A 30-year-old member asked:
How could a 4 year old with autism be different to a 4 year old without?
3 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Kaplananswered
Pediatrics 45 years experience
Delayed speech: A 4 year old with autism will have had delayed speech and language. They will also play alone more and not want to interact with others as much as a non-autistic 4 year old will. There are always grey areas so if you think your 4 year old is not developing normally or talking as the should, see your pediatrician as soon as possible. Early intervention is very helpful at that age for your child.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. James Cunnaranswered
Family Medicine 28 years experience
Social interaction: Autism is a spectrum of symptoms. Children with autism/pervasive development disorder/asperger's syndrome tend to have difficulty interacting with others, especially other children. Mild cases can be difficult to diagnose. Sometimes, parents say their child isjust "different". They tend to have poor eye contact. Some children find comfort in doing repetitive motions like rocking or banging.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Carla Enriquezanswered
Pediatrics 51 years experience
More. . .: In addition to dr. Kaplan's answer, understand that many PDD kids are unusual socially. They may be awkward, repetitive, often unable to understand "w..." questions such as where are you, when did you...?, who was that? Time questions are also difficult for them such as "how old are you?" PDD kids use jargon, or trivial phrases verbatim (echolalia). Pdd kids repeat tv commercials, movie lines.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 31-year-old member asked:
4 year old has autism, what can we expect?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Johanna Frickeanswered
Pediatrics - Developmental and Behavioral 51 years experience
Prognosis depends : on degree of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, level of cognition & early response to treatment. Treatment is intensive, repetitive, ongoing educational & behavioral therapy geared at your child's developmental age. Yout resource is on http://here.doh.wa.gov/materials/autism-guidebook/13_AutismGd_E10L.pdf. Take care of yourself. It's a marathon, not a sprint. No parent can do this alone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 3, 2016
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