Autism ? Aspergers , APD or just shy ?

Question

3.5 yr old boy , I need help to identify his problem . I went to dr's and specialists but nobody tells me clear what he has .

If you have any experience as a professional or parent or even

an opinion , please let me know what you think !

A little delayed in speech , but not too much -4-6 words sentence - many words are unclear

At school doesn't participate in games with other kids but likes watching them

Lines up cars sometimes (he used to do more in the past)

Throws up paper towel ,leaves,sand,small toys or objects

Somehow obsessed with snow although he has never seen it (we live in Fl )

Doesn't understand simple stories from books

Is extremely emotional - cries if I say "No" ,very jealous with siblings, seems to be perfectionist , likes order , wants to know "what's next" .

Food allergy to milk and eggs

Knows all letters and some letters sounds ,shapes,can count to 30

Doesn't flap hands

no rocking

no echolalia

He is ok if we change his routine

Very affectionate and likes touch

Answer 1

Agree with Capricorn, and also the responder about the PDD assessment at childbrain.  My son is PDD.NOS, sounds very much like yours.  Also my other son is PDD.NOS but looks a little asperger's and my dad is asperger's.

Here are what pops out at me as far as a red flag for autistic spectrum:

-stimming (lining up cars, my oldest did this)

-speech delayed

-receptive language delayed (doesn't understand simple stories

-obsessed (narrowed perseverative interest)

-difficulty transitioning (likes order, wants to know what is next)

-emotionally labile (my son is like this too)

-lack of social skills peripheral hugging (staying in the background watching others participate, wanting to join, interested in kids, but not doing so).

I would take him to a pediatric neurologist

I am a psych nurse, who has worked in a RTC as a teacher for the autistic population

I think he qualifies as asperger's.  Autism is a spectrum disorder it is a social communication disorder.  Your son clearly presents with impairment in both social (watching peers, emotionally labile) and communication (not understanding simple stories)

I have asked a lot of people about the distinctions between HFA, asperger's, PDD.NOS and quirky typical behaviors.  No one gives the same answer, and rarely is it explained clearly.  What I believe is that rarely do kids fit a diagnosis exactly.  The same kid can have some typical behaviors, and some PDD.NOS behaviors.  It is all a matter of perspective in what the assessor believes the child falls into the most.  Technically, asperger's are not supposed to have speech delays.  That said, many kids have a HFA, or PDD.NOS dx that get speech and are redx asperger's.  Is it really a seperate dx or is it that we are not good enough at distinguishing it yet in the preschool years?  Technically those dx PDD.NOS are to have average IQ's minimum yet many have BIF (borderline intellectual functioning 71-84).  Is this because the assessments are language based, and designed for neurotypicals and the score is depressed, or is it the assessor isn't knowledgeable enough with ASD's? IDK.

In my opinion the distinction betw asperger's and PDD.NOS is that Asperger's do better academically, have higher IQ's, more scattered abilities, less frustration, more perseverance, less fine motor impairment, more emotional lability, and less social skills.

My sons are affectionatte too, no rocking or flapping, some echolalia

Answer 2

"If you've met one child with autism, then you've met one child with autism." - that's a familiar quote to those of us who have children on the autism spectrum.

My son is 9 years old and has always been very loving and affectionate - he also has high functioning autism.  It's a fallacy that all autistics stare at a wall all day and flap their hands.

From what you have written, these statements pop out to me:

delayed speech

does not participate in games with other kids

lines up cars

obsessed with snow

likes order

Please have your son re-evaluated.  Contact your local Autism Center and have them recommend a specialist to do the evaluation.   The earlier autism is diagnosed the better.

Answer 3

My son is 8 and at 3 years old also had delayed speech, did not participate in preschool, got very emotional at the drop of a hat, had to know what was next or flipped out. His teachers at preschool had me contact the county and he was evaluated - with a diagnosis of PDD-NOS. Here is an explanation of PDD-NOS:

Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) is a 'subthreshold' condition in which some - but not all - features of autism or another explicitly identified Pervasive Developmental Disorder are identified.

I'm not sure if this is what your child has, but he needs to be evaluated by officials in your county.

For us, the county started speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy  when he was 4. He's still getting some services, but has improved due to the support he has been given by the school. I urge you to get this boy support asap, as the earlier you intervene, the better.

Answer 4

Go here... http://childbrain.com/ This website is great, it has a lot of information. It even has an assessment questionairre to fill out so you can see if your child might be on the spectrum. http://childbrain.com/pddassess.html Make sure you read the "How to Rate" tips. Take your results to the next doctor appointment and see what they think. Hopefully this will help lead you in the right direction. Good Luck! =]

Answer 5

If he is alert and looks around, and at you then he probably doesn't have Autism. He may have emotional problems. But, he may be just slow to develope. Spend time teaching him your self. Read books to him every day. Try letting him make a friend in the neighborhood.

Answer 6

Denise's answer is a good one.

Note if he has friends & how his social skills are. Also how he is doing scholastically in his class (is he catching on to the lessons?) Be sure to give him plenty of quality time & encourage him to have interests & hobbies.