Does my grandson have Asperger's

[PattyAMF]

Here are some of the things that I have notice over the 5 years of my grandson's life..........
infant - would arch his back/pull away from the bottle even though he was hungary
toddler - didn't mimic speach like the other toddlers he made different sounds
he doesn't like people who are loud like my mother he said she scares him
when taken where there is a lot of people he will sit off to the side or down stairs until he feel comfortable then he will come up
at his parents wedding this past weekend - he was somewhat OK until the loud music started he sat on the floor, knees up, plug his ears and rocked back and forth.  when some one tried to move him he screemed got stiff as a board and screemed.  We did remove him from the reception (I the grandma) took him home and he was fine.  

He is a great boy - can play baseball so well knows a lot the MN twins players.  he can hit really well and throw straight also.  He is great with video games.

when he is told that he can't have something or play his video games he will plead for hours.  Please mommy I want to play my game.  for hours!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

To know for sure if your grandson displays Asperger's Disorder, he would have to be evaluated.  However, based solely on your description, I would tend to think he does not. He might well display some sensory integration problems(s), and this can be evaluated by an occupational therapist. Following are the actual criteria for Asperger's Disorder, detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental and Emotional Disorders:

(a) Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
  
     - marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction
  
     - failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
  
     - a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest or achievements with other people, (e.g.. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
  
     - lack of social or emotional reciprocity

(b)  Restricted repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

      - encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus

     - apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals

    - stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)

    - persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

(Ic) The disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

(d) There is no clinically significant general delay in language (E.G. single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)

(e) There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction) and curiosity about the environment in childhood.