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Autism/Questions Answered by Expert Michelle Fattig
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Inclusive classroom | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: My almost 9 year old son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS in kindergarten. He was moved from our ... A: Numbers, numbers, numbers! If you have multiple parents involved the school is much more apt to ... | |
| autism question | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: I'm working as a behavior specialist in an elementary school. In the past I have dealt with children ... A: I am so very sorry for the delay! For some reason my computer started sending things to junk mail ... | |
| SPD micro preemie | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: My daughter who is former micro preemie (27wks)due to a torn emergent cerclage is severely delayed ... A: So sorry for the delay in my response. My computer began randomly sending questions to my junk ... | |
| 6 yr old with possible stereotypy or tics??? | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a 6 yr old son who is displaying several strange tic-like behaviors. The first one he has ... A: The "tics" you describe sounds like sensory seeking behaviors common with autism, adhd, and other ... | |
| Autism Diagnosis 3.5 yr old child | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: am writing about my son who is 40 months old. He has been having good motor skills and upto 30 ... A: Sounds like a very interesting little boy. The following is a good checklist for children with High ... | |
| Autism and ABA/IBI therapy | 1/26/2009 |
| Q: My three year old son has had ADOS plus IQ testing done by a psychologist and has been categorized ... A: Wow. I would have some concerns as a mom if it were my child. I do believe from years and years and ... | |
| Problem in speaking | 1/23/2009 |
| Q: My son is 5 years old. He is having problem in speaking the following words – R, K. He says L to R ... A: It is actually age appropriate for these sounds to be missing or unintelligible until the age of 8. ... | |
| is my son autistic? | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: my name is Krissie. I have a three year old son whom I think might be autistic. I would just like to ... A: It sounds like you have very valid concerns. The following is a questionnaire for Early Childhood ... | |
| child with PDD-NOS/ 504 plan | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: My son is 9 years old and was dx with PDD-NOS at the age of 4. He is very bright but struggles with ... A: Yes. He would qualify for a 504 plan as well as an individualized education program. When IDEA was ... | |
| Hyperlexic 9 year old | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: When my son was born he would completely tune out the world in public, be up all night and startled ... A: Is your child in special education? If so, the school can make appropriate services available ... | |
| Hyperlexic 9 year old | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: When my son was born he would completely tune out the world in public, be up all night and startled ... A: What you are most probably describing is Asperger's Syndrome. At the highest end of the Autism ... | |
| Asperger's | 10/18/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is 12 and was diagnosed with Asperger's 2yrs ago and before that ADHD and Persuasive ... A: Sorry for the delay! A great site for answers regarding school issues: www.wrightslaw.com If you ... | |
| child in my class | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: There is a three year old in my class who exhibits some strange speech behaviors. She seems very ... A: It certainly sounds like it could be the case. The following is a questionnaire that can be ... | |
| working with autism | 10/3/2008 |
| Q: I'm not a parent of an autistic child but I am a therapeutic day treatment counselor in an ... A: What I would suggest is a functional behavioral analysis to include sensory profile in order to ... | |
| My 18 month twin boy | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: I have 18month twin boys. While twin A is very social and demanding all the attention twin B is ... A: If you have worries about Autism, a nice screener for you to print out and provide to your child's ... | |
| aggressive child | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: My so is 9 yrs. old, and was diagnosed with PDD/NOS at 7 yrs. old. He was having difficulty in ... A: Sensory processing difficulties are often a part of PDD/ASD, and can contribute greatly to meltdowns ... | |
| My 9 year old and school | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: I am having lots of problems with my son and the school. My son has been to a counselor and has ... A: You can request a free comprehensive multi-disciplinary evaluation through the school district. ... | |
| High Functioning Autism House mate | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: So I started up a Christian community house for college students going to Whatcom Community College ... A: You will find wonderful insight and humor on the website: www.wrongplanet.com Also, I recommend ... | |
| Could my daughter be at risk for developing autism? | 9/16/2008 |
| Q: My husbands has no signs of being autistic but his younger brother had sever autism. I'm just ... A: Studies show that autism spectrum disorders are of a genentic influence. If you are worried, you ... | |
| 4 year old -Autism? | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: Me my wife and my 4 year old son have been traveling a lot in last 4 years and have changed various ... A: It is hard to say if they are signs of a child with Autism, Autism like characteristics, Asperger's ... | |
| potty training | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: Our almost 4 yr old son Jake is diagnosed with autism he gets help in the normal spanisch school ... A: I would highly recommend that a speech pathologist work with your son to increase functional ... | |
| potty training | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: Our almost 4 yr old son Jake is diagnosed with autism he gets help in the normal spanisch school ... A: It is very common for children with autism to be potty-training resistant or unsuccessful. Some of ... | |
