted attention from person with aspergers | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: I'm a student at a public university. Recently I met a boy with aspergers who's in two of my ... A: Sadly, this is a common occurrence. His lack of social understanding keeps him from recognizing the ... | |
| Daughters controlling behaviour | 2/10/2011 |
| Q: I'm not sure if I am in the right category or not. My 4 year old daughter has been diagnosed with ... A: This kind of behavior is not unusual in children with autistic spectrum disorders. She depends on ... | |
| 15 year old son stealing in school | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: I have a 15-year-old son who has Asperger's syndrome. He's normally a good kid, brought up well, ... A: One lesson that is hard for AS kids to learn is that consequences apply to them just like everyone ... | |
| Son wants to wear bikinis and this concerns me greatly | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: Recently my 17-year old son, who has Asperger's syndrome, has told me he wants to wear bikinis as he ... A: I understand your concern. No one wants their child to be an object of ridicule. You might suggest ... | |
| Son's obsessions worry me | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: I'm 43, and my husband's 45, our son is 16. His sister's 22 and lives away from home with her ... A: I understand your legal concerns. He needs to be very aware of the risks he takes by being involved ... | |
| HFA 4 year old discipline question | 1/22/2011 |
| Q: She was diagnosed less than 2 months ago. My husband and I are not seeing eye to eye about how to ... A: It's possible your husband is still in denial about your daughter's diagnosis. Hopefully, he will ... | |
| 2 years 8 month old boy | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: My 2nd son is 2 years 8 month old now. We are currently living in a small city in France (have been ... A: To answer your most pressing question, no, I don't see autism. I think you have a child with a ... | |
| preventing autism in a child who has an older brother diagnosed with PDD. | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: My oldest child has a PDD diagnoses. Is there anything I can do to help his younger brother, age ... A: Learning disabilities and developmental disorders may run in families but having one child with this ... | |
| HELP | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: I have a 20 year old son with pd, he does not receive services because he is unwilling to go to any ... A: I'm sorry, I do not live anywhere near New York. You will do best to do a web search (Google, Bing ... | |
| autistic daughter | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: my daughter is 4yrs and 7 months she is an autistic, many teachers told me that she is different ... A: Autism, mild or severe, is not "curable". It is a condition which amounts to having a brain that is ... | |
| Aspergers | 12/4/2010 |
| Q: 1. Are there autistic related organizations in Africa? 2. What religion do alot of autistic people ... A: 1. I don't know. I hope there are. I would have to do an Internet search to find out. I'm sure you ... | |
| Asperger's/Austism | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: I have an 18 year old daughter. I would like to have her tested. I am having trouble finding a ... A: I would recommend calling the New York State physician licensing body and ask them how to find a ... | |
| possible aspergers in my son | 11/29/2010 |
| Q: my 6 year old son was delayed in talking and walking and had a vocabulary of 10 words at age 3. He ... A: I understand your desire for your son not to have a label that my hamper him in later life. My ... | |
| HELP! | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: I have 6 year old twin boys. One, Stephen, was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 1/2. Over the ... A: It's okay to rant a bit. This is hard for all of you. It's hard for Stephen because he knows he is ... | |
| Don't know what to think | 11/8/2010 |
| Q: My question is; how do I know who to believe? My child's pedatrician has refered me to a behavioral ... A: See the specialist and get the testing. You need to know, specifically, what his deficits are and ... | |
| 14 year old son with high functioning asperger's | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: My 14 year old asperger teens behavior has been very oppositional for several years, but has ... A: Puberty is the hardest time for Asperger's teens and their families. The surging hormones promote ... | |
| Should I have my 3 yr old child evaluated? | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: I've been worried about some of my son's behaviors for quite some time now. He is now 2 yrs, 11 mos ... A: It is really hard to untangle what is "normal" toddler behavior and what is more likely autistic. ... | |
| 3 yr aspergers or just sensory disorder? | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: My daughter is 3 years and 8 months old. I am currently trying to seek help to see if she has ... A: I can see why you are confused. I am surprised the pre-school sees none of the oddities you ... | |
| Adult with ASD raising a child with ASD | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: Our daughter, I believe, may be struggling with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. She has not been ... A: You are right that you have little power to get him diagnosed as you are not his custodial parent. ... | |
| Dad wants me to have a sex-change, I don't, this upsets me... | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: I'm 16, have Asperger's syndrome. My social life is good, although I have some difficulties ... A: If you are happy as a female, there is NO reason you should consider such a drastic thing as a sex ... | |
| discipline | 8/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a 15 year old child with Aspergers.I am currently writing a thesis paper on Aspergers and I ... A: In my opinion, "punishment" does not belong in the realm of discipline. All children respond best to ... | |
| My son and autistic behavior | 8/20/2010 |
| Q: Are these true signs of Autistic behavior or really nothing to worry about.My 3 and half yr old son ... A: I believe there are enough signs to be concerned about an autistic spectrum disorder. I am glad to ... | |
| handling autism in camps | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: Recently, my son was in a 1/2 day Lego camp with a child (unbeknownst to the camp) who has autism. ... A: This is a bit beyond my scope. I will give you my opinion, however. I think that the parent or ... | |
| My brother's behaviour is causing concern... | 8/10/2010 |
| Q: I'm 23, my brother's 16 and has Asperger's. He's in college studying art and design, and doing well ... A: I think that his A.S. is kind of a side issue. Clearly, he may be more vulnerable to the influence ... | |
| Son no longer wants to go to the gym, odd, he usually enjoys it... | 8/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a 19-year-old son with Asperger's syndrome, and a 24-year-old daughter who is living with her ... A: Any man who is taking pictures of other men dressing at the gym has a problem. He should be reported ... | |
| Follow-up Question | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: Currently, my son is being seen by a Pediatrician at our main Children's Hospital in San Diego--I ... A: I would find a different primary care for your son, immediately. He is not a child and his needs are ... | |
| My 16 yr old son (whom I believe has Aspergers) is SEVERELY depressed & I can't get him seen by ANY professional! PLEASE H-E-L-P!!! | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: I have taught (and retaught) my son daily/weekly/yearly life lessons (most times, common ones, ... A: I'd give you a great big hug, if I could. I know exactly what you are up against. You say you can't ... | |
| mood swings with severe temper | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: kicking and kicking his toys around his room. he doesnt speak, he loves music and likes to ... A: A seventeen year old with this severity of autism is going to have mood swings. Normal teenagers are ... | |
| Daughter may have Asperger | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I just recently started taking my daughter to a councler do to some family issues she is dealing ... A: Sorry I have not answered as quickly as I usually do. Things are happening in my family, too. The ... | |
| My 2 year 8 month old child is there a problem | 7/19/2010 |
| Q: my son is two year olds eight months. He self taught himself how to write read and type. However ... A: Clearly, your son is very intelligent. It is hard to say if he has a problem or just that he is so ... | |
| ADS? and behaviour | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 10 yrs old son, who has a sensory problem and has had speech therapy since 2 (he now speaks ... A: You are correct, you have a problem and you need help, fast. It is very possible your son has high ... | |
| diagnosing adult children? | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: My son is 37 years old. He has always been extremely shy. He recently was telling me he could hear ... A: You are probably right. Getting any help is going to require getting him diagnosed. He will have to ... | |
| Discipline | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: My 4 year old niece is autistic. In a recent tantrum during a family event, my 5 year old son ... A: I am a fan of logical consequences for misbehavior. This is a tricky situation, however. No child, ... | |
| My son's crossdressing... | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: I found out recently that my 21-year-old son, who has Asperger's syndrome, has been cross-dressing. ... A: Your son is an adult. You already accept him as someone with Asperger's syndrome. You learned you ... | |
| disciplining high-functioning asperger 11 Y/O | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: My son is 11 and has high functioning Asperger's. We finally have an answer we needed. BUT, his ... A: Children with Asperger's do not respond well to corporal punishment. Rather than regretting their ... | |
| Can you name anyone with autism over 80? | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: Does autism shorten life? I'm 26 with autism and I never hear about people with autism living past ... A: There is no reason autism should shorten life span. Part of the reason you don't know of anyone over ... | |
| resources in St Petersberg Fl | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a 22 yr old niece with (I believe) AS- my sister says she is trying to find her help, but ... A: Getting help for an undiagnosed adult is difficult. Your sister should look for a qualified ... | |
| Aspergers | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: My son is 14 and has a diagnosis of asperger syndrome. He is in general ed honors classes in a ... A: Ten years ago, we were exactly where you are. Our daughter was a freshman in high school. She would ... | |
| Sex education for special needs kids | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: I'm actually looking for experts in Texas, specifically the DFW area, who might be able to help me ... A: I wish I had more information to share. I don't know of anyone in Texas who specializes in this ... | |
| Aspergers, autism,insurance/aid | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: My parents, have recently abandon me due to my loss of job and how much strain it has been on them ... A: This web site may be able to direct you to some assistance: http://www.texasautismadvocacy.org/ ... | |
| Autism and aggression | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: A little girl I know - a kindergartener - has autism and is having problems with hitting. She ... A: This is tricky because attention (positive or negative) reinforces behavior. You can't ignore it if ... | |
| Autistic child who is biting | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a four year old little boy who has been diagnosed with autism. He is very smart, but his ... A: You are absolutely right. He is, emotionally, two years old and this is very common in autistic ... | |
| severe speech delay | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: I am living in Australia and care for my 3yr old autistic grandson 3 days per week while my daughter ... A: Capitalize on whatever form of communication he will use. With a child like this, it is not ... | |
| Searching School and learning a litlle more.. | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: ! my name is Letty from Puerto Rico....I'm searching school for my daughter specially the one that ... A: The best way for you to find out what schools and benefits are available for your daughter in Ft. ... | |
| Sensory Overload | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: What is Sensory Overload? What are some of the reasons that it happens? What are some examples of ... A: "Sensory overload" is a term used to describe the reaction of a person who is getting more incoming ... | |
| Coping with child suspected of having ASD | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a set of 5 year-old triplets. I suspect the eldest boy has mild autism. He is normal in ... A: You should tell the psychologist exactly what you have told me. I'm guessing your son has what is ... | |
| Should I tell my classmates that my sibling has Asperger's? | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: I'm tired of my classmates thinking my sister is weird. I want to tell them that she has AS, but she ... A: I know it is hard on you to have classmates saying things like that. We all want to be popular and ... | |
| defiance at home and school | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: My son is 10 and he has been struggling in school with defiance and how to be respectful. When I ... A: Humiliation is not the way to discipline ANY child in the classroom. If the teachers think that an ... | |
