Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 5/24/2006

Question
Dear Catherine:  I saw your answer to Lisa (Question on Apr.20/06: my 2-year old boy: autism or not?). You mean Lisa¡¯s husband is also on autism spectrum? In fact I have seen lots of men including my husband, my professor, my colleagues, and my friends are like Lisa¡¯s husband. They don¡¯t like to talk much (in fact they don¡¯t have the ability to talk a lot), they are hard to switch their attention when they are focus on something. They don t like to make friends, and they are easy to loose their temper when they are not happy. Do you think they are all in the autism spectrum?? If yes, I think the autism rate will be 1:10 not 1:500. Sorry I don t doubt your answer, I am just surprised how many people are not normal!  My son is just 20 months today. He is very very similar to Lisa s son. I really appreciate if I can contact Lisa to ask her what kind of  Training  she has done to teach her son to point to things and see how about her son now, since her son s today is my son s tomorrow.  My concerns about my son are:  1. He doesn t respond to his name (Except in Peek-a-boo game). It seems he is always very busy in his mind, no any time to listen to voice.  2. He never follows direction, e.g. Give me your car, it seems he doesn t understand or doesn t listen.  3. He never point to things by using his fingers. If he wants to go outside, he will pull you near the door and show you he is trying to open the door. Or he will take the coat that he often wears outside and drag your hands to wear it on him. If he wants to look at the microwave working (we put it on a high place), he will push you near the microwave, open his arm widely (anyone knows he want to be held) and he will look at the microwave. If he wants to watch cartoon movies on our computer, he will push you to the computer desk, put your hands on keyboard. If he wants to eat something, he will bite our fingers or shoulders gently.

Answer
Hi Eva,

Please have your son evaluated for an Autistic Spectrum disorder.  He is clearly intelligent in that he is attempting to communicate. The speech delay should be treated immediately so he can catch up. Language acquisition is best done before the age of 3.

He is entitled to free services through your local school district, but only after he is diagnosed.

Read more about autism at these web sites.

http://www.patientcenters.com/autism/news/resources.html (books and resources)

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/asperger.htm (the definitions and government links)

http://www.autism.org/temple/meds.html (about medication)

http://www.autism.org/ (many links to information)

http://www.autismasperger.net/intro.htm (Stephen Shore’s web site)


Best wishes,
Catherine