Does my son need help?

I am at a bit of a loss about my 5 year old son.  I believe he has difficulty communicating with us and with people in general.

When speaking to us he shows less 'speech skills' than his younger brother.  He often repeats the same phrase and sometimes struggles to get a sentence out, even though he understands everything.  He appears to be painfully shy, with new children and new situations.

In school he does everything and his work is up to standard, but he whispers answers to the teacher, and does not communicate or play with the other children, even though he knows all their names.  In break he stays alone.

He does tell us everything he did at school though WHEN we ask him, and often sings songs he learnt there to us, even though he won't sing them at school.  He has friends, children of friends of ours and plays a lot with his younger brother, though not with the youngest whom he does not appear to like (2 years old) .  He is also extremely cautious going down steps 1 at a time for example and has a very good memory.  We enrolled him in drama and he just sits and watches the other children and won't participate, even though he observes with great interest.

We took him to a speech therapist who discharged him and h has been receiving play therapy from a child psychologist who also now discharged him.

To me he is not completely 'normal' but nobody seems to be able to give me an answer!

To be honest I am at my wits end.  What could it be?

[Jason C Bourret, Ph.D., BCBA-D]

It isn’t clear, from what you are saying, that an autism-spectrum diagnosis would be appropriate for your son. Those diagnoses essentially depend upon the child having deficits in communication and displaying repetitive behavior patterns. If you have concerns, however, I recommend having him assessed. Also, his shyness and hesitancy to join into activity with peers is something that can be worked on. If you’re concerned about it and you feel like it’s holding him back, seek out a clinician with experience working with children like your son. Regardless of the diagnosis, there is no reason not to try to get some additional assistance for your son.

[Ellenteacher]

Keep asking if you know something is not right.  You might try searching "selective mutism", an anxiety disorder, to see if those behaviors fit your child.