| Sibling and discipline issues | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: My 4 1/2 year old son has high functioning autism, severe ADHD, and sensory processing disorder. He ... A: Part of what you are seeing is normal sibling interaction and child behavior. Most 7 year old girls ... | |
| MY AUTISTIC GRAND-DAUGHTER | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: We live in Scotland. My 8 yr old grand-daughter is autistic (very little speech - mostly repeating ... A: It is unlikely your granddaughter developed a fear of the partner without something prodding her in ... | |
| mild form of autism | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: My grandson is 5 yrs old, & his teacher thinks he has a very mild form of autism. He talks and ... A: I am guessing the teacher who identified his difficulty is his pre-school teacher. It is great ... | |
| toilet-training my Asperger's son | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: Catherine, I guess I have several issues that I need answers and advice to. I have a 7-year old who ... A: I think it would be wise to stop separating "normal" behavior from "Asperger's" behavior. In my ... | |
| 3y/o Nutritional deficits | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a 3.5 year old high functioning boy. We have been having difficulties regarding his very ... A: This can be a very difficult problem to overcome but it is crucial to try and the sooner, the ... | |
| MMR advice | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I wonder if you'll be able to help me regd the MMR vaccination issue. My high function 5 1/2 yrs old ... A: First, I am one who does not believe that vaccines cause autism. Second, I have not read anywhere ... | |
| interviews for school | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: ridenour, i am in the eighth grade and i am doing a project on autism i will like to ask if you ... A: I cannot recite the entire "history" of this condition in an e-mail. You can look up most of that ... | |
| college | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: my son is 18 years old and was just diagnose with pdd. i dont know what to do because he never got ... A: It usually works best for students, like your son, to pursue their passion when they go to college. ... | |
| 9 yr old son having problems with girls | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: My son was diagnosed about 4 years ago with PDD-NOS. Since then, he's been in specialized programs ... A: Puberty seems to be happening earlier in all our children. It could be that is his issue, but it may ... | |
| testing | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: My son now is 17 and is still in High school and he just does not seem to connect and relate , nor ... A: At his age, you probably will not be able to convince the school to offer testing. Ask his doctor ... | |
| four year old son | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I am not sleeping and i am overwhelmed i get very little help and have a son without Autism who is ... A: I hear the exhaustion in your message. I don't have much information to go on but here are my "Rules ... | |
| siblings of children with autism | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: How best can I reach the families you serve that would benefit from the doll program I started to ... A: Sounds like you have created a wonderful resource for families with challenged children. I would ... | |
| college for mildly autistic student | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: Would you have any recommendation for a small college in the midwest that would be a match for a ... A: I live in the northwest and I am unfamiliar with the midwestern colleges. He should choose his ... | |
| graphic organizers for students with disabilities | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: Why are graphic organizers important for students with learning disabilities? Thanks Meera A: Many people with learning disabilities have language processing problems. They think and learn ... | |
| help for Autistic son | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: My son is 18 years old and he is highly functional with his Autism. He has no trouble learning but ... A: We all want our children to grow up and live a "normal" life. Living on his own is part of that. ... | |
| Questions about my nephew | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: He has not been diagnosed with autism/ we are just worried. The doctor just tell his mom he's fine. ... A: This sounds like high-functioning autism, to me. These kids are very bright, have steel-trap ... | |
| Concerns for my 16 month old daughter | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: I have had concerns for my daughters development pretty much since she was about 12 months. I will ... A: I try to soften these recommendations but it's hard in this case. You are right to be concerned. ... | |
| How to treat My 3.8 yrs old kid | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: I want to talk about my son who is 3.8yrs old. He cant communicate with others. although he ... A: A child how cannot speak in two to three word sentences at nearly 4 years of age is severely speech ... | |
| 4 yr. old odd behavior | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: My nephew will be five next month. He can speak, but not very clearly. My brother and his wife, ... A: It is very important for this child be evaluated by a professional. He shows every sign of having an ... | |
| College for PDD-NOS Son | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a son who was diagnosed as PDD-NOS at age 4. He has always been high functioning, but has ... A: You don't say how his grades are, but they are usually the key to a scholarship. Few schools give ... | |
| 22 year old son | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: Our 22 year old son, though not diagnosed, has certain features of AS, including eye contact ... A: Before your son is eligible for any services, such as a group home, he will need a diagnosis. This ... | |
| Future Step Son has Autism | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: I am writing asking for help with my 10 year old step son to be, Andrew who was diagnosed with High ... A: A child with a high IQ and mild autism or Asperger's is able to understand logical consequences. His ... | |
| Sound sensitivity | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: My 3 1/2 year old granddaughter has been has always been very sound sensitive. Particularly with ... A: It is possible that she has Asperger's syndrome. The key issue with this autistic spectrum disorder ... | |
| Telling my children that my son has autism | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: My son, 9, was diagnosed with Aspergers several years ago. He has an IEP at school, therapists at ... A: By all means, they both should know. This is the "elephant in the living room" syndrome. It's best ... | |
| is autism hereditary | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: my husband is 44 and he has 2 sons from other women and thay both have autism we have a little girl ... A: There is some evidence that autism runs in families. However, genetic contributions may be needed ... | |
| Autistic grandson bangs his head on everything | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: my 4 year old grandson has autism. He doesn't really talk, just hums and runs in circles alot. When ... A: Headbanging like your grandson is doing is a way to express frustration. He has no language skills ... | |
| is it possible | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: My name is Victoria Longoria and I was told this past August that my 5 year old son is PDD-NOS. He ... A: Your 5 year old son is entitled to free, early intervention services through your local school ... | |
| ADHD OR AUTISM | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: My grandson has been diagnosed with ADHD since he was 5 yrs old. He has been on a few medications ... A: So, if he's staying back in second grade, I assume he's eight years old, more or less. Let's start ... | |
| PPD vs asynchronous development | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: Does anyone have information on what to look for as far as distinguishing a very smart and highly ... A: "Asynchronous development" would mean his intellect is ahead of his emotional and biological age. ... | |
| CP or Autism | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: my 1yr old girl had shown signs of abnormality (or autism) since she born. now i have taken her to ... A: I am not an expert regarding cerebral palsy. It can be hard to tell the difference between autism ... | |
| Help | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I wonder if you remember me, but I had written to you about a month back about my 5 yrs old girl who ... A: Yes, I remember you. I think all these changes are actually good things. Your daughter is growing ... | |
| Is it Asbergers? | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a nine year old son who over the years has been told he has ADHD, anxiety, and nothing really ... A: What you describe is consistent with Asperger's Syndrome. ADHD is often the first diagnosis for ... | |
| 7 mo baby | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: My 7 month old daughter does a couple things that concern me, and I wanted to get your advice. She ... A: While this does sound somewhat unusual, it may be more a feature of temperament than something like ... | |
| Post divorce AS diagnosis & co-parenting issues | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: My son was diagnosed with asperger's after my divorce. We had set up joint custody and split the ... A: First, I'm not a lawyer. Unfortunately, divorced parents are separated because they had basic ... | |
| 21 year old son with asperger's | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: I need help. My marriage is falling apart. I have a 21 year old step son with asperger's. He's ... A: I hear the pain in your situation. This is not uncommon in step-families whether there is a spectrum ... | |
| autism | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: My 27 month old at times speaks quite clearly in 5 or 6 word sentences - but the next thing you ... A: The best answer is maybe. Two year old people live in their own world part of the time. It can be ... | |
| Step-parent to autism | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: My step son is almost 9. He talks, sometimes and very quietly. He is very very good with math. He ... A: I have had letters from other step-parents and they mention some of the same feelings and problems, ... | |
| Help! | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a 5 yr old child who has been diagnosed with high function autism. How can I teach her to ... A: We all have to find our own way with our children, autistic or not. It sounds like you are ... | |
| Help! | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a 5 yr old child who has been diagnosed with high function autism. How can I teach her to ... A: Sharing does not come easily to autistic spectrum people. The root of this is that they have no ... | |
| am i paranoid? | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a 6 1/2 month old son and i am so paranoid about him and autism. I cannot sleep and I am ... A: I understand your concerns. Try to calm down. First of all, not all babies reach developmental ... | |
| Young adults with Asperger's and HFA | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: I'm a mother of a young man with Asperger's. I'm also a special ed consultant with a school district ... A: Nice to meet you! My daughter also lived on her own at college. She was only 30 miles away but I ... | |
| Could she be on the spectrum too? | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: We live in Ontario Canada and have 4 children aged 9, 7, 3 and 1. Our 9 year old son has Aspergers ... A: Given the speech delay and communication issues, I would say this is a different presentation of ... | |
| 2 1/2 year old bitting 2-4 times a day 7 in a week | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: Catherine i have read a previous entry that you had answered. And my son is just like R.J.s. But ... A: Just take him to the doctor. My statement will probably not mean much to a professional. Tell him ... | |
| 2 1/2 year old bitting 2-4 times a day 7 in a week | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: Catherine i have read a previous entry that you had answered. And my son is just like R.J.s. But ... A: Based on what you tell me, your son should be evaluated for an autistic spectrum disorder, in ... | |
| Aspergers versus Giftedness | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: What a vortex. My son was diagnosed in June 2006 at the age of 6 with Aspergers by a developmental ... A: I disagree with your psychiatrist. Children can be both gifted and have an autistic spectrum ... | |
| 15 yr old son with pdd nos | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: Catherine. Our son is 15 years old (16 in March in 10th grade in high honors classes (all). We ... A: Yes, you should write a letter listing your disagreement and reasons and be sure it is forwarded to ... | |
| Autism and CP | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I found out yesterday that our 6 yo son has spastic diplegia and will have to have ... A: Yes, he can have both. However, it can be hard to tell which is responsible for what. I have worked ... | |
| Autism and Introducing New foods | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: Our son Garrett, age 13, has continually been eating the same foods, which limits is diet. He also ... A: I'm really sad when I hear this because the best strategy is to prevent this pattern from forming. ... | |
| Is College the answer | 1/2/2009 |
| Q: I was diagnosed with AS at 48. I always knew that I had a LD and struggled to get through College. ... A: I actually agree with you. College, alone, is not the answer. It is not the answer for everyone. ... | |
