Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 7/18/2005

Question
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
i am so confused and saddened that i have not been able to get a solid answer from any of my sons doctors.  a few have said he has autism, but yet he can keep eye contact, show emotion, communicate, (yet he is behind ) my son brandon is 4yrs. old and he is amazing, loving and smart.brandons development was at or above normal until around age two, which at that time brandon endured alot of trauma, a house fire, his grandmother being deathly ill, starting school, and on and on,  at that point everything started to change, please help .....thank you for your time, tammy
Answer -
Hi Tammy,

It can be hard to tell.  Age two is often when it starts to show up with a decline in development.  Communication problem are definitely an indicator.

You don't say if he has problems dealing with his peers. This would also be an indicator.

I suggest you do as much research as you can on the Internet and by reading books.  This will help you recognise the symptoms so that you can seek appropriate care for your son.

Another possibility, considering the tramas he has endured, is Post Tramatic Stress Disorder.  Though, both can exist at once.

Please, post a follow-up question and tell me the following:

Does he do repetitive things, like lining up his toys, spinning things or rocking?

Does he repeat words said to him rather than answer a question, or repeat his own words?

Is he overly sensitive to bright light, sudden noises, textures in food or clothing, unexpected changes in schedule?

If I have this information, I can offer more support.

Best wishes,
Catherine          Catherine,          Thank you so much for your reply, it was very helpful althought, as mentioned before I just hope to obtain a clearer picture as to what is going on with my son.   My son Brandon gets along with his peers great, he is very loving, Brandon does repeat words when said to him, but that has gotten alot better since he started school, he does the repeating about 50% less then he did 6 months ago.  And as far as his repetative behavior he does alittle bit of that , but again it has declined over time.  He does not seem to sensitve to light or loud noises that part is a-ok , so if there is anymore information you could possibley share with me I would greatly appreciate it.  Thank you so much for all your assistance, it is appreciated more than you know.          Tammy

Answer
Thank you for following up, Tammy,

One of the reasons you are not getting a definite answer is that the autistic "spectrum" includes many symptoms.  No one individual has them all and the combination varies with each child.  Many doctors are unsure about how many symptoms constitute a diagnosis so they put it off to see what happens.  Up to a point, that is ok, but see below why you will need one soon.*

The fact that you have seen his repetitive behaviors decrease with the beginning of school is a great sign.  He seems to be able to adapt and learn more "normal" behavior.  However, when the demands of school become more academic, other issues may surface.

His "very loving" nature MAY (and I caution you I am only suggesting a possibility) point to Asperger's Syndrome.  Children with this form of high functioning autism tend to be either very distant OR very trusting and overly friendly.  If he seems to accept absolutely everyone without reservation, he may lack understanding of social boundaries.  He can learn them, he just does not know them instinctively.

For the moment, keep asking questions.  Read all you can find about HFA and Asperger's.  

Urge the schools to test him for these things.  *He will need an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to help him get the accomodations he needs.  Without a label, he is not entitled to special services.

Best wishes to you and your son,
Catherine