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You are here: Experts > Kids > Health for Kids > Pediatrics > Worried about 4 year old grandson showing signs of not learning
Pediatrics - Worried about 4 year old grandson showing signs of not learning
Expert: David Olson, MD - 11/8/2009
Question
Hi,I am a mother to 3 grown children of my own and a grandmother to 5 grandchildren.My question is about my 4 year old grandson that was born a premature baby.He was born 6 weeks premature and was in the NICU for 5 weeks and only weighed 4 pounds but he caught up on his weight really quickly and now is a very healthy child that eats healthy foods not junk food but is large for his age I think and tall.The pediatrician even said he was a little big for his age but nothing to worry about because he is tall also. Now my question is about his learning and some things he does that I do not think is normal.I have worked with him and my daughter has as well but he doesn't seem to understand when you ask him things..Like when I have been trying to teach him his colors and he still cannot grasp the concept of them,we just finally got him potty trained about 3 months ago and it was like a disaster trying to get him to catch on to that and his sister was trained by the time she was 18 months. He also hits himself in the head and bites himself when he gets mad. He talks just fine..and he seems to understand most things but I cannot get him to catch on to trying to teach him the basic things that I think a child his age should already know by now. At his 4 year check up my daughter said the doctor thought he might be showing signs of autism but I just don't believe it because he can talk and does other things but then I am not aware of all the things that a autistic child might do. Can you please give me some incite into what might be the problem or could it be he is just going to be a little slow at learning things because he was premature. I am a very concerned grandmother that wants desperately to help him because I do not want other children to make fun of him. Children can be so cruel to children that are not at the same learning level as they are and it breaks my heart to think about that. Thanks Pat
Answer
Hi, Pat,
The range of behaviors and presentation of autism spectrum disorder is vast, ranging from obviously impaired kids to those who are just a bit different.
I don't know what he has, if anything. My suggestion would be to discuss this with your pediatrician and have some further testing done, in the order of psychologist and behavioral screening, by a well trained pediatric psychologist. An IQ test also should be done. This is the only way you can get some information that will be of help to you.
Good luck, Dr. Olson
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