RE: Will he ever talk?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/28/2006 9:29:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, bbills72@... writes:

Also, with my son's recent diagnosis, I am terrified that he will never talk ( I know some autistic children never do). At 26 mos. he only says "Ma Ma" and "Da Da" and sometimes uses them inappropriately. He's getting speech therapy twice a week now but I'm hoping to get him 3 sessions per week. If you have a success story about when you're child started talking (and you thought he/she never would), I would love to hear it. My husband and I are trying to stay as positive as we can but it's hard because we don't have much to go by...being so new to this and all. Thank you,Patti

I have two success stories you can have. I have two boys, both dx'd with autism. My oldest was dx'd at age 3 1/2 and he had only 8 words by that time. He never talked, always screamed. Finally when he was about 4 years, 4 months old, he suddenly started speaking in short sentences. It was like he had the words in his head but hadn't connected the "how" to make his voice work with it all - like a planning problem. At any rate, he talks now. He hates talking and says as little as possible! We have had many instances of him "refusing" to talk to people or in certain classes. But those are related to high anxiety, IMO and sometimes problems planning what to say and when.

My other ds is now 9 yo. He didn't talk at all until 18 months, when he started reciting numbers and letters only. By age 2, he was able to read (hyperlexic) but could not talk. In other words, he could read words from signs but could not say, "Mom, want drink" or any sort of real useful language. He then started echolalia - repeating phrases he has heard. He could recite very well and even mimicked the tone and inflection of the person he first heard it from (or the tv.) This drifted slowly into more appropriate use of echolalic phrases. For instance, he said, "Hi! How are you doing?" to everyone all the time, the same way, same tone, same everything. He would tell people goodbye by saying, "Byebyeseeyoulater" like it was all one phrase. But he was starting to get the idea of using language.

We eventually did an ABA program and this is really when he learned to break down phrases into words and to put his own original sentences together. He still likes using phrases but he also can talk. He talks to everyone, all the time. <G> He has trouble now with the finer parts of speech - like he doesn't know what a compliment is, for example. And he takes everything very literally.

I worried so much about both of them. What if they never learned to talk? What if my 2nd son was in "echolalia-land" forever? It is sometimes too hard to think past this week with all the "what if's" you can choke yourself with!

My advice is to get an ABA program started, even if you do it on your own. A good book is "Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism." That can explain ABA and provide some programming for you to follow. You can sometimes find it for sale on ebay too. But it is worth the money. There is also a foundation that can come and assess your child and help provide programming direction. You can see them at --> http://www.woodallkids.org/ I also have a list of ABA websites on our ASK site at --> http://www.askaboutautism.org/Abalinkpage.html so you can read more about it.

Roxanna ô¿ôDon't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

[Guest guest]

Patti,

Our daughter was dx'd at 30 months...she had a vocabulary of about

30 words then, none of which were functional. We started her in

speech therapy at the age of 2, twice a week. After dx we started a

home aba program a month later. Initially she had about 30hrs/ week

direct instruction. We also placed her in the preschool I had

mentioned previously 5 days/week. If the average person walked into

her classroom at present they would not be able to pick her out from

her NT peers. She still has some quirks...some grammatical errors.

But in public the average person doesn't see them. Not to say that

she is cured...I used to think that would happen and I don't think

she will be without quirks. However if she can fit in with

mainstream society for the rest of her life I will be happy.

Just as an FYI when we started speech and aba we also started

teaching her sign...it helped her acquire her vocal language ten

times faster. Once she acquired the sign she had the vocal word

within a week. My husband was initially against it, but when he saw

her rate of progress he quickly changed. The sign gives them the

visual cue that they often need. Where are you from?

I would also recommend that you attend a Vince Carbone workshop. He

is out of NY and they are usually about 3 days long. It will answer

a lot of questions for you.