| Autism and anger behaviors | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: My son is 10 years old and is having a hard time with his temper at school both with teachers and ... A: You need to determine if he is not being "compliant" quickly enough. Or if he is truly being ... | |
| Autism Spectrum - 6yr. boy | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: but I feel that I need to delve into it further. I'm a mom of 2 great kids, the youngest, my son, ... A: While any baby who gets off to a rough start can have some problems, as an infant, they should be ... | |
| Emotional Sensitivity and ASD | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: My son is 4 and is somewhere on the spectrum, just not sure where at this point--probably PDD-NOS. ... A: Yes, he is more able to see himself in his brother. This "parallel" play is more common in younger ... | |
| Emotional Sensitivity and ASD | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: My son is 4 and is somewhere on the spectrum, just not sure where at this point--probably PDD-NOS. ... A: Some kids on spectrum actually over-identify with others. Their pain is his pain. Conversely, their ... | |
| autism | 12/9/2008 |
| Q: What is "stemming"? I am writing my doctoral dissertation and I refer to a child "stemming" and my ... A: "Stimming", not "stemming" is the self-stimulating behavior that austitic people engage in. It can ... | |
| Autism and Obsessions | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: I am wondering if you can help me with a client I am giving in-home support services to; I am ... A: Sorry, I was slow to answer this. I think the key issue, for your client, is that her aunt said it ... | |
| Visitation with Autistic 4 year old | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: My husband has a 4 year old daughter just recently diagnosed with PDD-NOS. He and his ex-wife have ... A: Your question involves legal issues that I am not qualified to address. I cannot predict what the ... | |
| autism | 11/24/2008 |
| Q: I am wondering if my son has autism. He has been in a lot of trouble in school and has been put in ... A: How sad that adults who should know better label the child instead of the behavior. Ask your son's ... | |
| Self-talking in Autism | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: I am a father. My son (age 14, weight 47Kgs) has been diagnosed as having Autistic Spectrum Disorder ... A: I am only a parent, not a doctor, so what you get here is my personal opinion. (I have to say that.) ... | |
| Neurologist | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 1/2 year old son that was diagnosed with HF PDD-NOS when he was 4. He has never seen a ... A: Unless you feel the diagnosis is incorrect or there are more problems, probably not. The reasons I ... | |
| Extremely concerned about 4 year old son | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: My son has displayed some behaviors that I am concerned about since starting preschool last year. ... A: it helps me to see the patterns. Yes, your son has had a great deal of stress in his life. Moving, ... | |
| Autism & Education - IEP Resourse Help! | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: in advance. Our son has PDD NOS and has also been diagnosed as having Aspergers Syndrome. His is ... A: I'm sorry, I don't know about that provision. However, when you do contact a legal adviser you ... | |
| Autism & Education - IEP Resourse Help! | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: in advance. Our son has PDD NOS and has also been diagnosed as having Aspergers Syndrome. His is ... A: This is a disconnect between the federal law governing special needs students and state law ... | |
| school | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: My son is 12 yo and has recently been diagnosed with Aspergers. We have known for a long time that ... A: Okay, you already know this can't go on. Your son must to go to school. And, you must keep your job. ... | |
| Autism Spectrum vs. behavior/attitude | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: Catherine, Thank you for this helpful service! My son, Isaac, age 8 has been diagnosed with PDD NOS. ... A: Those who test for spectrum disorders are VERY careful not to give the diagnosis unless they are ... | |
| 2 out of 4 w/ special needs | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: Let me start by thanking you for being here for everyone! I have 4 boys, my oldest is ADHD and my ... A: You do have your hands full! Bless you. Let's talk about your 8 year old, first. Just because he ... | |
| Autism Spectrum vs. behavior/attitude | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: Catherine, Thank you for this helpful service! My son, Isaac, age 8 has been diagnosed with PDD NOS. ... A: It is hard for parents to accept a diagnosis like this. PDD-NOS is such a non-specific seeming ... | |
| 6yr old son with asperger syndrome | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: My son is in first grade. This year so far has been awful. He has hit, thrown ... A: Most of these problems stem from impulse control issues. Autistic children are, by definition, ... | |
| High Functioning ASD daughter | 10/4/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is six years old and was diagnosed with ASD three years ago. She is very high ... A: Angry outbursts are common in ASD kids. I'm not saying they are acceptable, but it comes with the ... | |
| Behavior changes in autistic daughter | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is 6 and was diagnosed with PDD at the age of 2. Last year right after she turned 5 she ... A: Epilepsy is, as I'm sure they have told you, more common in children on the autistic spectrum. I ... | |
| IEP for Autism | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a 3 1/2 year old son with autism. He started at Macomb Intermediate Schools when he was 2 ... A: Most likely, your son will get services from "resource" specialists who assist the classroom ... | |
| Potty Training | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: I'm the step mom of a 6 yr old who has high functioning severe autism....He is not yet potty ... A: I understand it is very common. In the past, the belief was that most autistics could not be toilet ... | |
| Fear | 9/6/2008 |
| Q: Our Granddaughter has been diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. Lately she has a fear of going ... A: To some extent, the development of irrational fears is normal for children in the 3-4 year old age ... | |
| does my teen have aspergers? | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: She prefers not to be around kids her age. She acts normal. But she also crys easily and wets ... A: This may be kind of complicated. I don't think it is Asperger's but only an mental health ... | |
| My 7 yr old son. | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: My son Gage is 7 yrs old and has PDD NOS. He has had OT,PT, and speech for 3 yrs and is in 1st grade ... A: I do not claim expertise concerning the dietary or detoxification treatment of autism or PDD. Some ... | |
| Daily Potty Training Accidents after 3 months of success | 8/23/2008 |
| Q: Catherine - - My son is 3 1/2 years old and was recently diagnosed with PDD/NOS. He is ... A: There are a couple of possibilities. One, he's doing something lots of 3 year olds do, he's ... | |
| 8yr old son struggling w/ leaving mom | 8/22/2008 |
| Q: Ridenour, My son, Isaac, age 8, PDD NOS (very high functioning) is struggling with being away from ... A: Separation anxiety is something we do have experience with. Interestingly, it was not our autistic ... | |
| Flapping | 8/22/2008 |
| Q: My son was diagnosed with probable ADHD,but I am not 100% convinced he has it. He had a really bad ... A: If you are worried, I would seek the opinion of a neurologist. Sleep disorders are common in kids ... | |
| Asperger's and divorce | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I have been separated for eight months with no chance for reconciliation. We have an ... A: Wow, this is really complicated! No parent should yell or fight in front of a child, period. I can't ... | |
| my twins are autistic | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: me and my husband found out yesterday that our twin 5yr old boys are autistic,james is high function ... A: I know this is devastating news for you. Take some time to adjust to this change in your vision of ... | |
| Employment for Adult son with Asperger's | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: We have an adult son who graduated college at the age of 29. He's very bright, but getting through ... A: We are likely to face similar issues as the years go by. Our daughter, however, majored in music ... | |
| Employment Resources | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: My 27-year old son has come through many diagnosis of the Autism Spectrum Disorder. He was ... A: I would like a little more information, please. What did he get his associate's degree in? How ... | |
| Information | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: My son is 6, (almost 7) with high functioning autism. I divorced and remarried. I am looking for ... A: Number one, be glad his grandparents DO want to be in his life. I have encountered many families ... | |
| autism related to head size in infant | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I am writing to you about my 21/2 month old grandson. He tracks really well, makes great eye ... A: If large heads run in his genes, that is probably the answer. Hydrocephaly should definitey be ... | |
| PDD | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: Catherine. I would like to thank you for your recent answers to my questions about my recently ... A: So is everyone else! HFA is usually someone like Dr. Temple Grandin or Stephen Shore, PhD. They had ... | |
| advice.please Daughter of 6years | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: Would you be able to give me some advise. I have a beautifull and truly amazing daughter called Mia ... A: Your daughter should be tested for an autistic spectrum disorder. Everything you tell me fits into ... | |
| My Son - Autism and/or ADHD | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: I would be extremely grateful if you are able to advise me in respect of my 17 year old son Jonah. ... A: At his age, there is no medication I would recommend for the Asperger's. Risperdol is being ... | |
| how to deal with a child with PDDNOS | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: My son is 4 almost five.He was diagnosed with PDDNOS when he was 3. We have had him in an early ... A: You are not doing anything wrong! Don't guilt trip yourself or let anyone else do so. Your son is ... | |
| My Son - Autism and/or ADHD | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: I would be extremely grateful if you are able to advise me in respect of my 17 year old son Jonah. ... A: Your son is displaying all the classic symptoms of Asperger's syndrome. This is considered a ... | |
| My son has Autism | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: My son has been recently diagnosed with Autism, he is 2 years old and I lived in NJ. I need to know ... A: His therapist should be teaching you some things to do at home to help him with his social skills. ... | |
| Sudden behavior change | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: My grandson who is 6 is high function autistic. He can speak well, but is behind on cognative ... A: If he responds well to rewards, using them is good. NEVER punish for toileting mistakes. Clearly, ... | |
| Sudden behavior change | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: My grandson who is 6 is high function autistic. He can speak well, but is behind on cognative ... A: The one thing that comes to mind is that autistic children are usually way behind emotionally as ... | |
| college life | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a 19 yr old boy who was diagnosed in 3rd Grade but due to him being gifted was not given any ... A: Yes, HFA/AS/PDD-NOS people can and do complete college degrees. I know of three PhD's, (there are ... | |
| Drug advice | 5/1/2008 |
| Q: I have two autistic teenage sons. One is 15, and the other 13. My pediatrician has recently ... A: I think it is worth a try. As medications go, ritilin and Adderall (another ADHD medication) are ... | |
| HFA? | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: My son is almost 27 months old. He is my fourth child but my only boy so I can only compare him to ... A: Some of the definition of "high-functioning" is based on IQ but some is about the ability to ... | |
| HFA? | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: My son is almost 27 months old. He is my fourth child but my only boy so I can only compare him to ... A: I think you are right to be concerned. Even late bloomers should have some single words that have ... | |
| 5 yr-old HFA with behavior issues in school | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: I'm sort of going through a last-ditch kind of thing here and I found this website through a search ... A: I am assuming he's in public school here. Usually, when this kind of sudden decline happens, there ... | |
| Autism? | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: My main concern is that my 2 1/2 son might be displaying autistic behavior. He was not much of a ... A: Large head size could indicate hydrocephaly (water on the brain) BUT if he is seeing a pediatrician ... | |
| Autism? | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: My main concern is that my 2 1/2 son might be displaying autistic behavior. He was not much of a ... A: Try to relax. Anxiety is contagious. The fact that he asks where people he cares for are is good. ... | |
| Autism? | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: My main concern is that my 2 1/2 son might be displaying autistic behavior. He was not much of a ... A: A two year old repeating part of a question in answer is probably not echolalia. He is learning ... | |
