Q: My 3 1/2 year old has been diagnosed with a speech delay, fine motor/gross motor delay and has pt and ot. He is about 1 1/2 years behind but doesn’t seem to be catching up, even though he has been receiving therapy for about 2 years. We have been potty-training for over a year but he doesn’t seem to know when he is wet or dirty. He doesn’t watch tv, as it requires him to sit still, seems to obsessively do things over and over (adjust things, repeat things, line things up), doesn’t like change (teachers, clothes, routines), and often gets violent when we try to stop him from doing something to change activities.
I’ve talked to the pediatrician who keeps saying he has “middle child syndrome” but I don’t know what that is. Where to we go now? Is there some specialist we should see, change pediatricians, accept that this is how he is? I know he’s a smart boy, he just can’t express himself to communicate with us and gets very frustrated.
A: Middle child syndrome? I don’t think so. Even if there were such a thing (there isn’t), the behaviors you are reporting are well outside typical development. You must be terribly, terribly worried. It’s time that you got him evaluated by someone who is experienced with childhood neurological and psychiatric problems. I can’t make an assessment on the basis on such a brief letter, of course. But I am concerned that your son may be showing signs of autism. Early diagnosis and intervention is the key to helping your little boy.
I wish you well.
Dr. Marie
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