Intermittent Aggression

My 3 1/2 year old is extremely bright, happy, has a great sense of humor. He is also very verbal (has the vocabulary of first/second grade level). He adjusts positively to any and all situations, gets along most of the time with children of all ages - sometimes entertaining kids as old as 10 years old. He has had a great relationship with mom and dad. But his behavior has deterorated.
When playing with children his age he will often show bad manners such as sand-throwing in the face, and the other day he kicked (softly) a 2 year old who came up to our picnic area.
He will all of a sudden pinch or hit a child he is playing with.
He will be sitting with his grandma, who he adores, and without provocation of any sort give her a whack on the arm or ever across the cheek. Yesterday we were sitting together quietly and he reached down and pinched (HARD) my leg.  Time-outs do not result in improved behavior, even worse.

Do I need to take him for an evaluation? Here is more background that may give some clues:


He had a short stint in preschool where he did very well but was removed due to recurrent ear/upper respiratory infection.

He was recently found to be blind in one eye due to retinal disease; underwent surgery and lots of exams; behavior went downhill about the time we calculate the problem in his eye became active.

Does not have as much regular contact as he always had with other children because we moved.

Father stayed home with him mornings until age of 2 1/2, but now works regular daytime schedule.

Worried!
Thanks very much.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

He's had a lot of changes and, from a child's perspective, possibly traumatic events occurring. Any of the things he's been through can well produce regression in an otherwise healthy child. Definitely seek an evaluation - there's absolutely nothing to lose, potentiall a lot to gain. By the way, relative to aggressive behavior, don't abandon the time out. Stick with it - it will produce results.