Preschool child - odd behaviors?

Question

Maybe you can help me find a starting point for helping one of my preschool students. This is a female child, age 3.5. I don't know how to phrase this in a PC way, so I'll just say it - she acts as if she is retarded. Please don't take offense, anyone. I'm talking about a sort of stereotypical "retarded" behavior in which the person smiles or laughs, makes verbalizations like "ahhhhh," while looking all around the room or sort of flopping around on the floor. She also does not respond to her own name about 75% of the time. She is not an unhappy child, but certain things can set off intense/violent fits of hysteria during which she is inconsolable. She has an extremely short attention span for her age. She has no social relationships with any other child, but seems quite happy. Yet... she has an incredible vocabulary, more advanced than any other child in the class. She knows her colors, numbers, and letters. Something is very wrong, but it's not intelligence. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Sounds like she just wants attention. Maybe her parents yell and scream and fight too much at home and its reflecting on her at school and wants attention.....Could be she is hyper also. Some kid are like that and doesnt mean they are retards. Good luck...

Answer 2

I sort of agree with the autism answer, it sounds plausible.

If I were in your position, I'd probably check the child to see if they were deaf, or close to it. The verbalization problems and inability to respond to her name is a big clue there.

The fits of hysteria, the lack of social relationships, that falls into the neglect arena. If the parent doesn't tell the child the proper way to act when emotions hit them (and we all know they hit toddlers HARD), then they will not know how to respond to life. However, deafness might the answer, not neglect.

It would make sense that she would know information that she gained by sight ... colors, numbers, letters, if she were deaf.

Answer 3

You seem very concerned for this child, which is good. But you should get some LEGAL advice before you approach the parents. With the legal atmosphere like it is in many parts of our country, you should find out what your liability is, for your own sake. I would hate see someone drug into court because they were trying to help a child.

Answer 4

I don't know but my mother babysat a young girl from up the street. She had a good mother and family. The girl did some strange things and finally my mother figured out she had a severe hearing problem. You need someone with a lot more knowledge than me but good for you to take the time to care.

Answer 5

Worked with Autistic children for several years. She's happy in her own world. Probably AD/HD with it is why she flops around the room and has a short attention span.
Autism occurs much more frequently in boys than in girls, but is much more pronounced in girls.

Answer 6

ask her parents have a meeting with them and say " Does your child have any phisical challenges or mental proplems?" Or all of the sudden start talking about her and if her parents sim like lieing saying no say that the school needs to know. Or its call i think CHILDHOOD=)

Answer 7

my nephew does that. He only does it when I'm really frustrated with him. he acts slow and spits and stuff, its really annoying. He ignores when you say his name too.
his mother is a recovering heroin addict and I'm guessing its because of the period in which he didn't get much attention while she was still using heroin, or something like that. (?)

Answer 8

Autism?

Answer 9

Asbergers Syndrome - it is very common lately.. It is a type of autism.

Answer 10

pre school seems safe . but it isnt. do your job care and teach. your att. is needed here . dont fail this child