CASE REPORT: AUTISM

A 3-year-old boy presents following concerns about language development. He started

using single words at age 18 months but still doesn't use 2 words together. He stopped using
words he had previously learnt between 18 and 24 months, but has now regained most of these
words. He also seems uninterested in engaging with other children. He occasionally engages
with his parents but less than they think he should. He doesn't tend to look at them much and he
has difficulty maintaining eye contact with them. When he wants something he pulls them to
where the object is and screams; he doesn't point like other children. His parents have also
noticed that he does not play in the same way as other children of his age; he tends to line toys
up, or plays with certain aspects of them, such as the car doors. He doesn't use the toys in the
imaginative way that other children do. When his toys are moved he becomes very upset. He
tends to become distressed when he thinks there is change around the house. In contrast, he is not
concerned when either of his parents leaves the house. He tends to flap his hands at times and his
parents report him staring at the ceiling lights for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. He is a fussy eater
and hates being messy.