| alternative education in nh | 4/12/2008 |
| Q: I myself say the apple does not fall far from the tree. 25 yrs ago we never used aspergers but it ... A: I really don't understand why some professionals consider an ADHD diagnosis less "heavy" than an ... | |
| alternative education in nh | 4/12/2008 |
| Q: I myself say the apple does not fall far from the tree. 25 yrs ago we never used aspergers but it ... A: You don't say at what age your child was diagnosed. Most social training for A.S. happens with ... | |
| educational placement and the law | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: My son is 13 and has been diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD, and Mood Disorders. He is in a BOCES 8:1:1 ... A: I am not sure what BOCES 8:1:1 means. So, I will make general comments on 13 y.o. Asperger's boys ... | |
| 5-yr old son | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: AS A HIGH-FUNCTIONING LAST YR. FOR YRS WE HAVE THOUGHT THAT LACK OF SPEECH WAS DUE TO 2 LANGUAGES( ... A: The need to control things is very common in autistic children. When it comes to food, do not give ... | |
| autism and potty training | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: My 5 1/2 yr old nephew has mild to moderate autism. In Feb of 2007, he began to use the toilet and ... A: Family dynamics get really messed up, sometimes, when an autistic child is involved. In truth, ... | |
| discipline and aspergers (age 11) | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: My question is similar to that of another person's here. We are in the process of having my son ... A: First, the school is wrong to tell you your son is "playing" you. A.S. kids usually have huge ... | |
| autism and basball | 3/22/2008 |
| Q: hello we have a boy on our baseball team that has autism he will need extra coaching do you have any ... A: While each person with autism is somewhat different, I can tell you a few general things. Number ... | |
| follow up | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: it is me again. My grandson's great grandmother (the daddy's grandmother) was watching my grandson ... A: Far beyond pointing and waving are the other behaviors or lack of them. By age 1 he should have had ... | |
| autism concerns | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: Catherine, Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I have concerns about my 16 month ... A: There is plenty of reason for serious concern. This boy is showing all the hallmarks of an autistic ... | |
| Aspergers in children | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: I believe my grandson may have Aspergers. As an infant, he cried continually while being dressed ... A: I believe you are right. Your description is a perfect fit. You mention that Dad has problems ... | |
| med question | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: my daughter is 14, she has been dx. with everything from adhd, bipolar, ocd, and two dr's now ... A: I have no direct experience with Risperdol. It has the same side effect of weight gain. I doubt that ... | |
| 4 year old with behavior problems | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a 4 year old boy, he bites his blankets, nails and anything that makes him angry. he is very ... A: I'm glad you wrote back. Much of it is good news. Still some things are consistent with Asperger's. ... | |
| 4 year old with behavior problems | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a 4 year old boy, he bites his blankets, nails and anything that makes him angry. he is very ... A: My suspicion is that your son has Asperger's syndrome. This high-functioning autistic spectrum ... | |
| Autism? | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: I am a Sped para at a high school. I have worked with some Asperger students. I am also a ... A: While there is such a thing as bi-polar disorder in children it is very uncommon for anyone with ... | |
| autism | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: My son is four years old. Since he was 1, there have been concerns about repetitive behavior, ... A: Don't be too hard on yourself about not noticing the flapping and lack of "cuddliness". If this is ... | |
| Autistic? | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is 17 years old. As a young child she seemed painfully shy. In preschool she would ... A: I would say you are looking at a young woman with undiagnosed high-functioning autism (HFA)or ... | |
| aspergers | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a son who is 23 yrs old. When he started headstart (preschool) they saw something wasn't ... A: Auditory processing disorders are common in people on the autistic spectrum. I think you are correct ... | |
| autism and depression | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: i am currently working with a 13 year old boy with autisma nd he seems very down and is talking ... A: Depression is common among teenage autistics. They know they are different, they know the other kids ... | |
| CAREER HELP FOR 17 YEAR OLD | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: My son was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was 15 years of age. This was just months before ... A: I am unsure why your son was taken out of classes just because he has A.S. His IQ did not change. I ... | |
| aspergers syndrome | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: i am having difficulty getting our school to consider that our eight year old son may have aspergers ... A: ADHD is often the first diagnosis given to kids with Asperger's. While some actually have ADHD, many ... | |
| Autism | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a 3 yr old nephew with autism. He does not speak on his own but repeats words. He does not ... A: The best way to help your nephew with speech and behavior is to get him into speech and occupational ... | |
| Aspergers and School Work | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: My 10 year old step son was diagnosed with ADD 5 years ago. Last May they changed his diagnosis to ... A: This kind of behavior is common among A.S. kids. For some it is about controlling one of the few ... | |
| fixations | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: My 16 year old daughter fixates on older teenage girls. I believe this is because my older son's ... A: I am not totally sure why this is a problem. Are you concerned she will get into trouble, like sex ... | |
| aspergers/"something" else?? | 2/10/2008 |
| Q: We took my 4 yo daugter to a child psychologist. We did not know anything about AS at the time. ... A: Don't feel bad about the long question. I can answer better with more information. I would say that ... | |
| aspergers | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: we have a son aged three who has currently started nursery. He presently visits a language ... A: Any child who has a communication problem is more likely to express him/herself physically when ... | |
| A.D.D IN MY NIECE | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: I am wondering if you could help me. My sister lives in LA - rest of the family in the UK. She has 2 ... A: You don't say if the ADD medication was helpful or not. Withholding medication for ADD that works ... | |
| my son is six and has sensory integration disorder. I need help with discipline. | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: We got amazing treatment and had lots of occupational therapy. We found an amazing treatment center ... A: I am not your best resource for doctors or clinics in Canada. I recommend you find the autism ... | |
| jr my 6 year olld | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: Ok my son is having problems in school he lies,hits people, and threatens to kill ... A: Your son needs a professional evaluation for a developmental disorder. It could be autism but it ... | |
| copying behaviours | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: Our son Luke is nearly 6 years old. He was diagnosed with ASD and ADHD in Dec 2006. At present he is ... A: Unfortunately, all children learn what they live whether they have a disability or not. ABA works ... | |
| my son is six and has sensory integration disorder. I need help with discipline. | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: We got amazing treatment and had lots of occupational therapy. We found an amazing treatment center ... A: I'm thinking that the sensory integration disorder was only one symptom of an autistic spectrum ... | |
| My grandson may be autistic | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: Since he was a little baby I noticed that he didn't make eye contact when I called out his name. He ... A: You may be correct. Getting him tested is wise. Your experience with your other grandchildren makes ... | |
| DIAGNOSIS AGE | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: I saw that your child was not diagnosed until age 14, why? I have the same situation, however, our ... A: I gather that you are the person who has or may have autism? The why of it is that she has ... | |
| Does my son have a form of autism? | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: I have a 9 year old son, and I live in Hopewell Junction, NY. I have recently been thinking about ... A: Don't beat up on yourself. It is never too late to help a child with a learning disability. You went ... | |
| follow up to nephew hurting my children | 1/9/2008 |
| Q: First, I'd like to thank you for your helpful advice. In your response to me about my 5 1/2 yr old ... A: I agree that his parents staying with him and allowing him to abuse them is not an effective ... | |
| autistic nephew's behavior toward my children | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: My nephew who is now 5 1/2 was diagnosed a few years ago with mild to moderate autism. He resides in ... A: It is NOT okay for this boy to hurt other children without consequence. He is only going to get ... | |
| Noticed our parallels | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: I noticed that your daughter also went undiagnosed for 14 years! My daughter was finally diagnosed ... A: Yes,it does pass. Adolescence is a very hard time for A.S. teens and their parents. You are right on ... | |
| headphones for autsim | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: I had read your previous response to a question regarding these, however I was wondering if you know ... A: I have no direct experience. My daughter tells me that, if you want to lower the volume of all ... | |
| multiple diagnoses | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: I have a six year old son who was diagnosed at 4 with ADHD. I have 2 older daughters and my son. We ... A: Get comfortable, this is a long reply. :-) I am confident your son has Asperger's Syndrome. ADHD ... | |
| step mom | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: I am a new step mom to a 15 yr old son with High functioning Autism. I do not know much about this ... A: First of all, spanking any child bugs me. There are so many more effective ways to deal with errors ... | |
| Disciplining my 4 year old son! | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: My son is almost 5. He was diagnosed as moderately autistic, but he has very good language usage and ... A: You are probably not doing anything wrong in terms of "normal" discipline. Finding what works with ... | |
| HFA or PDD | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: My son Tim is 38 months and I have appointment with a specialist but I am anxious to know what can ... A: I am not sure if there is a problem, or not. Some of these behaviors could be part of a disorder but ... | |
| Daughter with ASD symptoms | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: My 12 year old daughter is very bright, a voracious reader, and always has conversed "like a little ... A: It sounds like you have a high-functioning autistic or Asperger's syndrome child. Talk to her ... | |
| Problems with PDD-NOS son in 9th grade | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: My son is 14 years old and started high school this year. We live in Chillicothe, MO. He was ... A: I think the problem is that the teachers and aides are expecting a "cure" by assisting him with his ... | |
| Should I get my 25 month old accessed | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: I am worried about my son. Initially I was doing research on why my son is not putting sentences ... A: I think you are dealing with a child who is a visual thinker. While many who have autism do this, so ... | |
| Should I get my 25 month old accessed | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: I am worried about my son. Initially I was doing research on why my son is not putting sentences ... A: I think you can relax. Second children, boys in particular, talk later than firstborn children. Two ... | |
| HIGH-FUNCTIONING ASPIE/AUTISM | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: GOOD MORNING CATHERINE, I AM WRITING ON BEHALF OF MY 10 1/2 YEAR OLD SON. HE WAS DIAGNOSED 3 YEARS ... A: Hopefully, he will become stable enough to come home, soon. I know he is uncomfortable at the ... | |
| nutrition | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: I HAVE A 10 YEAR OLD SON WITH ASPERGER AND MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN I HELP HIM ON HIS DIET WHEN HE ... A: I am always sad when I hear about a child on spectrum who has developed limited diet habits. The ... | |
| Aspergers disease and ciollege | 11/18/2007 |
| Q: My name is koye. I was googling aspergers disease and any possible college grants for it and i came ... A: I think it is a great idea for you to live with your brothers as you start college. They know you ... | |
| Concerned about my stepson upcoming IEP | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: I have known my stepson since he was 2- although I am "just" his step mom I am his full time mother ... A: If your step-son has not been diagnosed as autistic, they have missed the boat. Everything you ... | |
