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Question asked to Karen Simmons:
Hi Karen. I have a 3 1/2 year old son who was recently screened and diagnosed as being "on the spectrum". While I want to do all I can, now that I know, I am perplexed about "where" he is. He reverses pronouns, calling himself "you" rather than "I", and seems shy around other kids. But other than that, I can't see any other symptoms that match. He is certainly focused in his interests - sprinkler systems at one time, now gift cards from Best Buy - but not so obsessed that we can't get him to switch games or activities. He began speaking at eight months, by twelve months was doing complete sentences THAT MADE SENSE FOR THE SITUATION, in other words NOT echoing. The thing is, he REALLY understands what he's saying, and has lengthy give-and-take conversations with us, all the while calling himself "you" and refering to us in the third person or by "mommy" and "daddy". His insistence on using "you" instead of I seems to us like it might be habit rather than disability, as he seems to understand that "when Alex says I that means Alex," and will do it now and then. He has certainly learned all the individual words he uses, because he mixes them up in new sentences that make sense for the situation. He also has a low tolerance for overused or inexact words, such as "nice," and will insist we use more specific words, as if he's deathly bored by regular speech. Yet he also has words he won't let us use for no obvious reason, like "hot", which he insists is "very warm." Is it possible that he's not autistic, but rather developed speech SO EARLY that he got into some bad habits? Could he actually be gifted? Or both autistic and gifted? He is affectionate, has a good sense of humor (tonight he said "mommy looks like the goblins" in the Harry Potter movie, and laughed, poking me in the ribs), has none of the other symptoms of autism or Asperger's. Could it be something else? Have you ever heard of anything like this? My husband is unconvinced our son is autistic, while I'm certain he IS, because of the pronoun reversal. There is nothing I've found in the medical literature that gives any other reason for a child this age to be reversing pronouns. Help! |
| Hi, My son, Jonathan, also seemed to fit parts of the spectrum and not other parts of the spectrum when he was 3 1/2. He began reading at 2 1/2 so of course had many gifted talents which seem to go hand in hand with the spectrum which is never cut and dry. He sounds like he could be on the spectrum especially around the fixations and structured way of thinking though its best to observe behavior over time for a true assessment. You could take him to another specialist to get a second opinion. Perspective is always good. The most important thing in my opinion is to get him the supports he needs as early as you can so that if he does in fact have autism you are doing the most good for him. If it turns out he doesn't have autism, the interventions will certainly not harm him and may help him regardless of diagnosis.
Hope this helps.
Karen Simmons
CEO Autism Today
PS Just so you know, it took my husband a good ten years to finally see the autism in Jonny! Many parents stay stuck in a denial state which doesn't do any good for anybody.
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Question asked to Dr. Diane Twachtman-Cullen:
"I have students in my class that have Down's Syndrome, Asperger's Syndrome, and Apraxia. I was wondering if you could give me more information about these conditions and give me some movement tips to use with them in my PE classes." |
| I have tried to answer this question on 2 other occasions but I could not get it to go through. You certainly do have a diverse group. I think that you should also submit your question to someone with expertise in physical or occupational therapy.
With the student with Down Syndrome you are probably dealing with very low tone and weakness in the musculature. Activities to increase strength, without being too demanding would probably be appropriate. Students with Asperger syndrome are described as "clumsey." Sometimes this is due to motor planning issues (i,e., apraxia or dyspraxia), or sensory issues (i.e., difficulties with feedback to the muscles and joints). It could also be a combination of these things. These students may also have somewhat low tone, but it would probably not be as obvious as it would be in a student with Down syndrome. Apraxia is a problem with voluntary movement. I would recommend that you use music and rhythmic activities for the students with AS and apraxia, as they will help to make movement patterns more automatic by taking the focus off the physical movement. In my experience students with apraxia tend to do better when movement patterns are not interrupted, as starting up again is often difficult, if not impossible for them.
I hope this has been helpful.
Dr. Diane Twachtman-Cullen |
Question asked to Anne Addison, MBA:
1) Good day madam,i have an on going thesis right now, being a student of graduate school taking up masters in SPED,my thesis is about COPING MECHANISM OF PARENTS WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN PROPOSED: PARENT-CHILD BEHAVIOR DYNAMICS.I have the difficulties on where to go and see some theories or articles that will help me make my thesis as to how the parents cope.
please do help me... looking for a positve response from you. |
| would suggest get my book, One Small Starfish by Anne Addison, which is full of suggestions on how to cope. That is the thesis of the whole book. YOu can get it at Borders or Amazon.com |
Question asked to Dr. Lisa S. Lewis:
7 yr old daughter with hx of chronic belly aches since baby--
tried avoiding dairy, being on soy products, etc
per epdiatricians advice we "watched it" at the age of 6
she started describing heartburn--frequent belching and flatus-
had an UGI showed duodenitis--was put on zantac X 1 month while waiting for a GI specialist appt.
