Autism Diagnosis
ASD : Not to Be Confused with Depression or Grief
By Stuart Chesner , PhD
A psychologist shares how autism symptoms can be misunderstood in undiagnosed children .
Sammy was 14 years old when I first met him . He came to my office because he had been truant from school for the past three years .
About three years earlier , Sammy ’ s mother had died . Afterward , he simply became reclusive and refused to attend school . The school psychologist assumed that Sammy ’ s withdrawal was indicative of depression subsequent to the loss of his mother .
Most of Sammy ’ s days were spent on the computer , where he focused on topics that were of personal interest . Out of sheer desperation , Sammy ’ s dad