Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 2/8/2006

Question
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -

Answer -
Hi Reba,

I would like a little more information, please.

Tell me what symptoms of autism you see.  Tell me what amazing things he does.  Tell me how well he speaks and comprehends, please.

This will let me give you better assistance.  Also, what is the nearest major city?

Catherine

Ms. Catherine,

The nearest major city is Little Rock AR.  My son is delayed in speech, he repeats words rather than answering questions, although this has improved some.  He cannot comprehend how to make a decision when given more than one alternative, such as do you want to wear pants or shorts, he will answer "pants or shorts", I have to show them to him and he will point to the one he wants.  He also seemed to have only concrete answers that he could memorize, such as "what is your name", he responds "Cody" when asked "how old are you?" he responds "I'm 5", but if you ask are you a boy or a girl? he only says "boy or girl".  I have tried everything I know to try to help him understand the difference, nothing has helped.  I feel he has a difficult time coming up with original answers that require some independent thought.  Before going to the day school we could not go out in public because of the horrible fits he would throw.  That has improved.  Some of the amazing things he does is his memory.  Every since he was 18 months old he has an extremely long attention span, he will watch a movie all the way through, and have it memorized.  He will watch t.v. all day without stop if we would allow it. I know he has the memory memorized because he will act it out.  Or if he sees a prop that was in a movie (for example, a toy sword) he may start acting out the movie Peter Pan.  He also will remember going to a specific place and what event was related to going there.  (for example: his grandparents took him to watch Nemo on Ice at the Alltel Arena in Little Rock, AR. Before the show he went to McDonald's in Little Rock.  A month later I took him to Little Rock for an appointment, he pointed to McDonald's and said "I want to see Nemo", He could whistle at the age of 11 months.  His development was normal and above normal until age 18 months when we started to regress.  Doctors tell me he will be fine and that if he has autism he does not need to be diagnosed unless he needs services.  He is over sensitive, and does not understand personal boundaries with strangers.  He will run up to a stranger in a store and hug them and tell them "I love you too"  this happens more frequently with children than with adults.  He is very sensitive and loves babies.  He has done surprisingly well with the addition of our daughter.  However, he will play with other children for a short time, but usually prefers to play alone.  He does line toys up, but does not spin them.  He makes repetative nonsensical sounds and we do not know why.  He knows his alphabet, can spell his name, and can count to 25.  However, he does not comprehend colors (although color blindness does run in my family).  He is very good at using a computer.  His emotions however sometimes frustrate me, for example, he may start crying when it should be a happy time.  Or he states he is scared, and there is no apparrent reason.  I hope I have given you a better idea of what my son is like.

Reba


Answer
Hi Reba,

Yes, thank you.  This information is VERY helpful.

1.  The doctors are wrong. He DOES need a diagnosis because he IS needing services.  Speech delays must be addressed as soon as possible. He may have an auditory processing disorder which is what keeps him from comprehending "pants or shorts" in words but not if he sees the choice.  Repeating words spoken to him is called echolalia. He needs speech therapy immediately to help him catch up.  The greatest language learning capacity of our lives passes by age 3.

2.  His emotional outbursts are very consistent with autism.  Most autistic children have a very hard time identifying their feelings.  They are overwhelmed by the sensations and may act out inappropriately.  Some feel pain instead of pleasure from experiences we find pleasurable.  Touching furry things, for instance, my be revolting instead of "warm and fuzzy."

3.  His memory is also typical of an autistic child.  He will pick out and remember the finest detail of things which interest him.

4.  His lack of personal boundaries and social understanding is also an indication.  Again, he needs a diagnosis as soon as possible.

A web search for "autism" and "little rock" yielded the following web sites:

Arkansas State Resources
http://www.autism-pdd.net/links/arkansas.html

Mental Health resources
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/MHDR.asp?D1=AR&Type=MDR

Contact the State Department of Education so you can start getting the services he is entitled to as a child with an educational handicap.  These should be provided to you without cost.  He does not have to wait until kindergarten or first grade.

Contact the Arkansas Autism Society for leads to doctors who will take you seriously.  Don't take no for an answer.

Best wishes,
Catherine