| 3yr old boy with possible ASD | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: I am writing about my 3 1/4 year old son who I am concerned may have ASD. He has significant speech ... A: You are very wise to get an evaluation. Most of what you describe is typical "on spectrum" behavior. ... | |
| 19 week old possibly autistic? | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: I have a 19 week old little boy. He just went in for his 4 month check up and shots. When you go ... A: He has just reached the age where the answers to those questions should be "yes." Not all babies ... | |
| 2 1/2 year old | 10/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a question regarding my son who is 2 1/2. Here is a quick list of "good" things: Points to ... A: I think you can relax. While early talking can indicate Asperger's it's not a certainty. His ... | |
| self talk and conversations | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: I am the mom of a 6 year old with as neurologist's put it mild autism. The problem I have is he self ... A: It is a little hard to tease this out. I have a niece who talked to herself during play all the ... | |
| twin boys - 27mnths | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: My sister has twin boys and they are 27 months old. They are still not talking. They used to say a ... A: While it is common and "normal" for twins to develop their own private language, it is not "normal" ... | |
| benefits of a diagnosis | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: My spouse and I are a bit at odds about having our daughter looked at clinically. We are quite ... A: I agree that diagnosis can feel like a two-edged sword. We know that labels, used incorrectly, can ... | |
| consequences | 10/4/2007 |
| Q: I have an almost 13 year old boy who has Aspergers. He gets easily agitated when he's had a bad day ... A: Puberty is a rough time for kids with Asperger's. Aggressive behavior is common. The good news is ... | |
| high school for my 17 y/o | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: My son just turned 17 yrs old. We found out he had Aspergers around the time he was 10 yrs. He is ... A: Actually, we have a daughter with Asperger's. She is now 22 years old and about to graduate from ... | |
| best approach for new anger/aggression in 6yo w/AS | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: My 6yo son with high functioning autism has had a recent change in behavior and learning how to help ... A: You did not say too much. You are correct, there have been too many changes at once. It's no one's ... | |
| high school for my 17 y/o | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: My son just turned 17 yrs old. We found out he had Aspergers around the time he was 10 yrs. He is ... A: High school is stressful for all teenagers. It is an intensely social time for "normal" kids and it ... | |
| Discipline for a 3-yr-old w/ AS | 9/30/2007 |
| Q: Our son, Andrew, is 3-years-old and recently was evaluated and diagnosed with Asperger's. As part ... A: I believe you are experiencing the autistic version of the "terrible twos". AS kids tend to be ... | |
| Normal behavior or autism? | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a 3 and 1/2 year old boy who has never had any signs of autism before now. He walked at 12 ... A: The best answer I can give you is, maybe. Children who have Asperger's syndrome often talk very ... | |
| aspergers for girls | 9/22/2007 |
| Q: My 5 year old daughter has aspergers and only likes to eat chicken nuggets, fries, pancakes, pizza ... A: It is very important to get a handle on her diet whether you are going GFCF or not. We do find that ... | |
| Asperger's discipline | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: I am the parent of an 8 year old child with AS, he does not adjust well to change and has just ... A: Applied Behavioral Analysis is one way to intervene in the behavior of autistic children. It can be ... | |
| Asperger's discipline | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: I am the parent of an 8 year old child with AS, he does not adjust well to change and has just ... A: Let's talk about personality conflicts, first. Anyone can have a teacher with whom they do not ... | |
| mother to mother | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: now 6 yrs was just diagonised with asperger's. I'm taking it so hard. I hate that I suddenly study ... A: Your reaction is perfectly normal. There is a period of grief and devastation when we find out our ... | |
| usure if my son has ASD or other issues | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: My son Hayden is 4, he has had dev delays from birth. As a baby he did not respond to people. He did ... A: It does sound like your son has an autistic spectrum disorder. Technically, "pervasive developmental ... | |
| School Discipline | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: Katherine, my 8 y/o daughter (also named Katherine) was recently diagnosed with Aspergers. Her ... A: Print out a definition and description of Aspeger's syndrome to take with you to the principal. ... | |
| stem controlling | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: Our 5 year old son recently started KG where he spends ~ 5 hours a day in a class that is primarily ... A: It is quite possible he is trying to control his stimming behavior. Since you say his social ... | |
| My friends son | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: I worked in the mental health field for about 8 years, I have a BS in psychology and really, just ... A: His mother needs to get him to a child psychiatrist as soon as possible. The pediatrician is wrong ... | |
| my autistic cousin | 8/30/2007 |
| Q: i have a 20 year old cousin that i think might have autism.. she used to have all the common ... A: First, let me apologize for not knowing anything about the state of medical care in Iran or the ... | |
| my son | 8/25/2007 |
| Q: his autism is very mild and will be starting early intervention thereapy in 2 weeks, however i need ... A: When working with a non-verbal person, keep it simple. Even though he does not speak, he can ... | |
| fear of dark | 8/11/2007 |
| Q: My 5 1/2 yr. old son is awaiting an autism spectrum diagnosis. He is very high functioning. He has ... A: Irrational fears are common in many children around the age of 4. Darkness, vacuum cleaners, large ... | |
| Does my 6 year old son have ADHD or could it be Asperger? | 8/9/2007 |
| Q: I have a six year old son - who to say the most is different. He has been diagnois with ADHA. I ... A: Video tape. Try to get some video of how he interacts with other children. Preferably, he should not ... | |
| Concerned about behaviour | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: I'm mailing from the UK, i came across you when 'googling' something - i read a mail that sounded ... A: One quick follow-up. Yes, children with Asperger's syndrome have the sensitivity, sleep and comfort ... | |
| Concerned about behaviour | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: I'm mailing from the UK, i came across you when 'googling' something - i read a mail that sounded ... A: You are not "mad". There is something going on with your daughter. Her reaction to being naked on a ... | |
| biting | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: My daughter in law is the parent of a 2 1/2 year old boy who has been biting and inappropriately ... A: The "he does not know how to play" is a key item. There is something going on. Maybe autism, maybe ... | |
| Does my 6 year old son have ADHD or could it be Asperger? | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: I have a six year old son - who to say the most is different. He has been diagnois with ADHA. I ... A: Everything you describe leads me to believe your son has an autistic spectrum disorder. His ... | |
| biting | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: My daughter in law is the parent of a 2 1/2 year old boy who has been biting and inappropriately ... A: J. It can be difficult to tell whether such behavior is the "terrible twos" or something more ... | |
| my son | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: my son will be 4 in october. we have been having problems for about a year. he has problems with the ... A: Remember, I'm not a doctor. However, your son is exhibiting clear symptoms of Asperger's syndrome. ... | |
| 11 year old son sleep and behavior issues. | 7/14/2007 |
| Q: My 11 year old son has autism. He is verbal and has very good receptive language. A few weeks ago ... A: When people give you hassles about medication ask them if they would think you were a bad parent for ... | |
| The autism-vaccine case. | 7/12/2007 |
| Q: Catherine, This is not really a question, so you don't have to answer. I am sure you know that a ... A: Just for what it's worth, I don't believe or opine that autism is caused by vaccines. We have ... | |
| My 23 yr. old son was just diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: I have a son who is currently in the Navy (4.5 yrs) and was sent by his Chief to get help with anger ... A: Your story touches very close to home. Our daughter is about the same age. She is finishing her ... | |
| Chloe | 6/7/2007 |
| Q: My daughter has just been diagnosed with pdd-nos by her school psychologist. I have no idea what to ... A: I understand your confusion and distress. In my opinion, a child who is learning in a regular ... | |
| talking with my son about the diagnosis | 6/6/2007 |
| Q: My son is almost 11 years old and in 5th grade. He was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome in ... A: I strongly believe that children deserve to know their diagnosis and to participate in their IEP ... | |
| Autism-PDD:NOS | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: old, and I am writing to see if you can help me out with my son, Christopher who is 2 1/2 years old ... A: A three word sentence is expected around age 2 to 2 1/2. The quantity of words is definitely small. ... | |
| refusing booster immunizations | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: My son just turned 4 and he is due for his booster immunizations. He is in Special Ed preschool and ... A: I also don't believe that immunizations cause autism. I can only go on our own experience. Our ... | |
| is my child also autistic | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: My son has just turned one years old. I have been reading all the early warning signs for autism and ... A: Maybe there is a problem and maybe not. Taken all together, head banging, avoiding eye contact, not ... | |
| How to find out if my child has autism | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: I am a full time working mom, recently(last 6 months) divorced from a good dad to our three year old ... A: I agree your son should be tested for an autistic spectrum disorder. While tantrums are normal for 3 ... | |
| new dx for Asperger's | 4/25/2007 |
| Q: I have a 9yr old son dx with atypical Asperger's. I have come across a new diagnosis called ... A: I have not heard of it. I would like some time to research it. I will be away from my computer for ... | |
| Frustrated and Out-of-Control Teen | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: We are really needing some kind of help with our 13-year-old son who has hfa and fetal alcohol ... A: Adolescence is a very difficult time for autistic youngsters. You are seeing the effects of rising ... | |
| Sharing a room | 4/10/2007 |
| Q: my son is 2 years 8 months old and was diagnosed with autism 4 months ago. My question is regarding ... A: If possible, it is probably best if they do not share a room. The main reason, at this age, is that ... | |
| Autism/Asperger testing for adult | 4/2/2007 |
| Q: I am in search for assessment for an adult who may have Asperger's. He has never been diagnosed ... A: It can be difficult to get an assessment once someone leaves school. However, California has a ... | |
| Adult With Autism | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: My son was recently diagnosed with mild autism & as I learn more I am beginning to think that I may ... A: Let me start with your last question, first. It is very likely there is a genetic component to ... | |
| Headphones for my daughter? | 3/24/2007 |
| Q: My 8 year old daughter has been diagnosed with Asbergers/High Functioning Autism. The last 5 months ... A: I'm sorry, I cannot recommend any particular brand. I have never purchased any. However, there is ... | |
| Headphones for my daughter? | 3/24/2007 |
| Q: My 8 year old daughter has been diagnosed with Asbergers/High Functioning Autism. The last 5 months ... A: Headphones might give you more peace at home. I would not recommend those with music. It's too easy ... | |
| Aspergers? | 3/23/2007 |
| Q: My son will be two on April 7th. He has several hundred words and can form novel 3-4 word sentances. ... A: I have to say he sounds just like my daughter at that age. Her Asperger's traits did not really ... | |
| is this more than pdd-nos ? | 3/21/2007 |
| Q: I have a 12 year old who was diagnosed with mild pdd-nos 1 1/2 years ago. He was raised in an ... A: All of what you describe fits into the autistic spectrum. Adolescence is a time of testing for all ... | |
| my 4 yr old | 3/21/2007 |
| Q: My son does not have a clear diagnosis at this time. For now he's labeled as PDD-NOS & seizure ... A: Giving Risperdal a try is fine. However, if it does not help a great deal in a couple of weeks to a ... | |
| Aggression | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old high functioning ASD son. He is generally a loving kid, but he seems to target ... A: I hear your frustration. Unfortunately, it is common for ASD kids to exhibit oppositional behavior ... | |
| Age Appropriate Language Standards? | 3/6/2007 |
| Q: .. I have a son with PDD-NOS, he is 5. His preschool gave me a glowing progress report saying that ... A: I agree with you that if you can't understand him there is a problem. Usually, the primary parent is ... | |
| discipline/hitting | 3/1/2007 |
