- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- special kids today articles
- special kids today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Expert Q&A
 |  |  |
| By Dr. Vincent J. Kopp Pediatrician Pediatric Anesthesiologist | ||
 |
My son's teacher told me that she sees characteristics of Asperger's disorder in him. My pediatrician says he's too young to make a diagnosis, but suspects ADD. What do you think?
Asperger's disorder is considered by some experts to be a form of high-functioning autism. It is a difficult diagnosis to make at any age. Excellent information is available on the Web about this disorder. Staying informed about the entire range of behavioral issues associated with normal growth and development requires much training and more experience. Periodic observation is not enough of a basis to label a child with any disorder having significant implications for future education and employment. Features of a child's unique personality, such as shyness, can easily be misinterpreted as something more exotic and rare such as Asperger's disorder. Working with a pediatrician, neurologist and child development specialist with a medical background is important to monitoring a child's progress over time.
Related Expert Q&A
- My 10-year-old makes loud crazy noises. He needs to be told many times in order to stop. Could he have ADHD?
- Could my son have SPD? What sort of testing is done to find out?
- How do I know the difference between an outgoing, spirited child and one with ADD? Are there specific indicators for ADD?
- What are some behavioral modification techniques for ADD?
- How common is it to have more than one child in the home with ADD?
More Answers by this Expert
- How can I encourage my 10-month-old to drink from a cup? He seems interested, but can't seem to master it, so he gets frustrated.
- My son's teacher told me that she sees characteristics of Asperger's disorder in him. My pediatrician says he's too young to make a diagnosis, but suspects ADD. What do you think?
- My 2-year-old son bangs his head when he goes to sleep. Does this mean that he is being abused or is he disturbed about something?
- When should I start to worry about my child's bedwetting?
- When should I start to worry about my child's bedwetting?