the zantac helped with teh heartburn but no the abd pain(umbilical) Gi doc tested gastric levels and pH factor--both withing normal limits--
she said--sounds like spastic colon--try relaxation tecxhniques and tums for the burping/heartburn--
i wasn't satisfied with that--seems like if i wait without doing anything it may develop into something worse-
went to osteopath for a more natural approach--(was disappointed witht eh visit) but she did suggest more fluids--which we ahve done--but also wanted to give her prilosec- i feel uneasy about that--not know ing the ramifications of it--
the 1st yr of her life she had RSV was hospitalized at 10 dys old-and ahd her 1st earinfection at that time-so and continuous thru-out her 1st yr--so she was on antibiotics all that time--any one you can think of--she was on--i'm wondering if that effected her GI tract and don't want to do further damage--also don't want to" wait and watch" any longer--any advice?? please please please Thank you
Barbara Johnson |
| This question is a medical one, and I am not a doctor. I feel it would be appropriate for Dr. Murch (this is his specialty.) I tried to "pass it on" to him but the server isn't letting me do so. I suggest you resubmit your qeustion for Dr. Murch. Sorry not to be more helpful. LL |
Question asked to Dr. Lori Ernsperger:
according to the autism society,how many people suffer from autism? |
| According to a recent volume of the Advocate (vol. 36), the new autism facts are as follows: 1 in 250 births; 1 to 1.5 million Americans; 10-17% annual growth; Growth comparison during the 1990's US population=13% increase, Disabilities increase= 16%, and Autism increase= 172%. These numbers are staggering, but at this point they are only estimates. We currently do not have precise prevalence figures. |
Question asked to Anne Addison, MBA:
anne very important question... I am a mother of 3 normal kids, and my one child who is now 14 is autistic. He starting to like girls now, but he don't know how to act around them, what can I do to be a good mom...?
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| Your son needs to get some social skills training in how to act with girls since this is new ground and he doesn't have the typical social aptitude to learn it on his own. If he works with a social worker at school or someone that you think can work this in to his program, tell them your concern and let them work it into the appropriate module. There are several books that deal with this issue, a new one is just out published by Future Horizons. Go on their web site at 222.futurehorizons-autism.com and you'll find it by topic.
Best, Anne |
Question asked to Dr. Keith Goulden:
are children with autism considered smart??and is there special things that they are good at??
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| The identification of a disorder of social communication (ie autism) is made independently of the person’s cognitive abilities. Because brain dysfunction is involved, most children with autism also have cognitive or intellectual impairments. Some children with autism are of normal intellectual ability and others have above average abilities.
Another area of interest in autism is that some children (not all) have areas of “special ability”, or things that they appear able to do better than most other people. While of great interest (and sometimes great use), it is important to understand the purpose of intelligence or ability, which is to help us solve problems and cope with everyday life. We all know of gifted individuals (with or without autism) who have trouble coping with everyday tasks.
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Question asked to Dr. William Shaw:
Are hair tests accurate in the detection of heavy metal poisoning? |
| Despite some negative claims about hair testing as a screening test, hair testing has been recommended as a screening test for mercury by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the scholarly book (357 pages) entitled Toxicological Profile for Mercury which is available from Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta, Georgia.
Furthermore, levels of toxic metals in the hair correlate very highly with levels of mercury in the brain. The concentration of total mercury (organic plus inorganic mercury) in the renal cortex, liver, cerebellum and hair of 46 persons who died suddenly in the Gdansk region, northern Poland, between the ages of 17 and 90 were evaluated by E. Hac et al in the article Total mercury in human renal cortex, liver, cerebellum and hair. Sci Total Environ 2000 Mar 29; 248(1): 37-43. Positive correlations were found between mercury levels in: cerebellum and liver (r = 0.873), cerebellum and hair (r = 0.853), cerebellum and renal cortex (r = 0.578), hair and liver (r = 0.771), hair and renal cortex (r = 0.478) liver and renal cortex (r = 0.66). William Shaw, Ph.D.
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Question asked to Dr. Keith Goulden:
Are there any resource books or articles that could provide me with information regarding the use of color in Interior living spaces of the home for children with Autism? I am an Interior Designer working on a project and could use some resources for this information. Thanks.
Marian Jacobs, IIDA
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| There is very little scientific information about colour and autism, but there is a wealth of anecdotal information. I would direct you to Donna William's books (eg Autism: an inside-out approach JKP ISBN 1-85302-387-6) or Tom McKean's. The problem appears to be that it may be unpredictable which colour works best for whom: and each child is unique. Even to say "bright colours are best" or "muted colours work best" is difficult, because sensory processing differences may involve both hyper-sensitivity and hypo-sensitivity.
Keith Goulden |
Question asked to Jean-Paul Bovee:
Are there any types of musical tapes / cd’s with music and words to children songs much slower than the normal ones so that my autistic child can understand the grasp of the words more accordingly? |
| I am not sure about that. My best advice would be to check with any places that have tapes or cds to help children with any developmental disability. Some of those may say or sing the words at a speed that your child may be able to understand. I would check with anyone in the developmental disabilities field in your area and see who puts out cds and music of that kind. I hope that answers your question in the best way that I can. |
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