| Q: ------------------------------------------- The text above is a follow-up to ...hitting. Thank you ... A: Unfortunately, their ages are working against you. An 18 month old child is not able to control her ... | |
| Is it really PDD-NOS | 2/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a 5 1/2 , son who is in kindergarten. We never really had any issues, he was always really ... A: It can feel devastating to receive a diagnosis of autism, however, you are fortunate to catch it so ... | |
| discipline/hitting | 2/22/2007 |
| Q: My 3 yr old with autism will not stop hitting my 18 month old on top of the head repeatedly whenever ... A: This is a very common reaction of an older autistic child toward a younger sibling. You need to ... | |
| school | 2/17/2007 |
| Q: MY IS 6YEARS,WE LIVE IN MISSOURI,SHE GOES TO DONIPHAN SCHOOLSMy daughter is a high funtioning with ... A: I looked up Doniphan, Missouri on the map so I could see if you were near a larger city that might ... | |
| odd behaviour | 2/16/2007 |
| Q: My 3 year old son seems to get upset when we go to birthday parties and we sing the Happy Birthday ... A: I think I have an idea of why he is upset. You mention that HE loves blowing out candles. I assume ... | |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 2/12/2007 |
| Q: I want to know if my daughter has an ASD or should I just be proud of her intelligence. She will be ... A: You can be sure she is very intelligent. She also sounds just like my daughter at that age. It is ... | |
| highly functioning autistic child | 2/5/2007 |
| Q: I have a highly functioning autistic child who is 5 years old and everytime we take him to the ... A: It is difficult for any 5 year old to be calm about going to the doctor. As he gets older, you can ... | |
| Mis-Diagnosis? | 1/11/2007 |
| Q: I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrom whenI was about fiveteen. This was after being mis-diagnosed ... A: How old are you, now? When you are eighteen, you have a choice of using or NOT using the diagnosis ... | |
| Employment | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: My 8-year-old son is autistic. He's cognitive with his grade level and has great verbal skills. ... A: This is a situation I have never had to face. It is possible that, as your son gets a little older, ... | |
| Risperdol | 11/30/2006 |
| Q: My 6 year old son has just been diagnosed at High Functioning Autistic. WE had thought it was ... A: Risperdol was only approved for autism very recently. I have no personal experience with it. My ... | |
| Toddler Autism | 11/29/2006 |
| Q: My Grandson has been diagnosed with PDD. I don't know much about Autism, but I think this means he ... A: I am so glad to hear of the first words! You're right, "Grandma" can't be far behind. A choice ... | |
| Toddler Autism | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: I would like to tell you a little bit about my grandson. He is 3 years old and does not speak a ... A: It does sound very much like autism. It is a good sign that he has made up some ways to ... | |
| Dealing with people during my son's outbursts. | 11/18/2006 |
| Q: I have a wonderful 4-year old son named Alex. We are in the process of getting him diagnosed to see ... A: I empathize with your frustration. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Be patient with the ... | |
| Toddler Autism | 11/14/2006 |
| Q: I have a three year old grandson who is being tested for autism. He does not speak one word. What ... A: I don't have any statistics regarding how many autistic children never learn to speak. I can tell ... | |
| risperdol | 11/2/2006 |
| Q: I have a nephew who is 2.5. He has does not speak. He used to be uncontrollable, often banging his ... A: No wonder you are confused. I would be, too. Risperdol is not, techincally, a medicine for autism ... | |
| neighborhood abuse of autistic daughter | 10/27/2006 |
| Q: We just moved to a new neighborhood from out of state and the neighbors son and his friend were ... A: Make a "getting to know you" invitation to the Mom for coffee or something. Explain your daughter's ... | |
| bi-polar and Autism | 10/27/2006 |
| Q: Is there a link between Autism and Bi-Polar? This came up during my son's IEP yesterday. Actually ... A: You're right, the three issues often are confused and look alike in many ways. Do not let the ... | |
| Confused Mom | 10/25/2006 |
| Q: I have a daughter who is 11 years old. She's been to many different therapists with ... A: Several things to consider: 1. Girls begin going through puberty at this age even if you don't ... | |
| Autistic Features | 10/23/2006 |
| Q: His doctor/behaviorist estimated his I.Q. at about 70. The autistic features are the most difficult ... A: Dealing with a child who has this combination of challenges is, well, challenging. I recommend ... | |
| Getting a diagnosis | 10/20/2006 |
| Q: I am concerned about my six year old Robbie. He has already been diagnosed with an expressive ... A: There is no such thing as having an IQ "too high" to be considered on the autistic spectrum. My own ... | |
| hfc | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: my son was diagnoised 2 years ago with apergers and add i was also diagnoised with add at the same ... A: I am not sure why your son insists on the baby talk. Perhaps he feels safer at home to be young and ... | |
| concerned and confused dad | 10/7/2006 |
| Q: This may be a long email , I am sorry but there is alot of stuff to explain first. So far I have not ... A: I suspect your daughter has high-functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome. Both of these autistic ... | |
| My son with Autism | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: No, he was diagnosed with Asperger's at the age of 6. He is 18 and he is two credits shy of ... A: again, This kind of anger is common in high-functioning autistics of this age. They know enough ... | |
| My son with Autism | 10/2/2006 |
| Q: My son is 18. What services are out there for kids w-Asberger's. What medications have you heard ... A: It sounds like you just got a diagnosis for him? At 18, the services he can receive depend on his ... | |
| Thank you and I need more advice | 8/29/2006 |
| Q: CR, I don't know if you remember me, but you gave me some excellent advice about my 13 year old ... A: Ok, take a deep breath. Your worry is contagious and being really worked up about it is only going ... | |
| 16 month old | 8/18/2006 |
| Q: I have a question about my son who is just over 16 months. He points to things of interest to get ... A: It is often difficult to separate "normal" stubborness from developmental delays. A 16 month old ... | |
| Siblings | 8/11/2006 |
| Q: I have a 3 year old with autism. He was diagnosed at 2 and looking back now that I am educated, we ... A: I hear the despair. All is not bleak, however. Bear in mind that there are many variations of ... | |
| grandson's severe flapping | 8/4/2006 |
| Q: I believe my grown son who is now 24 had Asperger's Syndrome, he was treated for severe anxiety from ... A: Who is the legal custodian of the child? If his father has joint custody, he can have him tested by ... | |
| hand flapping, etc. | 7/24/2006 |
| Q: A child in the family exhibits hand flapping, especially when excited. Sometimes he also bounces. He ... A: Maybe this is a symptom of an autistic spectrum disorder and maybe not. If his speech and motor ... | |
| 26 month old - asperger's? | 7/24/2006 |
| Q: To answer your question, he's my only child. "Stilted" is a good description of his communication ... A: I suspect a high-functioning autism such as Asperger's Syndrome. The speech mechanism can be kind of ... | |
| Does my daughter have Autism? | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: My daughter will be 3 in October and she only says 3 words. She has been in speech theraphy for ... A: It sounds like there may be a family history of autistic spectrum disorders. I believe there is a ... | |
| 26 month old - asperger's? | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: My 26 month old son has good rote memory but with a large vocabulary, I feel that he uses mostly ... A: You are right to see a developmental pediatrician. The "stilted" structure of his speech does cause ... | |
| Befriending an autisic child | 7/21/2006 |
| Q: My friend and neighbor has an autistic 5 year old son ) My son is 6 years old and we would like ... A: The first thing to bear in mind is that this boy probably does not realize other people have ... | |
| Helping a family deal with tantrums at the store. | 7/21/2006 |
| Q: My cleint ahs a 2 and a half year old who has been given a provisioanl diagnosis of Autism. They are ... A: It is likely that something in the environment of the store is pushing his senses beyond their ... | |
| mild autism | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: My son is almost 13 years old now. As a bay and toddler he was vey quick to learn and spoke ... A: It sounds like your son has a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome. It affects social ... | |
| Successful Career Choices for College Student with PDD-NOS | 7/19/2006 |
| Q: My son is 20 yrs. old, was diagnosed at age 5 with PDD-NOS and received Special Education services ... A: Choosing a major can be difficult for many students regardless of their "normality." If he's doing ... | |
| High functioning? | 7/10/2006 |
| Q: I have a question about my daughter. She turned four years old this month. I question autism in ... A: Mixing pronouns, at first, is a common thing for all children. However, you describe a group of ... | |
| Self - Talk | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: I support a teenage student with Autism. Lately, he is doing a lot of self-talk where he may just ... A: To some extent, we all do a bit of self-talk though not always out loud. We do it to help ourselves ... | |
| Signing | 6/29/2006 |
| Q: I will wait until the speech therapist starts. I actually do not know for sure if they will want to ... A: As I understand it, early in-home intervention actually comes from the school district or their ... | |
| prevalence, housing statistics | 6/29/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering the overall prevalence of people with autism. Also, what percentage lives at home ... A: Autism is thought to occur in as many as 10% of people. Be aware this ranges over a spectrum from ... | |
| Signing | 6/27/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering how to begin teaching my son sign language. I will be getting help with this within ... A: I hope you have had a professional evaluation done of your son. You don't say who has recommended ... | |
| Discipline for highfunctioning Autism | 6/25/2006 |
| Q: My son is 9 and has been diagnosed with high functioning autism. He a very loving child with a very ... A: It is very common for HFA (high-functioning autistic) children to have "defiance and disrespect" ... | |
| Mild Autism | 6/22/2006 |
| Q: My neighbor's 4 year old son is autistic and I was hoping you could give me information or ... A: How considerate of you to plan for the future with this child! I know his family will appreciate it. ... | |
| violent outbursts | 6/19/2006 |
| Q: My oldest son harry is 5 1/2 years old and has been diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum.He ... A: This is a common problem for children on the spectrum. It is believed that those with autism lack ... | |
| autism | 6/6/2006 |
| Q: Yes, it does make it hard for him to focus on his work. He told me that fun stuff pops into his head ... A: Ok, after talking to a couple of my autistic acquaintances, I think we need to consider his age, ... | |
| autism | 6/5/2006 |
| Q: my son is 10 yrs. old with Autism/PDD. He is high functioning, but he is in his own pretend world ... A: My first question is, how is he doing at school? Is this interfering with learning in the classroom? ... | |
| Is my son - 20 mons autistic?? (part3) | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: But he has many good signs that do not like autism symptoms described in the book. 1. He likes new ... A: Ok, this is answer to part 2 and 3. The positive things you mention can ALSO exist in a child with ... | |
| Is my son - 20 mons autistic?? (part1) | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: I saw your answer to Lisa (Question on Apr.20/06: my 2-year old boy: autism or not?). You mean ... A: Please have your son evaluated for an Autistic Spectrum disorder. He is clearly intelligent in that ... | |
| autism | 5/23/2006 |
| Q: how did you get interested in this particular topic? A: It's pretty easy to get interested in a topic when your child is diagnosed with it. I had to learn ... | |
| 3 year old w pdd/nos | 5/20/2006 |
| Q: My son was diagnosed with autism in louisville by a neurologist that specializes in cp at the age of ... A: I am glad you wrote to me. Our eldest daughter is the child with an autistic disorder. This very ... | |
| Is child autistic | 5/18/2006 |
| Q: My question is about a child who I babysit. I am fairly certain that he is Autistic. He exhibits ... A: I sincerely hope this child is in school. The teachers should be catching on to this behavior. His ... | |
| Getting help for my son | 4/29/2006 |
| Q: I live in a small own outside of Tallahassee Florida. I have a 9 year old son that has been in ... A: Your suspicions may be correct. Many people on the Autistic Spectrum are mis-diagnosed as bi-polar ... | |
| What is wrong with me? | 4/27/2006 |
| Q: I'm a 21 year old female from Florida. I've developed quite a few problems over the years, and I ... A: It is possible that you were incompletely diagnosed. I say this, rather than "mis"diagnosed because ... | |
| toe walking | 4/24/2006 |
| Q: My daughter has been toe walking since she was about 5 years old. She has just been diagnosed with ... A: It is assumed that toe walking has to do with sensory overload when the whole foot contacts the ... | |
| my 2-year old boy: autism or not? | 4/20/2006 |
| Q: Catherine: My son just turned 2 and is not talking yet. My son got autism diagnosis from a ... A: Autistic disorders may well be hereditary. Many on spectrum are very smart and being an engineer ... | |