| behavior | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: MY SON IS THREE AND HALF HE IS VERY HYPER AND DOES NOT LISTEN HE WILL NOT SIT IN TIME OUT AND I USE ... A: At 3 1/2 it is very common for little boys to have a lot of energy; however, when it is very ... | |
| Concerned about 14 month old daughter | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a concern. I have a 14 month old daughter. Her sister is 2 1/2 and was diagnosed with PDD-NOS ... A: My suggestion would be to call your local school district or early childhood group and request a ... | |
| Granson - Autism? | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: My grandson is 2 1/2. I am mildly concerned with his speach development and some of his actions. ... A: Boys can be late in developing speech; however, the AMA does list not putting two or more words ... | |
| do you think he's autistic? | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: First of all, thank you. I have a 20 month old nephew who is just now starting speech therapy ... A: It sounds as if you have very valid concerns. The following websites may be of benefit: ... | |
| hearing problems or autism | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: I am looking for an unbiased opinion about some problems my daughter is having. I have an ... A: So sorry for the delay. I think a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation is probably the best ... | |
| hearing problems or autism | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: I am looking for an unbiased opinion about some problems my daughter is having. I have an ... A: It sounds like you have been very proactive in trying to obtain answers and interventions. Bravo! ... | |
| diagnosis of ASD | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: Am I correct in assuming that the diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder is made by a health care ... A: It depends on the state in which you live. Some states allow for the educational diagnosis of ... | |
| answering to name? | 6/9/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 1/2 year old little girl who has been very verbal since 1 years old she loves people and ... A: Some experts indicate that the best predictor of Autism, both classic and high functioning include ... | |
| CPSE | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: My son, age 4, is currently being worked up for an autistic spectrum disorder. He has received ... A: How very sad that you are having to work so hard to get the school district to provide what they are ... | |
| Possible cause or Autism? | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: I am the Mom or a very loving affectionate 2 and 1/2 year old. Since birth there have been many ... A: Very interesting questions. I am most definitely not an expert in this particular area, but have ... | |
| ADHD/Aggression | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: My son is 11 yrs. old and has been diagnosed with ADHD, Sensory Dysfunction - mainly Audiological ... A: Your son's diagnoses are an overlap of "symptoms" typically present in children with autism, high ... | |
| If it's not autism what is it? | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: I had my daughter taken in to a center that specializes in Autism and had her tested. The results ... A: I am not surprised at all. I have found that most "specialists" think they know more about ... | |
| Autism Infant/Toddler symptoms | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: My grandson is 14 months old and a wonderful baby. My concern started several months ago with his ... A: It is important to talk with your son and daughter-in-law about your concerns. It sounds as if you ... | |
| selective social skill ? | 5/1/2008 |
| Q: I have been reading about aspergers/ spectrum disorders. Are these kids with spectrum disorders ... A: If she is a happy, well adjusted little girl who doesn't appear to be negatively affected, you ... | |
| my three year old grandson | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: I don't know much about autism but am hearing more and more about it. My grandson is three years ... A: It is hard when you live far away, but it is better to voice your concern. Intervention sooner, ... | |
| hand movements | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: I have a 6yr old daughter who "wiggles" her hands only when she is in her "make believe land" She ... A: Hand wiggling alone is probably not a concern. You can replace the behavior by giving her ... | |
| Motor integration therapy | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: Motor Integration Therapy related to Autism. Could you please explain what this is and how it ... A: I have not read or utilized the method; however Sensory Motor Integration is an area we utilize ... | |
| can autism diagnoses be wrong? | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: my son is 2.5 and has just recently been diagnosed with autism. is there any chance of it being ... A: Was he diagnosed medically or educationally? If you have questions about being wrongly diagnosed, ... | |
| ASD or something else? | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: I am concerned about my (4 ½ years old) step daughter, Addi. She exhibits many odd behaviors that I ... A: It sounds as if you have very valid concern. I would suggest contacting your local school district ... | |
| Conerns About my son and Autism | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: I have some concerns about my 10 month old son. I know autism is not usually diagnosed this early ... A: If they have ruled out seizures, you may want to request a free multidisciplinary evaluation through ... | |
| Normal 3 yr old 'stuck' on objects/noises | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: My son is almost 3 years old and is a happy normal boy as far as I can tell. He is a late talker and ... A: The getting "stuck" on things is called perseveration, and is very common in our people. We tend to ... | |
| niece has delayed motor and verbal skills | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: my niece just turned 3. she didn't crawl till she was 12 months and didn't walk till about 20 months ... A: It is very hard for parents to understand that there may be more wrong than just the obvious, and it ... | |
| developmental delay - autism?? | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: My daughter has just turned 15 months, she began babbling quite late, 11 months but only says baba ... A: It is very common for children to have somewhat uneven development. One of the biggest predictors, ... | |
