What's this business about the "head tilt" test?

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http://www.ehow.com/how_2113301_identif ... fants.html

Surely they can't be serious? Has anyone ever tried this and found it to be accurate?

They might be on to something here, given the relationship between Asperger's and sense of balance, but I would think the baby would have to be old enough to have head control (not a newborn). My son always wanted to be held upright, never at an angle unless feeding. Maybe that was related to this? I'd love to hear more about this.

Interesting that the child appears to change sex and back again several times during the test, too.

This is not the most reliable scientifically proven test for Aspergers. With my children, I found the following more effective at diagnosing all sorts of syndromes: At midnight, present the baby to the Full Moon. (NB MUST be full, halves or quarters produce a diagnosis accurate to within only half a non-standard syndromation). Place a bulb of fresh garlic on the childs head while immersing he/she/its left foot in a bucket of freshly squeezed hazelnut juice and the right foot on an 8 inch square fragment of oolithic limestone. If he/she/it starts reciting the Gettysburg address in Aramaic, there is a fair change that the child is Aspergonic. If not, then you've messed up the procedure somewhere, you fool.

Further elucidation of a more precise diagnoses, including detecting where they are on the spectrum to within one shade of orange, can be found by playing to the child the entire discography of The Carpenters, in original release order date, whilst accompanying on percussion made from a mammoths jaw hit firmly with a runcible spoon in a 7/8 rhythm. Note the time taken for the child to move it's arms into the semaphore position for the letter 'H'. The longer it takes, the more spectrumified the child.

Here's a less folksy article than eHow (somehow the tone of that one really irked me):

http://www.pnas.org/content/101/32/11909.full

It's apparently related to developing reflex control. There is a suspicion that it's tied up with the "clumsiness" factor of AS as well. Then again, not everyone with AS is clumsy, so...

Possibly, but maybe not. I somehow think it's best to simply enjoy my 10-month old's time as an infant without worrying about this stuff. I'll already have my eyes open when the time is right, anyways, because of me.

The head tilt test becomes useless at later ages.

Me...I move my head where it's comfortable. Full 90 degree movement from vertical to horizontal when going under a tree for less effort involved.

*Shrugs*

That said...this test could potentially work given that for a young child it'd be uncomfortable to have their head vertical and body at that angle. Can cause some discomfort.

So any child would keep their head at a comfortable level.

This is not the most reliable scientifically proven test for Aspergers. With my children, I found the following more effective at diagnosing all sorts of syndromes: At midnight, present the baby to the Full Moon. (NB MUST be full, halves or quarters produce a diagnosis accurate to within only half a non-standard syndromation). Place a bulb of fresh garlic on the childs head while immersing he/she/its left foot in a bucket of freshly squeezed hazelnut juice and the right foot on an 8 inch square fragment of oolithic limestone. If he/she/it starts reciting the Gettysburg address in Aramaic, there is a fair change that the child is Aspergonic. If not, then you've messed up the procedure somewhere, you fool.

Further elucidation of a more precise diagnoses, including detecting where they are on the spectrum to within one shade of orange, can be found by playing to the child the entire discography of The Carpenters, in original release order date, whilst accompanying on percussion made from a mammoths jaw hit firmly with a runcible spoon in a 7/8 rhythm. Note the time taken for the child to move it's arms into the semaphore position for the letter 'H'. The longer it takes, the more spectrumified the child.[/quote]
LOL gee's this reminds me of the old man that followed us threw a store asking to if he could lay hands on my son because jake was crying about having to remove his new backpack so we could pay for it. He claimed to beable to see the demon. I hear he is seting up a clinic in Las Vegas now j/k.

LOL gee's this reminds me of the old man that followed us threw a store asking to if he could lay hands on my son because jake was crying about having to remove his new backpack so we could pay for it. He claimed to beable to see the demon. I hear he is seting up a clinic in Las Vegas now j/k.[/quote]

Too darned funny. The only part I think you might have missed is sacrificing the goat or chicken (pick your offering) under said light of full moon.

I actually snorted when I read your post.

I was under the impression that many people with aspergers have hypotonia, i would have though their heads would flop down to the side

The test probably originated from that idea. The study had also mentioned that the children would always fall to the same side when trying to walk and would generally be somewhat uncoordinated.

It's certainly not a definitive test, just an indicator test. Who knows?