I don't think the expressiveness is just from memorization because that Harry Potter video I mentioned is not memorization. It's just an interview I taped with him talking about which character is his favorite from the book. You can see it on Amazon.com. It's still there:

http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_497...pf_rd_i=1084186

It loads a different child at random, but you can click on Kenneth to see him. This video does NOT make a very good case for a kid with AS…but there are other things that this video doesn't show. The video demonstrates both expressiveness AND empathy.

He's adorable, greenpalm I see what you mean. He is very expressive as he relates the story and he talks about the motivations of the characters.

Do you think the worrisome behaviors you listed could be a result of extreme sensitivity? I am thinking of myself as a child--I would talk to adults but other kids scared me to death. To me, they seemed totally unpredictable. I didn't make friends at school, my only friend was a younger girl that my mom babysat. At recess, I used to hide or play a solitary game. Other kids noticed my odd behavior and picked on me. The slightest thing used to make me cry (inappropriate emotional response?) When I was a bit older, I was able to make a couple friends at a GT school. But I was still quite inept socially. Hey, maybe I have AS

I can't seem to get the video working, .

Dottie, it wouldn't work for me either. But then I saw that greenpalm said it loads a video randomly. So I kept pushing refresh until Kenneth popped up!

I still think getting him checked out is necessary, if only to put your mind at ease.

But as I see the video and review the problematic behaviors that you've listed--as well as the non-AS-typical behaviors like the cuddliness and the expressiveness--I just keep seeing a highly introverted PG child who is very auditory (thus the mimicry and the trouble he gets into when people don't understand that he's not being malicious with it).

Everything could pretty much be explained by that combo of factors, I think. But I say again, I'm no expert, in a big way!

He's a real cutiepie, BTW!

P.S. I sent you a private message.

Thanks Cathy!!! That worked like a charm. It only took two tries. He IS a cutie! You could almost see him getting "upset" by Harry being falsely accused.

DD13 was watching with me, and she said he reminds her of our niece/cousin, who is about the same age. I DO see similarities. K doesn't seem to have the same "nature" that a neighbor boy has who was just given a "classic" AS diagnosis (I believe the words used were the most clean cut case the doctor had ever seen).

I mostly don't know what I'm talking about, but did want to comment that I enjoyed getting to see him! Thanks for sharing.

I also wanted to comment on this...


We've been with DYS for about 2 years now, and have been to quite a few events, and in my opinion, there doesn't seem to be any "just like" in that crowd. I can think of at least 3 general "almost just like" categories, but I think by their very nature, these kids are all odd/different/etc.

FWIW, I sometimes think my son can't be PG because he's not quirky enough...go figure.

Hope to meet you sometime this summer ( ).

I am not sure I can offer you any advice either but I did want to comment that your son is very cute! Loved the video.

He pulled right up for me!! He is very, very cute!!!

Hi Greenpalm,
I have some experience with pg/AS kids. Everyone here has given you good advice. It's true, there can be a fine line between PG and AS. Your ds may or may not ever be diagnosed. Either way I think your concerns are very valid, and you'd be wise to focus on those, regardless of a label. I have worked with a social skills group for kids and some of them have labels, others do not; because their parents have chosen not to go that route.
It sounds to me like learning how to best help him, or finding someone to help him wend his way through the world will be valuable. You have clearly already been doing so, and reading up on this is your best bet.

feel free to pm me if you would like more info.