A Parent's Experience
"Since he was an infant, my son has always focused his attention on one object or person. When he focuses on something, it takes an effort to shift his attention. I have also found that people or other environmental stimuli that interest most individuals would not appeal to my son.
As he gets older, I have also found that he has a slow processing speed relating to auditory stimuli. If I do not wait, or pressure him, he will most likely not respond to me. For example, my son may be playing with his train. I would say:” Are you hungry?” There will be no response from him, because of his attention on his playing. I would stop his train and ask him again. I have found that he will respond to me a minute or more later. At the same time, you can see that his mind is still on the train.
Also, he often comments on an event after that event has already occurred. That is how I know he is slow to shift.
When he was little, because his language level was low, people would say things to him and he would not respond. Because he always had things to occupy his attention, he had very little joint communication experiences."