| how is autism diagnosed | 4/19/2006 |
| Q: my son is 10 and has been in special education since he was 3 because i noticed he had difficulty ... A: Diagnosing autism is part science and part art. Questionnaires are very useful in learning about ... | |
| Helping my autisic step son | 4/11/2006 |
| Q: I am a 26 year old mother of 4 I have 2 step children so a total of 6 my step son Xavier is 6 years ... A: First of all, limits are necessary for ALL children, autistic or not. You don't say how old the ... | |
| Career | 4/11/2006 |
| Q: My name is Zach. I am a 9th grader at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana. I am doing a career ... A: I'm glad you are interested in a career in Special Education. I will put some links at the end of ... | |
| Is my daughter's behaviour indicative of Autism/Aspergers? | 4/9/2006 |
| Q: I have thought about it greatly over the past week. I want to add some additional info and see if ... A: Obsessive-compulsive behavior is often a component of Asperger's Syndrome/High Functioning Autism. ... | |
| Is my daughter's behaviour indicative of Autism/Aspergers? | 4/5/2006 |
| Q: I have a 3.5 year old daughter who has some behaviours that I am concerned about, and I wonder if ... A: With the exception of the constant chatter, which many 3-4 year olds do, everything you describe ... | |
| Help with School Problem | 4/3/2006 |
| Q: I have a 4 year old who has just been diagnosed with Asperger's. Last year (at one school) and the ... A: Wow, this must be really embarassing and upsetting. It is not uncommon for a child with A.S. to ... | |
| Autism and Childhood Vaccines | 3/29/2006 |
| Q: Do you believe that vaccines have any cause on autism, particularly ones given in early childhood ... A: I do not believe the link between vaccines and autism. For one thing, the thimersol was removed ... | |
| Autism program books | 3/27/2006 |
| Q: Excuse me miss, What a rude email. You are a professional? A professional would not have answered ... A: I apologize if my reply felt rude to you. No, I am a parent, not a professional. The term ... | |
| government intervention | 3/27/2006 |
| Q: I am doing a position paper on the growing rate of autism and the government's actions in response ... A: First, let me say that I don't think autism is "growing" but rather, we have broadened the ... | |
| autism | 3/25/2006 |
| Q: I am completing my masters program in multi-categorical special education in the summer 2006. I ... A: I have never used PEC as my daughter is actually hyper-verbal. However, she tells me that visual ... | |
| Autism program books | 3/23/2006 |
| Q: I am an MSW intern at Juniata River Center in Huntingdon, PA. Our affiliate is Northwestern Human ... A: Forgive me, but don't you think that you should research this more thoroughly? For one thing, I have ... | |
| Autistic Grandson | 3/22/2006 |
| Q: My grandson has been diagnosed as autistic. He is 4 years old and is in a peer program at a local ... A: I understand your eagerness to help your grandson progress. Believe it or not, reading the book for ... | |
| does my 4 month old show signs of autism | 3/21/2006 |
| Q: I have a 4 month old baby girl. I am afraid that she has autism by what I have been reading lately ... A: Most newborns have a hearing screening these days, but just to be sure, please ask to have her ... | |
| Ashbergers | 3/20/2006 |
| Q: The man was diagnosed with A.S. when he was a child. We live in Western PA. He went through High ... A: Unfortunately, the story of this man's life is not uncommon. There is a paranoia component for ... | |
| Water and bathing | 3/18/2006 |
| Q: My daughter is 10 years,7 months old. She was diagnosed with PDD 6 years ago. She is doing fine in ... A: Situational fears or resistances are common in people on the Autistic Spectrum. Personal hygeine is ... | |
| Ashbergers | 3/17/2006 |
| Q: I am a pastor. A 28 year old man has been seeing me 2 days a week for an hour. He lacks social ... A: First, not to make you feel bad, but it is Asperger's Syndrome. This fellow probably does have ... | |
| my son age 12 was diagnoised... | 3/14/2006 |
| Q: my son age 12 was diagnoised with highly functionalm autism will he recive ssi? he is doing well at ... A: I can't tell now, nor can anyone else. SSI is for those whose disabilities prevent them from ... | |
| High Funtioning Autistic | 3/13/2006 |
| Q: What is a high futioniong Autistic person? is it someone who is potty trained and understands manyt ... A: The word "spectrum" has come to be used as a way to give an understanding of autism as a range of ... | |
| is my daughter autistic? | 3/11/2006 |
| Q: My daughter who just turned 3 was diagnosed with PDD in January 2006. She maked great eye contact ... A: It surely sounds like she is. Keep with the speech therapy and make contact with your local school ... | |
| School consequences | 3/9/2006 |
| Q: My son turns 13 in two weeks. It's only been 1 1/2 years since his middle school developed an IEP ... A: I hope you get this before "tomorrow." Unless ALL students who have missed a certain number of days ... | |
| autism | 3/1/2006 |
| Q: what is autism all about? who is the most risk to get autism-children,adults or age people A: Autism is not something you "get" like catching a cold. It is a condition that is probably genetic, ... | |
| autism | 2/28/2006 |
| Q: 11yr old son, 1 eval done 2 yrs ago, dr said not autism, we are having 2nd eval done, here are our ... A: Um, I don't know who did the assessment 2 years ago, but if your son is still not speaking, along ... | |
| disipline | 2/22/2006 |
| Q: I'm not a parent but a preschool teacher. I have a 2 yr. old who is being tested now for autism. He ... A: It is important to realize this boy has no concept that other people have thoughts or feelings. ... | |
| Autism and the immune system | 2/19/2006 |
| Q: can you give me any insight to whether autistic children tend to get sick more often than typical ... A: I'm not sure if autistic children get sick more often. I have read that many seem to have a history ... | |
| Autism Symptoms | 2/18/2006 |
| Q: My child has many symptoms of an ASD. One thing I was wondering about is if talking to herself ... A: You don't say how old your daughter is, so I'll give you some possibilities. Many children from age ... | |
| Asperger's versus Highly Gifted | 2/14/2006 |
| Q: Boy, age 7, born with eye condition that hinders social skills (nystagmus), also has been ... A: It sounds to me like you have an extremely bright son who is simply so much more advanced, ... | |
| Autism..Does he have it? | 2/9/2006 |
| Q: This is regarding my son Peyton. He is 32 months old. his behavior is like any other 3 year old I ... A: The short answer is "maybe." It sounds like he is making rapid progress in speech therapy. He may ... | |
| is erik autistic | 2/9/2006 |
| Q: niagara falls ny erik is 25 and has been diagnosed several times each different diagnoses.most ... A: First, it's important to know that autism and schizophrenia can exist in the same person. However, ... | |
| positive aspects of PDD and autism | 2/8/2006 |
| Q: I have a question regarding the positive aspects of PDD and autism. I suppose you could say the ... A: I agree that the weaker areas of functioning can mask the strengths and gifts. You probably don't ... | |
| my son | 2/8/2006 |
| Q: Answer - Hi Reba, I would like a little more information, please. Tell me what symptoms of autism ... A: Yes, thank you. This information is VERY helpful. 1. The doctors are wrong. He DOES need a ... | |
| 5 mth baby | 2/7/2006 |
| Q: Just wondering if I have a cause for concern about my 5 mth old baby boy. He generally seems normal ... A: He is very young to be sure if what you see is a sign of autism. Some babies just don't like being ... | |
| my son | 2/7/2006 |
| Q: My son has exhibited some of these symtoms I have found on your website. We have taken him to ... A: I would like a little more information, please. Tell me what symptoms of autism you see. Tell me ... | |
| hitting | 2/2/2006 |
| Q: my nineteen yr old downs sydrome has i have just been told he has autism he recently started ... A: I don't have much experience with the combination of autism and Down's. I have experience with both ... | |
| autism | 1/31/2006 |
| Q: I have a 16 yr old that was diagnosed last year with autism. I am now trying to get some community ... A: Long story. First, ADHD can coexist with autism, so be sure you get the doctor/psychologist to help ... | |
| High Functioning Autism Teen | 1/29/2006 |
| Q: Can you please give me a crash course on how to help a very high functioning teen (female) with ... A: Sorry this has taken so long, for some reason I had trouble getting the web site to work for me. ... | |
| Sub-teacher strategies | 1/5/2006 |
| Q: I am temporarily filling in as a sub-teacher (under the direction of qualified senior teacher) until ... A: If there is one thing true about all PDD and Autistic Spectrum children it is that no two of them ... | |
| is it autosim or high functional autosim or not of them | 1/4/2006 |
| Q: my 3 years and 9 months male child looses the ability to speak or look me in the eye for about 4 ... A: Autism is usually not something that comes and goes like that. It sounds more like something we ... | |
| Trying to help our son Aaron | 1/2/2006 |
| Q: I read your bio and it was truely inspiring. However, My husband Mark & I are very concerned and ... A: I just received a message from a lady who lives in your area. She said, "I read a question that was ... | |
| My life sucks! | 1/1/2006 |
| Q: I'm 23 years old and I still live at home with my parents, but I wish I wasn't. Six years and seven ... A: Wow, it seems I have heard from you before but it may be that it was someone in a very similar ... | |
| school | 12/29/2005 |
| Q: My daughter is 14 yrs old. She is in a ese class. She is only mainstreamed for gym. We moved to ... A: I hear your frustration. 1. You have made many appropriate attempts to get appropriate supervision ... | |
| my son has PDD | 12/29/2005 |
| Q: my son is 10, and is in a fantasy world a lot more than he used to be. What should I do? He is on ... A: Working parents have a difficult time during school vacations, even with "normal" children. I ... | |
| Autism | 12/26/2005 |
| Q: My Son Rameez Aziz born on 27.10.1994 in Germany, now living in pakistan. We the parents, noticed ... A: There are medications for hyperactivity and for aggression. In children with autism, Risperdol is ... | |
| trying to get some added supports in the iep | 12/19/2005 |
| Q: I have a child in the Little Elm school district which is in Texas and he has been diaganosed with ... A: At this point, you may need an attorney. Your son is not receiving the needed services to which he ... | |
| wondering about a diagnosis | 12/19/2005 |
| Q: My adopted child is now 10. He was a foster child. He was severly neglected for the first year of ... A: No, you are not just a worrying mother. Your son is showing symptoms of an autistic spectrum ... | |
| Define Autism | 12/18/2005 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could clearly define autism for me because I have a slight degree of autism, ... A: I will be happy to help you in your research. Simply put, autism is one of a group of ... | |
| autism provision | 12/18/2005 |
| Q: We have nursing staff in situ as well as a 24/7 psychologist - sensory room etc., we now need ... A: Problem #1. Looking at your phone numbers, I can see you are not in the United States. I would ... | |
| Autism in baby | 12/6/2005 |
| Q: My baby is 12 weeks old, but I have noticed since almost birth that he was different. When he has ... A: I'm glad you wrote back. The behavior you described of throwing the arms out and flailing sends up ... | |
| Autism in baby | 12/5/2005 |
| Q: My baby is 12 weeks old, but I have noticed since almost birth that he was different. When he has ... A: I agree with you that his behavior is concerning. I will tell you that my daughter was also almost ... | |
| Fragile x problem | 11/12/2005 |
| Q: Katherine Could you please tell me your suggestion? If would be beneficial labeling an eight year ... A: I do not know if you live in the United States, but if you do, the answer is yes, he should be ... | |
| toilet training | 11/12/2005 |
| Q: my daughter is 2yrs and 10 months old...she has been recently diagnosed by a psychologist as having ... A: A "mildly autistic" child should be able to toilet train in the same way as any other child. Be ... | |
| grieving | 11/11/2005 |
| Q: Do you have any information of the grieving process to use with a non verbal, autistic male who has ... A: Wow, what a fantastic question. I have to say, I do not know of a specific source for this, ... | |
| Development with reading and learning | 11/11/2005 |
| Q: Does autistic kids show big improvements with their education?Are they have poor eye contact with ... A: Yes, autistic children show improvement with education. The sooner they begin receiving the proper ... | |
| grandson | 11/7/2005 |
| Q: i am interesting in knowing how to deal with my grandson's (who is in my care) temper tantrum's. he ... A: First of all, screaming tantrums are common in 3 year olds, even those without autistic disorders. ... | |
| adolescent with Dx. of PDD | 11/5/2005 |
| Q: Avery Has struggled through the public school since 6th grade, now a 16 year old sophmore. ... A: This is a common pattern for students on the autistic spectrum. First, you don't say what they ... | |
| Asperger's discipline | 10/31/2005 |
| Q: My son, who will be three in two days, has been diagnosed as "most likely" having Asperger's. With ... A: Resistance to change is one of the hallmarks of an Autistic Spectrum disorder. All transitions need ... | |
| Here is another question for you on autism | 10/31/2005 |
| Q: I just recently wrote to you about my son and now,I have another question for you,I just came back ... A: Good news about the seizures. Bad diagnosis about not being possible to have autism. MANY ... | |
| sex | 10/31/2005 |