| curious if I should say something to a parent regarding her child | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: I care for a little boy who will be 2 years old shortly. I have seen many children this age, I have ... A: It sounds as if you have very valid concerns, and yes it is best to seek early intervention. ... | |
| autism in 12 month old | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: Your question was my son just turnes 1 on march 11. i am very worried about him having autism ... A: The only real concern might be that he doesn't respond consistently to his name. It is not uncommon ... | |
| developmental delay - autism?? | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: My daughter has just turned 15 months, she began babbling quite late, 11 months but only says baba ... A: The language struggles could be related to many things, not just autism or spectrum disorders. I ... | |
| My ADHD/PDD | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: You had sent me an email that was very helpful on 3/22/08, but I have another question, how do you ... A: Taking things away is not usually effective for kids on the spectrum (out of sight out of mind). ... | |
| severe behavior problems | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: My grandson (10 yrs old) was diagnosed as autistic about 4 yrs ago. There has always been an issue ... A: I apologize for the delay, I tried to answer earlier, but my computer has been acting up. Again, so ... | |
| My son adhd/pdd | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: My son was disgnosed years ago with adhd and last year they also disgnosed him with pdd. He has an ... A: The very best option is to make sure than his IEP is very clear about his accommodations and ... | |
| Aspergers | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: I have asked you questions in the past about my son and now that I am less focused on him I have ... A: She has some peculiarities, but as long as she is happy and the characteristics are not interfering ... | |
| my childs behavior | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: i have a 3 year old boy and hes always been withdrawn when socialising, but normally quite a good ... A: It is very possible that you are both demonstrating some characteristics associated with Asperger's, ... | |
| is it autism? | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: We have two 22 months old daughters (fraternal twins) who don't speak in two word sentences at all. ... A: Many "experts" do not understand (or even acknowledge sometimes) high functioning autism or ... | |
| autism? | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: My son is four years old. Since he was 1, there have been concerns about repetitive behavior, ... A: It sounds like your son is demonstrating some characteristics that may indicate spectrum concerns. ... | |
| Autism | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: My son is four years old. Since he was 1, there have been concerns about repetitive behavior, ... A: Although the added "ed"s on words may just be developmental, or a kind of stutter (I am not a speech ... | |
| ADHD/Asperger's/PDD_NOS | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I've taken my son to a Neuro-developmental Ped. 2x. He has been diagnosed with ADHD. My son ... A: I just love the "experts" who don't always get it! I would recommend asking your local school ... | |
| SID | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a question about my 6 year old son. When he was in preschool (age 4), his teacher mentioned ... A: There is a questionnaire that you can download, and print off at: ... | |
| Non-Verbal Learning Disorder | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I'm wondering what you know about non-verbal learning disorder? My son was just tested by a well ... A: Very interesting. This is a link that you may find helpful: ... | |
| Higher Function Language skills | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is 6 years old and very bright and happy , has Aspergers, and in many ways just like ... A: My daughter struggles in this area, as do many children with AS. What I would suggest is providing ... | |
| is this also a symptom | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: First let me say that I do not know that my son has any of these disorders, however, he does have ... A: There can be many causes for children to be delayed in toiletting, and children on the spectrum do ... | |
| Asperger voice volume | 2/21/2008 |
| Q: I work with several students with asperger syndrome. Occassionally, they speak with too loud of a ... A: A couple of good websites that may be of help: ... | |
| teaching social skills | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: My 1st-grader does well socially in class, but needs help with unfamiliar situations, groups, ... A: How interesting that a school doesn't understand or "see" social skills deficits in a child with a ... | |
| giftness vs AS | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old son. We have been round and round with him and school. He is set to have ... A: It very well could be both; however, in order to be on the spectrum you would need to evaluate his ... | |
| giftness vs AS | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old son. We have been round and round with him and school. He is set to have ... A: He sounds like my son at that age. Although my son preferred pokemon or ninja turtles to trains! ... | |
| my son | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: My son just turned 4 years old last month. I've never been too concerned about him up until now. He ... A: Everything you described sounds like high functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome may be a ... | |
| autism | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: My son is five years old he gose to Meyer Elementary. He was suspended from school because he cant ... A: Good morning. Is your son on an IEP? If so, they can suspend for up to 10 school days; however, ... | |
| ADHD or maybe autism | 2/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a soon to be 9 year old grandson. He was a preemie weighing 1lb 11oz at birth. He attended a ... A: You can request a free comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation through your school system. Many ... | |
