what is wrong with my step-son

Question

My nearly 9 year old step-son's behaviour is becoming worse. He talks to himself in public places with very exagerated facial expressions whilst flapping his hands, he blows spit bubbles, walks head down all of the time, walks in to people, objects, or anything in his path. He went through a stage recently of soiling himself, but this has stopped now. He will also do something, even if told not to, he will do it because he wants to, regardless of the danger. Every time we speak to him we have to repeat the entire conversation to him, as he states he did not hear us, but if we ignore him when he says pardon, he will repeat verbatum what you have said to him. Even with the simplest of conversation he will turn it on its head to the point of foolishness. i.e. what colour is the sky?. He will reply do you mean the sky here or in Canada or at night or through the day or when its sunny or when its raining. He is clumsy, is always dropping things spills drinks falls over walks into things. He is socially very imature, and has to be constantly remined of manners.He shouts rather than talks, is terrified of catching diseases and has no fear of danger.He stares at people or objects for what seems an eternity, and his teacher is always telling him off for not listening. He was starved of oxygen for 9 minutes at birth. There is dyslexia, and asperges in the family on both sides. Please help. Desperate.

This discussion is related to Does my son have Asperger's Syndrome?.

margypops · Answer

Thank you for saying that , children thrive when they are loved. The talking in public may be natural exuberance many are like that what do you mean by flapping of hands , many cultures like italians use hands to express themselves .Sorry got to say it again boys this age spit bubbles especially if they know parents don't like it, to be honest most of the details you have addressed here seem pretty normal to me... Focus on his positive side and praise him when you see him doing something right. Assuming you are his step mom what does his step dad think about him does he see it the same way ?

witsend805 · Answer

Yes he has many loveable traits and he is an adorable child, but it is the behaviour above I need answers to and where we can go from here.So in answer to your comment  I do like my step son very much in fact I love him!