Our 4 1/2 y.o. grandson has been placed "on the spectrum" by professionals in the field. He's been observed several times, and they're confident of this diagnosis. They believe with counciling, he will lead a "completely normal life".
We live 250 miles away from him, but over the Christmas holiday had an extended period to watch, play and interact with him. These are the things I observed, and was hoping that you could comment.
-Times of "hyperness". racing around the house. One occasion, he attempted to climb into the decorated Christmas tree.
-Vast vocabulary, but poor speech. He is hard to understand, and becomes frustrated when you ask him to repeat.
-Not toilet trained, not at all.
-Extremely poor eating habits. Candy, cookies, ice cream, pizza. Some cereal. Rail thin.
-Smiling, laughing, talks away, responds poorly to verbal correction. Rarely cries when "put on the steps"
-Expresses his affection by hard, successive pats on the back.
-Seems desensitized to pain. He has a habit of lifting his shirt and slapping his belly, laughing, and clenching his free fist, and gripping his tongue between his teeth. He got a flu shot at the doctor's, and responded with only "oww!", no tears.
-He is in a special pre-school program for special needs kids but will be mainstreamed starting in kindergarten, per physician's instructions as they don't feel he requires special all day instruction, but will receive after school counciling.
He mystifies me. I expected a withdrawn child, but he appears larger than life. Physicians are prescribing no medication for now, but many times I feel he something to control him, and to calm him down. Any comments to my observations would be appreciated. I pass all of this onto my son and daughter in law.
I have pictures of my son doing the same thing with his toy cars all around my moms kitchen floor. Interestingly he doesn't do this anymore!