| Autistic evaluations | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: My question maybe somewhat lengthy so apologize in advance. Let me preface this quetion in hopes of ... A: It sounds like you have some very valid concerns. You can request a comprehensive evaluation ... | |
| Pretend Play | 1/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a question about pretend play. It seems that everywhere you read it is a criteria for a ... A: I would love to be able to conduct an evaluation on this child, he sounds very interesting. The ... | |
| Pretend Play | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: I have a question about pretend play. It seems that everywhere you read it is a criteria for a ... A: Interesting. Can he involve others actively? Meaning, if they join him, do they have to play by ... | |
| Pretend Play | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: I have a question about pretend play. It seems that everywhere you read it is a criteria for a ... A: Pretend play is a tricky one, because so many of us look like we are doing pretend play, when in ... | |
| 8yr old girl | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: My eight year old step daughter talks all the time, plays with toys appropriate for babies and ... A: It can be hard to find a correct diagnosis of high functioning autism, especially in girls. One ... | |
| important question about autism and public schools | 1/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 yr old autistic son and having lots of problems getting school services he needs and ... A: I have a free powerpoint on our website for parents entitled Parent Rights in Special Education on ... | |
| my autistic student | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: i have an autistic girl in my class who is 4 and she has been having screaming outbursts pretty much ... A: I would recommend evaluating her sensory hyper vs hyporeactivity, which may help to isolate how she ... | |
| 10 month old signs of autism | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: Michelle, My son just turned 10 months and it seems like he selectively responds to his name. Most ... A: This is an excerpt from a good article involving autism in young children, and the difficulty in ... | |
| 33 months Aspergers? | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: My son is 33 months and we've been suspecting some issues for some time. He has been in early ... A: I'll copy and paste some information from my website about my son and my own experience (my daughter ... | |
| Autistic children and visitation after divorce | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a 3y/o daughter and a 4y/o son that are both on the spectrum. Nether one of them can talk, ... A: I can not give legal advice, but my assumption would be that the plan is aimed at gradually working ... | |
| 33 months Aspergers? | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: My son is 33 months and we've been suspecting some issues for some time. He has been in early ... A: I have to laugh just a little (and not in an offensive manner), as you just described both of my ... | |
| nephew | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: I have 7 year old nephew that has been diagnosed with PPD-NOS. He is in his 2nd year of ... A: It would be a good idea to discuss all of these concerns with his physician, in that other ... | |
| 4.5 month old son | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: I am a mother of twins. My husband and I were blessed with a baby girl and a baby boy. I know I ... A: At 4 1/2 months, it is probably too early to get overly worried, however, it is always good to be ... | |
| eye contact | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: my two month old rarely makes eye contact with me. i've read in books how breastfed babies look at ... A: It is typical for babies to make eye contact during the bonding of breastfeeding. However, two ... | |
| 3 year old Autism / PDD-NOS | 12/29/2007 |
| Q: I have some concerns with my son . I have an appointment with a specialist, but I am very anxious to ... A: It does sound like he demonstrates many characteristics of high functioning autism or Asperger's ... | |
| integration Vs. Non- integration | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: My Husband was recently awarded custody of his 5yrold daughter after finding that the mother was ... A: If you are seeing regression, and were seeing progress in the previous school, it would be a good ... | |
| My 14 year old autistic daughter | 12/18/2007 |
| Q: My autisitc child is out of control. My daughter was recently diagnosed with autism (at age 14). Her ... A: Is she emotionally out of control, causing the behaviors? You can ask the local school district to ... | |
| a9 month old son if he is developmently behind or Autism | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: My 19 month old son is speech delayed ,although he babbles a lot and says mama ,babab,aaaaha.the ... A: At 19 months old, it would be difficult to predict based on developmental milestones alone. Is ... | |
| My daughter | 11/22/2007 |
| Q: How are you? I am Rajendran from Chennai, India. My daughter Age 5, studying LKG. She's having some ... A: If you have concerns about her development, language, and social interaction, you can ask her doctor ... | |
Autism
Answers by Expert:
Michelle Fattig
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about educational testing, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Special Education, IEP, Learning Disabilities, Sensory Processing, Parent Advocacy, Response to Intervention, living and parenting with disabilities, parent rights in special education, school psychology, and more. I cannot provide a medical diagnosis.
Experience
I am a school psychologist, medical technologist, author of the Annie Books series: Experience Aspeger's Syndrome and Attention Deficits Through the Eyes of a Child, RTI facilitator, ILCD facilitator, parent advocate, presenter, and researcher. My children and I have Asperger's, ADD/ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Organizations
National Association of School Pyschologists, American Medical Technologists, Learning Disabilities Association of Nebraska
Education/Credentials
Ed.S. in School Psychology, doctoral studies in SPED Law, SPED Systems Enhancement Leadership, and doctoral candidate Education Leadership. MT(AMT) and MLT(ASCP)
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