Patty

>

> Also, with my son's recent diagnosis, I am terrified that he will

never talk ( I know some autistic children never do). At 26 mos.

he only says " Ma Ma " and " Da Da " and sometimes uses them

inappropriately. He's getting speech therapy twice a week now but

I'm hoping to get him 3 sessions per week. If you have a success

story about when you're child started talking (and you thought

he/she never would), I would love to hear it. My husband and I

are trying to stay as positive as we can but it's hard because we

don't have much to go by...being so new to this and all.

> Thank you,

> Patti

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

> Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

>

[Guest guest]

Excellent advice! Carbone is the guru of VB and I agree. Also, in addition to learning signs, picture schedules are helpful. You can check out your local SERRC to make your own for home. Otherwise a simple digital camera, take pix around your home and print on your computer, attach clear contact paper and velcro to the back, make a book to carry around. The more meaningful (use pix that show ppl, places, things familiar) the better. When the child uses the pix to communicate, follow up with verbal cues to encourage langauge.

Lastly, check out "Special Kids" videos. If your child likes videos (mine LOVES them) these vidoes helped with our son brushing his teeth, cutting hair and going shopping. He mimics the man on the vidoes when we go shopping saying "Stay close to mom or dad and wait in line." It helps him remember how to behave appropiately. He loves the videos and they have been well worth their weight in gold for our family. They have a website www.special-kids.com the producers have a son with ASD and he is in some of the videos. Our family laughs when he shows his son getting his hair cut. He says "My son Jeff loves getting his hair cut." and the child looks like he can barely stand it, but he sits still and lets dad cut his hair.

Take care,

----- Original Message -----

From: pcrawfo1

Sent: 3/1/2006 8:24:46 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: "Will he ever talk?"

Patti,Our daughter was dx'd at 30 months...she had a vocabulary of about 30 words then, none of which were functional. We started her in speech therapy at the age of 2, twice a week. After dx we started a home aba program a month later. Initially she had about 30hrs/ week direct instruction. We also placed her in the preschool I had mentioned previously 5 days/week. If the average person walked into her classroom at present they would not be able to pick her out from her NT peers. She still has some quirks...some grammatical errors. But in public the average person doesn't see them. Not to say that she is cured...I used to think that would happen and I don't think she will be without quirks. However if she can fit in with mainstream society for the rest of her life I will be happy. Just as an FYI when we started speech and aba we also started teaching her sign...it helped her acquire her vocal language ten times faster. Once she acquired the sign she had the vocal word within a week. My husband was initially against it, but when he saw her rate of progress he quickly changed. The sign gives them the visual cue that they often need. Where are you from? I would also recommend that you attend a Vince Carbone workshop. He is out of NY and they are usually about 3 days long. It will answer a lot of questions for you.Patty>> Also, with my son's recent diagnosis, I am terrified that he will never talk ( I know some autistic children never do). At 26 mos. he only says "Ma Ma" and "Da Da" and sometimes uses them inappropriately. He's getting speech therapy twice a week now but I'm hoping to get him 3 sessions per week. If you have a success story about when you're child started talking (and you thought he/she never would), I would love to hear it. My husband and I are trying to stay as positive as we can but it's hard because we don't have much to go by...being so new to this and all. > Thank you,> Patti> > > ---------------------------------> > Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.>

[Guest guest]

Patti,

My son only said gibberish at 24 months. He moved on to alot of echolalia inappropiate at first, then used it appropiately, but it was scripted from something he heard someone else say or from videos. He now uses his own speech spontaneously to tell what he wants or doesn't want. He isn't quite conversational yet, but he has recently started asking things like "Why?" Which is a HUGE step. In my opinion, the most important thing to remember is to be patient. Our son is seven now and I finally feel that heavy black cloud lifted. Talk to your child even when you think they're not listening. Speak slowly, label things and limit questions. Questions frustrasted my son because he knew the answers, he just didn't know how to communicate them. Try to make language meaningful. Stories are meaningless to my son and he hates them, but if it has visuals he will pay closer attention expecially if it comes out of the television! Make your own home movies about stuff. Our older son made a video about brushing teeth and he sang a song about it, loves it and sings the song when he brushes. It sounds like a lot of work, but it just takes getting used to, I basically had to throw all of my instinctual "mommy knowledge" out the window and relearn how to help . There is hope and the fact that your son is attempting to speak is a HUGE plus! It shows that he has the ability and the will to speak. That's wonderful!

