Autism

I have a child who is being evaluated because of development delays. (Language and social interaction) She is almost three. One doctor has mentioned Autism Spectrum Disorder. I would like to know if some behaviors of autism can include humming and chewing on clothing. She always hums when she eats and lately she had been chewing on her clothing so much so that she bites holes into them. Would these be included in behaviors of autism?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Stacie,

One characteristic of Autistic Disorder (a type of Pervasive Developmental Dosorder) is stereotyped, repetitive behaviors. The behaviors you describe can be examples of this, but by no means do the behaviors themselves indicate autism.

[ROSALYN]

HI STACIE. THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS YES. I HAVE A SON WHO IS TWELVE NOW AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS BEING AUTISTIC WHEN HE WAS THREE. I JUST WANTED TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO HANG IN THERE WITH YOUR DAUGHTER. I WAS DETERMINED TO TEACH MY SON TO ACT AS NORMAL AS ANYONE ELSE. HE NOW HAS LOTS OF FRIENDS , GETS STRAIGHT A's in school and most of the time you can't tell that he's AUTISTIC. HE STILL DOES ROCK BACK AND FORTH AND KIND OF LOOKS OFF INTO THE SKY BUT WHENEVER HE'S OFF IN HIS WORLD LIKE THAT WE ASK HIM WHATS GOING ON SO WE CAN BE APART OF IT. HE IS A WONDERFUL SON. THE BEHAVIORS DIFFER FROM CHILD TO CHILD BUT ARE RECOGNIZABLE ONCE YOU BECOME FAMILIAR WITH IT. IF SHE IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH SPEECH SHE WILL NEED TO SEE A SPEECH THERAPIST. MY SON TALKS VERY PROPER NOW AND HE WILL CORRECT YOU IF YOU SAY SOMETHING WRONG! CHILDREN THAT AARE AUTISTIC ARE VERY VERY SMART. MY SON IS LIKE A WALKING ENCYCLOPEDIA. YOU WILL BE VERY SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH INFORMATION SHE WILL BE ABLE TO RETAIN. AS FAR AS HER SOCIAL SKILLS IT WILL TAKE YOU TO TEACH HER AND ENCOURAGE HER HOW TO FIT IN. I WILL DEFINITELY BE PRAYING FOR YOU AND HER AND THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY. GOD BLESS.