| Q: sir/mam,recently i went on a date with my girl friend,we did not had sex but i touched her ... A: I'm not at all certain this is a serious question, but just in case. Yes, it's possible as sperm ... | |
| about autism | 10/28/2005 |
| Q: I have a 3 year old son and he has excellent social skills but,he still shows signs of autism,most ... A: It is very possible he is a "high-functioning" autistic. If his speech is un-impaired, he may have ... | |
| Does my child have autistic disorder | 10/26/2005 |
| Q: Age: 19 months/ Premature 7 weeks no distress in NIC unit for 22 days. Wt.4 ' 1" Has a few words but ... A: I encourage you to share this list of concerns with his doctor. Don't take "he'll grow out of it" ... | |
| I am a child-care worker and... | 10/26/2005 |
| Q: I am a child-care worker and I have a child in my care who is 16 months old. I'm a little bit ... A: You are correct, this is not normal behavior for a 16 month old child. Australia seems to have a ... | |
| Son's Fear of Haircuts | 10/21/2005 |
| Q: My son, Sam, is 6 and has cerebral palsy. He is in the process of being tested to find out which ... A: You must not live in the U.S. or he's in private school or a very unusual district. Short hair is ... | |
| Discipline/Behaviour | 10/16/2005 |
| Q: I am an aunt of an adopted Chinese girl age 8. Her name is Kim. Kim has just completed toilet ... A: I don't think it is harsh to be concerned about the Dad sleeping with the child if this is an every ... | |
| Discipline/Behaviour | 10/14/2005 |
| Q: I am an aunt of an adopted Chinese girl age 8. Her name is Kim. Kim has just completed toilet ... A: If the school has determined that the child is autistic, I suppose we will work on the assumption ... | |
| Noise Cancelling Headphones. | 10/13/2005 |
| Q: Good morning and thank you for your assistance in advance. I work for a non-profit and I am trying ... A: I do not know of any foundations that, specifically, provide this kind of equipment. Since I don't ... | |
| Autism abuse | 10/3/2005 |
| Q: My mother told me that Autism is mainly caused by the child being abused when they are very young.Is ... A: This is absolutely NOT true. Autistics are born, not made. Many babies show evidence of autism ... | |
| psychological vomiting | 10/2/2005 |
| Q: My adopted son is 6 yrs old. (adopted at 2 1/2) he has Prader Willi Angelman critical region ... A: I agree you need to keep him healthy. I also agree he's controlling you with this behavior. I know ... | |
| autism | 9/30/2005 |
| Q: they thought we had sytoms of autism but as we got older they went away but I seem to be the same ... A: You say the symptoms went as away as you and your brother got older. Do you mean in both of you, or ... | |
| School | 9/29/2005 |
| Q: my niece has mild autism ( that's what the doctor said anyway ) she is current;ly in Prep school, ... A: Let me start with the fear issue. Many 3-5 year olds develop irratonal fears. This can be a normal ... | |
| psychological vomiting | 9/28/2005 |
| Q: My adopted son is 6 yrs old. (adopted at 2 1/2) he has Prader Willi Angelman critical region ... A: Wow, this is a new one for me. Clearly, he has formed an association between the tea time meal and ... | |
| autism | 9/28/2005 |
| Q: My son is 28 months and he only say's a few words maybe about 30 and he dose not say most of his ... A: At 2 years 4 months of age, many children have not developed 3 word sentences. That bench mark ... | |
| School | 9/27/2005 |
| Q: my niece has mild autism ( that's what the doctor said anyway ) she is current;ly in Prep school, ... A: In my opinion, she should move on. Clearly, she has good intelligence and no apparent learning ... | |
| nutrition and aspergers | 9/22/2005 |
| Q: I have an 8 year old son with Asp. Syn. He has an extremely self limited diet- he has eaten the ... A: Wow, that's a long time to stick to a limited menu. It is not encouraging that the therapists have ... | |
| Testing/Evaluations | 9/14/2005 |
| Q: I reside in the 60620 zip code area for Chicago.Hi, I have a 7 year old son who has been ... A: Ok, your son must be in school. Probably second grade, yes? I assume that his condition is affecting ... | |
| Autism--how/when do I broach the topic? | 9/13/2005 |
| Q: When is the right time to reach out? My wife and I share the same concern about my brother (“Dave”) ... A: This is hard, but you have to speak up. Look at it this way, if you wait and he gets to be 5 years ... | |
| Testing/Evaluations | 9/13/2005 |
| Q: I have a 7 year old son who has been experiencing severe signs of anxiety, etc. since he been 3 ... A: I don't know where you live so it is difficult to direct you to help. If he has language problems ... | |
| Asperger's and education | 9/13/2005 |
| Q: My son is 12 and was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. He also has either ADHD or ... A: I'm going to number things to keep this easier to read. 1. Your son is entitled to an appropriate ... | |
| Helping my child that has PPD/NOS | 9/8/2005 |
| Q: I have a 7 year old boy who was has PPD/NOS. In the school system he is in a typical classroom but ... A: Actually, things are going very well for your son. He is making terrific and rapid progress. It is ... | |
| asperger's syndrome | 9/6/2005 |
| Q: Are there college financial resources for my son with asperger's syndome? He is presently a senior ... A: We were unable to find any scholarships available based on a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome. ... | |
| My sister | 9/6/2005 |
| Q: Ms. Ridenour, My sister was diagnosed with autism, but she is extremely high functioning. I was ... A: First of all, if you use this in your paper, please site it as a type of interview not as an expert ... | |
| MY SON IS 6 YRS OLD ALMOST... | 8/25/2005 |
| Q: MY SON IS 6 YRS OLD ALMOST 7 HE HAS DIFFICULTY EXPRESSING HIMSELF AND REPEATS QUESTIONS OVER ... A: It does sound likely. It is good you have an evaluation scheduled. There is much that can be done ... | |
| signs and symtoms | 8/25/2005 |
| Q: My question is what signs and symptoms did your child exhibit. I am a educator so I have extensive ... A: You are wise to heed these signs. Hearing loss can interfere with speech development and direction ... | |
| looking for redirection | 8/24/2005 |
| Q: Ravi is 5 in oct. we live in shrewsbury Ma. He has pdd/nos. I have him on a celiac diet. He ... A: I honestly don't know how much the detox and such have to do with it, though the celiac diet does ... | |
| DIAGNOSIS | 8/18/2005 |
| Q: MY EIGHTEEN MONTH SON GREETS ALL CHILDREN HE MEETS WITH A SMACK TO THEIR FACE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS ... A: This is surely a disturbing behavior, but in itself probably does not indicate autism. I suspect he ... | |
| Determining Autism | 8/16/2005 |
| Q: My husband and I have a 4-year-old daughter that is having some social behavioral issues at daycare. ... A: I definitely understand your concern about having your daughter labeled with a diagnosis if it is ... | |
| Services at school | 8/13/2005 |
| Q: My son is 13 and was just diagnosed with PPD-NOS. He also has Tourettes, OCD, and ADHD. He does ... A: I would start by talking to the special education people at his school. After that, contact the ... | |
| diagnosis and types of autism | 8/6/2005 |
| Q: my son is 8 and the school system has labeled him as mildly retarded. the most pervasive issue for ... A: Here is the list of diagnotic tests that may help in assessing your child: Vineland Adaptive ... | |
| autism w/ or w/out adhd | 8/5/2005 |
| Q: my son is 4. he has been going thru diagnostics since january. he has had a sleep study (found to ... A: Wow, you are feeling overwhelmed, I'm sure. First, ADHD and HFA can and do exist together. IF the ... | |
| Cerebral Palsy (CP) | 8/5/2005 |
| Q: Your expertise is the closest to my daughter's abnormal nature who is 9 yrs old.Could you kindly ... A: I'm surprised no one has more direct experience with cerebral palsy than myself. Autism can ... | |
| The "right" school.... | 7/31/2005 |
| Q: i have been scouring the web for some type of general outline as to what education requirements (ie. ... A: Since every state has a different educational system, this is a hard question to answer. It seems ... | |
| WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT? | 7/31/2005 |
| Q: NOW THAT MY SON HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AS WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM THE SCHOOL ,AND ARE PEOPLE WITH ... A: You don't say how old your son is so I'm kind of shooting in the dark. In general, here are some ... | |
| Autism possible in 13 week old infant or could it be other problem? | 7/27/2005 |
| Q: My grandson was born @ 32 weeks gestation on April 24, 2005. He was transferred to a nicu ... A: Let me calculate... 13 weeks means a little over 3 months. I have read that premies need 2 months ... | |
| do i have autism ? | 7/27/2005 |
| Q: I am 37 years old & I feel when I was younger I had autism but was never medically aware of it. I ... A: Your description of yourself certainly sounds like High Functioning Autism or Asperger's Syndrome. ... | |
| does my son have autism ??? | 7/18/2005 |
| Q: i am so confused and saddened that i have not been able to get a solid answer from any of my sons ... A: Tammy, One of the reasons you are not getting a definite answer is that the autistic "spectrum" ... | |
| College and other things | 7/17/2005 |
| Q: My name is Alex and was diagnosed with High Functioning Espergers at a young age (and recomfirmed ... A: Congratulations on your good academic record. It will help you in your college journey. While I do ... | |
| does my son have autism ??? | 7/16/2005 |
| Q: i am so confused and saddened that i have not been able to get a solid answer from any of my sons ... A: It can be hard to tell. Age two is often when it starts to show up with a decline in development. ... | |
| behavior | 7/15/2005 |
| Q: I have a almost 4 yr. old daughter not diagnosed yet, waiting for appointment with developmental ped ... A: Tantrums are extremely common in high-functioning autistic children. Sensory overload issues play a ... | |
| Confused | 7/11/2005 |
| Q: My son has been a "little angel" most of his life (he did go through a stage where he smashed all my ... A: Yes, it is possible for a parent to overlook or not recognise a disorder like High Functioning ... | |
| My grandson's daycare has... | 7/5/2005 |
| Q: My grandson's daycare has suggested he has some issues. He will be 3 yrs old this month. Birth to ... A: You do not say how your grandson is different at home, but that is a common thing with high ... | |
| Occupational Therapy | 7/3/2005 |
| Q: Ridenour, I have a 4 year old son with autistic-like behaviors,but it has not been medically ... A: Your doctor cannot share information without your consent. The new HIPPA regulations insure that. ... | |
| Who can diagnose accurately? | 5/27/2005 |
| Q: My daughter is 7 and has been diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction, ADHD, Receptive & ... A: Too many cooks spoil the broth and too many doctors can muddle the diagnosis. With the exception of ... | |
| DR. FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN | 5/25/2005 |
| Q: MY MANE IS VICKY I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. I HAVE A 8 YEAR OLD AUTISTIC SON HIGH FUNCTIONING, I HAD ... A: I agree with you, your son shows difficulty with language. Concepts like the value of money can be ... | |
| Autism vs thought disorders | 5/16/2005 |
| Q: I am raising my grandson who has had numerous setbacks in his childhood starting with the suicide of ... A: Ask your grandson's doctor, at his physical, to recommend a good neurologist who is familiar with ... | |
| Asperger's syndrome | 5/15/2005 |
| Q: My grandon, 18 years old, has been diagnosed as having Asperger's. What do you think of Chelation ... A: To my knowledge, there is NO treatment that will "cure" Asperger's or any other form of autism. I ... | |
| AS/PDD-NOS v. ADHD? | 5/13/2005 |
| Q: We are having a problem with getting a diagnosis for our 8 year old son. He has been seen by 3 ... A: Most of what you describe would lead me to believe that the PDD-NOS is the closest thing to correct. ... | |
| 3 year old | 5/11/2005 |
| Q: I have a three year old son and I was told today from an educational stand point my child is ... A: First, let me say that this must be devastating news to you, but I want to assure you that many ... | |
Autism
Answers by Expert:
Catherine Ridenour
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer your questions about parenting your High Functioning Autisic or Asperger`s Syndrome child. In particular, questions about family life, discipline, siblings, finding resources, and working with (sometimes opposing) the educational system are welcome.
Experience
I am the parent of an Asperger's Syndrome child who is now 22 years old. She went undiagnosed for 14 years of her life, so I have done extensive reading and Internet research into the possible cause of her difficulties. Even a short 8 years ago, A.S. was practically unheard of by the public educational system.
We fumbled our way through her childhood and early adolescence without any effective outside support. In some ways, that may have been a blessing as we were focused on her abilities rather than a label for her disability. However, I can think of many times when knowing WHY would have been comforting.
Had we known very early on, some social skills interventions might have made her life in school easier. At this point, I like her for who she is so I do not regret how things have turned out. More importantly, she likes herself.
Education/Credentials
I have a Bachelor of Science in Education.
I have worked to educate myself about Autism in general and HFA/AS in particular.
NOTE:
Please note that I have no control over the "sponsored links" at the bottom of this page. I do not endorse these web sites or their products or opinions. Use your own best judgment in evaluating any claim made. As with all things, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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