Symptoms and Concerns

Learn the symptoms and signs of Autism, Asperger’s, and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders

We specialize in helping families understand and overcome a wide variety of developmental problems. To learn more about how we can help you, browse the list of needs we treat below. Click a heading to read more about each specific need and to learn about the signs and symptoms.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Click here if you know or suspect your child has autism, Asperger’s, or PDD-NOS

Feeding Problems

• Picky eater
• Limited diet
• Feeding tube
• Refuses to eat
• Chokes or gags
• Stuffs food
• Difficulty chewing and/or swallowing
• Meals are stressful
• Sensitive – refuses certain textures, tastes, smells
• Resists changes to foods or food presentation

Social Communication Problems

• Isn’t talking at all and has some social and/or behavior problems
• Doesn’t initiate communication
• Communicates with other people inappropriately
• Can’t communicate needs or wants verbally or nonverbally
• Echoes words and/or phrases repeatedly
• Doesn’t read nonverbal cues well
• Has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder
• Has been diagnosed with a social communication problem (also referred to as pragmatic language problems or semantic/pragmatic language disorder)

Speech & Language Problems

• Is difficult to understand (can’t articulate words clearly)
• Mumbles when s/he speaks
• Drools frequently
• Has an open mouth posture
• Has a limited vocabulary
• Uses grammar incorrectly when speaking/writing
• Has problems thinking of the words s/he wants to say
• Says words out of sequence
• Has trouble understanding others and/or following directions
• Has difficulty staying on the topic of conversation or appears to not be listening when being spoken to
• Has difficulty understanding what has been read to them or what they are reading
• Has difficulty sequencing the events of a daily routine
• Repeats words or phrases on a regular basis (stutters)

Social Problems

• Difficulty making friends
• Feels different or left out socially
• Rejected by peers
• Difficulty being independent
• Doesn’t understand social rules (sharing, taking turns, personal space, etc.)
• Misinterprets social cues
• Doesn’t understand social boundaries
• Doesn’t initiate contact with others
• Doesn’t play appropriately with others
• Can’t maintain social interaction
• Doesn’t understand feelings of others

Behavior Problems

• Resists change
• Engages in repetitive behaviors
• Aggressive and/or confrontational
• Easily frustrated
• Impulsive
• Narrow range of interests
• Limited attention span
• Unmotivated
• Controlling and/or defiant

Sensory-Motor Problems

• Overly sensitive to noise, lights, smells, textures, touch, and/or movement
• Under responsive to sensory stimulation
• Poor balance
• Afraid of trying new physical activities
• Overactive / hyper
• Underactive / slow moving
• Poor body awareness – crashes into things, bumps into people, etc.
• Delayed communication, motor skills, or academic learning
• Feeding problems
• Behavior is poorly organized
• Limited attention span
• Poor self-care skills
• Uncoordinated / clumsy
• Poor fine motor skills – writing, dressing (fasteners), self-feeding, cutting, etc.
• Poor gross motor skills – running, jumping, climbing, etc.
• Poor oral motor skills – chewing, sucking, blowing, making sounds, etc.
• Poor motor planning (knowing how to move body to accomplish things)
• Poor self-care skills

Learning Problems

• Academic difficulties – reading, writing, math, etc.
• Cognitive impairment
• Difficulties with higher level / abstract thinking and problem solving
• Child can read words, but doesn’t understand (comprehension problems)
• Low frustration tolerance with learning new / challenging things
• Difficulty retaining information
• Unmotivated to learn

Family Needs

• Desire to learn more about how to help child
• Difficulty balancing needs of all family members
• Constant feeling of being in crisis
• Difficulty prioritizing needs of child
• Overwhelmed and/or frustrated
• Sibling issues – feeling left out, resentment, etc.
• Lack of structure at home (disorganization within schedule, home environment, etc.)
• Unsure how to deal with behaviors
• Stress from child’s disability is straining family relationships
• Don’t really understand child’s disability
• Feel inadequate as a parent
• Feeling hopeless about future for child and family