I received a phone call yesterday from an extended family member. She was concerned because a doctor had suggested that her son, age three, was probably somewhere on the autism spectrum. This young mom spoke very articulately about her son’s symptoms, like echolalia (the tendency to “echo” back another person’s speech), his inability to connect socially with others, and his aggressive tantrums. My heart went out to her, because she sounded like me a decade ago. It wasn’t so much what she said, but the worried tone in her voice. I remember having those fears, and I remember the intense … Continue reading →