He is a brillant child when it comes to math. He will create advanced algerbra problems and then work them for fun to amuse himself. He is extremely advanced in computer and can write programs, etc. He has difficulty playing with his two brothers and other children. He cannot get along with them. When he starts a task he wants to do, he will not stop until he decides, you cannot stop him. He will not do anything unless it is his idea or an idea he approves of. When thwarted from his way, he becomes very upset. When upset he screams in a very high pitch without stopping, he does not calm down or respond to reason or kindness. Nothing has any effect, even giving him what he wants requires a waiting period before the screaming, etc will stop. This on going situation has been handled by carrying or dragging him to his room and closing the door. This method no longer works since he is bigger and stonger. My nephew broke my brother's ribs when he kicked him in the chest last week during one of these fits.
My memory of his early childhood play was of a child who would line up his matchbox cars exactly in a row, not to be touched by another. If you moved one he would take it and put in the exact spot where it had been. His walk is loose and his arms fly out. His hands wave around when he moves. He is very fidgety. He talks and laughs at the same time and sometimes his speech is jumbled in with words and light laughing at the same time making it difficult to understand.
He has a problem with bed wetting and on occasion wets or has a bowel movement in his pants when he is playing computer games and does not want to stop.
He will be contrary in conversation taking the opposite side just to be in opposition. He will tease the animals to annoy the adults. He has an overwhelming desire to be in control. He must be in control and will fight on every issue.
When he was two days old the Doctor said there was something odd about his cry, the pitch was very high and he would go from calm to upset without a gradual build up. His change in emotion was VERY quick. He always had an earpiercing cry that would come up suddenly and was physically painful to hear. By age 4 he was labeled ADD and medicated. I think there is much more to this child than ADD. Do any of the things I've mentioned sound like high funtioning autisium?
Thank you for your time and expert opinion.
Sincerely,
CF
Posted by HFHS MD-JM on May 10, 1999 at 19:27:21Connie,
It appears that your 13 year old nephew has had behavioral difficulties
for his entire life which has had a major impact on your family. You relate that your nephew has been diagnosed with ADD and wonder if he is also a high
functioning autistic.
It is not possible for me to diagnose your nephew without a formal psychiatric evaluation. Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder with
onset(recognition) within the first years of life which is important to distinguish it from other childhood psychiatric disorders. It is characterized by social dysfunction (inability to relate to others, bond with others, develop
peer relationships and lack social or emotional reciprocity), communicative deviances (delayed or lack of developed speech, difficulty with or inability to
have a conversation, lack spontaneity), and unusual behavior (stereotyped or
repetitive behavior, preoccupation with patterns or intersts that are restricted, or preoccupations with parts of objects).
Some of these things might apply to your nephew but this history is not
diagnostic. Regardless of the diagnosis, the goal of treatment should be to
manage your nephews behavior to prevent injury to self and others as well as
maximize his potential. These issues should be further discussed with your
nephews child psychiatrist and mental health workers involved in the case.
Remember this information is intended for educational purposes only.
Best of luck,
HFHS MD-JM
Keywords: Autism, ADD(ADHD) and behavioral disturbances.