----- Original Message -----

From: Patti OKeefe

Sent: 2/28/2006 9:29:11 PM

Subject: [ ] "Will he ever talk?"

Also, with my son's recent diagnosis, I am terrified that he will never talk ( I know some autistic children never do). At 26 mos. he only says "Ma Ma" and "Da Da" and sometimes uses them inappropriately. He's getting speech therapy twice a week now but I'm hoping to get him 3 sessions per week. If you have a success story about when you're child started talking (and you thought he/she never would), I would love to hear it. My husband and I are trying to stay as positive as we can but it's hard because we don't have much to go by...being so new to this and all. Thank you,Patti

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

Thanks . It really helps to hear all of your experiences! I'm looking forward to someday feeling like "the black cloud has been lifted!" Right now it seems so far away. Patti"rmaher1969@..." <rmaher1969@...> wrote: Patti, My son only said gibberish at 24 months. He moved on to alot of echolalia inappropiate at first, then used it appropiately, but it was scripted from something he heard someone else say or from videos. He now uses his own speech spontaneously to tell what he wants or doesn't want. He isn't quite conversational yet, but he has recently started asking things like "Why?" Which is a HUGE step. In my opinion, the most important thing to remember

is to be patient. Our son is seven now and I finally feel that heavy black cloud lifted. Talk to your child even when you think they're not listening. Speak slowly, label things and limit questions. Questions frustrasted my son because he knew the answers, he just didn't know how to communicate them. Try to make language meaningful. Stories are meaningless to my son and he hates them, but if it has visuals he will pay closer attention expecially if it comes out of the television! Make your own home movies about stuff. Our older son made a video about brushing teeth and he sang a song about it, loves it and sings the song when he brushes. It sounds like a lot of work, but it just takes getting used to, I basically had to throw all of my instinctual "mommy knowledge" out the window and relearn how to help . There is hope and the fact that your son is attempting to speak is a HUGE plus! It shows

that he has the ability and the will to speak. That's wonderful! ----- Original Message ----- From: Patti OKeefe Sent: 2/28/2006 9:29:11 PM Subject: [ ] "Will he ever talk?" Also, with my son's recent diagnosis, I am terrified that he will never talk ( I know some autistic children never do). At 26 mos. he only says "Ma Ma" and "Da Da" and sometimes uses them inappropriately. He's getting speech therapy twice a week now but I'm

hoping to get him 3 sessions per week. If you have a success story about when you're child started talking (and you thought he/she never would), I would love to hear it. My husband and I are trying to stay as positive as we can but it's hard because we don't have much to go by...being so new to this and all. Thank you,Patti Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

Wanted to add, that with chelation, low/frequent dosing, our girl went from barely age minimum language at 3.9.

After 5 months of chelation at 4.4, language testing done by an outside psych was at:

expressive language 6.5 years

receptive language 11.3 years.

It was miraculous. At 4.0, just after one month on chelation, she asked her first "why" question and hasn't stopped since. All other cognitive testing was normal, or normal for her at way beyond age level. Sorry, not bragging, just reporting facts. Visiion testing, normal.

She is the only child of an only child. One day she will be alone, there is noone responsible enough to entrust with her care. She has to be strong.

After one year of chelation, she is in a reg preK, at 5.1 years, with no aide, reading at a 5th grade level, math skills at 4th grade level. PreK teacher pronounced her attentional and social skills at age appropriate.

It can happen!

----- Original Message -----

From: Patti OKeefe

Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 10:48 AM

Subject: RE: [ ] "Will he ever talk?"

