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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
What is this called?
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
What is this called?
by Susan, Sep 10, 1999 12:00AM
My neighbor's son's teacher says he sounds like he may have something called something like "Asher Syndrome" (or something close to that.) This sydrome is characterized by high intelligence; ability to recall obscure facts and information learned only by hearing them spoken;inability to attend, concentrate, or focus attention--like ADD. He is now 5 1/2, but has had a 5 second attention span since at least age 2 1/2. He was also language-delayed at age 3.
What makes his mother think he has this odd disorder is because a few months ago he overheard her and a friend discussing a particular type of pickup truck, and just this week, he pointed out to his teacher at preschool, a truck with the same specifications (V-8 engine, etc...) The telltale info was written on the truck; nobody had to look under the hood to ascertain it. He watches a LOT of television and obsesses about certain shows/movies--like Star Wars. I have observed this child on many occasions (I am a former spec ed teacher) in my home "playing" with my children. He completely ignores rules, screams that my dogs are bothering him when they are not even in the house, cannot play with any one toy or game for longer than a few minutes, and wanders around asking strange questions. Once he stuck his head through a doorway in my house and said, "Hey! What's THIS?!", with a surprised/excited voice, like he had discovered something fantastic. He was looking into the bathroom.
Any ideas?
What makes his mother think he has this odd disorder is because a few months ago he overheard her and a friend discussing a particular type of pickup truck, and just this week, he pointed out to his teacher at preschool, a truck with the same specifications (V-8 engine, etc...) The telltale info was written on the truck; nobody had to look under the hood to ascertain it. He watches a LOT of television and obsesses about certain shows/movies--like Star Wars. I have observed this child on many occasions (I am a former spec ed teacher) in my home "playing" with my children. He completely ignores rules, screams that my dogs are bothering him when they are not even in the house, cannot play with any one toy or game for longer than a few minutes, and wanders around asking strange questions. Once he stuck his head through a doorway in my house and said, "Hey! What's THIS?!", with a surprised/excited voice, like he had discovered something fantastic. He was looking into the bathroom.
Any ideas?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Sep 11, 1999 12:00AM
, Sep 11, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Susan,
It sounds like the little boy is displaying some signs of abnormal development, signs which would warrant evaluation. In the areas of socialization, attention and, to some degree, language, he is displaying some idiosyncracies which may indicate problems.
It's likely that the condition you are referring to is Asperger's Disorder, a type of Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Some of the symptoms you describe are typical of this condition; others are not.
There's plenty of information about this condition available, in these Forums and elsewhere. Just click on the Search button, and then type in the word Asperger's, and you will find some details about the diagnostic criteria for Asperger's and about Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).
It sounds like the little boy is displaying some signs of abnormal development, signs which would warrant evaluation. In the areas of socialization, attention and, to some degree, language, he is displaying some idiosyncracies which may indicate problems.
It's likely that the condition you are referring to is Asperger's Disorder, a type of Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Some of the symptoms you describe are typical of this condition; others are not.
There's plenty of information about this condition available, in these Forums and elsewhere. Just click on the Search button, and then type in the word Asperger's, and you will find some details about the diagnostic criteria for Asperger's and about Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).
