Developmental Disorder

My 4 yr old son is receiving speech therapy at his pre-school.  He has good eye-contact, follow 2 sentenct instructions (like go down in the basement and shut the light off and close the door), likes to ready story books, plays with his elder brother has good memory, knows rhymes, count numbers, letters, knows colors and shapes.  There are few things about him which are making me worried.  He has few repetative behavior like watching the commercial again and again; like flushing the toilet again and again but which he recently stopped, shutting of the microwave door (he stop doing that now), much interest in numbers, any car parked in the parking lot he would like to go and check the inspection sticker to see what number it is and also if he gets frustrated on anything he covers his ears.  Is this behavior normal.  Please email me.  Thank you

[Rebecca MacDonald, Ph.D., BCBA]

If you have any concerns about your son's development I would first ask the special educators in your school and your pediatrician. Repetitive behavior are characteristic of autism but are not the only red flags. If you are still concerned I would suggest that you go try to identify a hospital in an urban area where they specialize in diagnosis of children who present developmental delays. A comprehensive evaluation by a team of specialists will result in diagnostic information as well as treatment recommendations. You can then take these recommendations to your local public school. Usually insurance will pay for a hospital evaluation.

[Rayyu]

Thank you for getting back to me.  I did ask my son's pediatrician, who also recommended to have a comprehensive evaluation by a team of specialists.  But do you think my son falls under autistic spectrum disorder - repetative behavior, more attraction towards numbers..etc.  I am confused, because he make good eye-contact, follows instruction and now trying his best to communicate, understand gestures, very friendly with his cousins.  Please reply me.  Thank you.

[Natta1980]

Hi Rayyu. I am not a specialist but parent of a child with mild ASD in question - possibility of a mood disorder/ADHD combination. My son makes good eye-contact, communicates failry well, follows instructions very well, friendly with everybody in general, akward with peers, lot better with older and younger children. Most think he is "shy". Does not really have any repetitive behaviors (other than jumping and sometimes singing a bit too much:) Always wants somebody to play with - hates playing alone. Has trouble with transitions and impulse control. Gets fixated on things and not always understands /accepts the fact that he cannot have something. Very affectionate. Has excellent memory and extensive vocabulary. Not doing so well on reciprocal speech, doing very weel with expressive speech. Draws better that many "neuro - typical peers", but fails to perform. Sings in perfect tune. Has great sense of humor. All that said, he was diagnosed with mild PDD-NOS. Schools district assigned him to "developmental delay" category, mostly due to to his problems with transitions/attention/not ability to answer some of the test questions. He got difficult ones, while missed very easy ones (did not capture his attention). They are inclined to rule out Autism because he has so much social interaction and lots of imaginative play (not just re-enacting something he saw - he can be pretty spontaneous). Autism Spectrum is indefenitely broad. My son really does not have an official "diagnosis", but receives lots of support, and doing much better in school now:)

Getting evaluated will not hurt for sure

Good luck