Thanks . It really helps to hear all of your experiences! I'm looking forward to someday feeling like "the black cloud has been lifted!" Right now it seems so far away. Patti"rmaher1969@..." <rmaher1969@...> wrote:

Patti,

My son only said gibberish at 24 months. He moved on to alot of echolalia inappropiate at first, then used it appropiately, but it was scripted from something he heard someone else say or from videos. He now uses his own speech spontaneously to tell what he wants or doesn't want. He isn't quite conversational yet, but he has recently started asking things like "Why?" Which is a HUGE step. In my opinion, the most important thing to remember is to be patient. Our son is seven now and I finally feel that heavy black cloud lifted. Talk to your child even when you think they're not listening. Speak slowly, label things and limit questions. Questions frustrasted my son because he knew the answers, he just didn't know how to communicate them. Try to make language meaningful. Stories are meaningless to my son and he hates them, but if it has visuals he will pay closer attention expecially if it comes out of the television! Make your own home movies about stuff. Our older son made a video about brushing teeth and he sang a song about it, loves it and sings the song when he brushes. It sounds like a lot of work, but it just takes getting used to, I basically had to throw all of my instinctual "mommy knowledge" out the window and relearn how to help . There is hope and the fact that your son is attempting to speak is a HUGE plus! It shows that he has the ability and the will to speak. That's wonderful!

----- Original Message -----

From: Patti OKeefe

Sent: 2/28/2006 9:29:11 PM

Subject: [ ] "Will he ever talk?"

Also, with my son's recent diagnosis, I am terrified that he will never talk ( I know some autistic children never do). At 26 mos. he only says "Ma Ma" and "Da Da" and sometimes uses them inappropriately. He's getting speech therapy twice a week now but I'm hoping to get him 3 sessions per week. If you have a success story about when you're child started talking (and you thought he/she never would), I would love to hear it. My husband and I are trying to stay as positive as we can but it's hard because we don't have much to go by...being so new to this and all. Thank you,Patti

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

We used Baby BumbleBee Videos...she seemed to enjoy them and the

background music. Those we started at the age of 24 months.

Vince Carbone's website is www.drcarbone.net

I think the nearest workshop is in Richmond VA

there also is a large amount of info about ABA/VB on

www.mariposaschool.org (I think that is the website) Download their

manual...it is long but it is free and it is great.

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty, My son Dylan talked at 11 months with mom dadda, and bottle. Then he lost it. He did not say another word till he was 3 1/2. He would not point to what he wanted and would just sit on the floor and cry till we figured out what he wanted. Our SLP told us when we knew he wanted a cup show him the sign show him the cup and make him sign it and then say it. Even if he tried with a noise he would get the cup. After many days of sitting on the floor and sometimes crying with him to get him to say it he had to show an effort to get that cup. It was probably a few weeks of being consistant he finally said cup. We moved on to I want. Then to I want cup. I did this with the things he wanted. Now he is 5 and has so many words and uses them correctly. So stay strong and never give up on your child. They do come around. Some more than others some better than others. But NEVER GIVE UP. Hope this helps. Patti OKeefe

<bbills72@...> wrote: Also, with my son's recent diagnosis, I am terrified that he will never talk ( I know some autistic children never do). At 26 mos. he only says "Ma Ma" and "Da Da" and sometimes uses them inappropriately. He's getting speech therapy twice a week now but I'm hoping to get him 3 sessions per week. If you have a success story about when you're child started talking (and you thought he/she never would), I would love to hear it. My husband and I are trying to stay as positive as we can but it's hard because we don't have much to go by...being so new to this and all. Thank you,Patti Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

- Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. It helps to hear of success stories such as yours. My husband and I always try our best to keep our heads up. It's so hard sometimes...I know you and everyone else understands. Thanks for the encouragement! Patti Biehl <angelabiehl@...> wrote: Hi Patty, My son Dylan talked at 11 months with mom dadda, and bottle. Then he lost it. He did not say another word till he was 3 1/2. He would not point to what he wanted and would just sit on the floor and cry till we figured out what he wanted. Our SLP told us when we knew he wanted a cup show him the sign show him the cup and make him sign it and then say it. Even if he tried with a noise he would get the cup. After many days of sitting on the floor and sometimes crying with him to get him to say it he had to show an effort to get that cup. It was probably a few weeks of being consistant he finally said cup. We moved on to I want. Then to I want cup. I did this with the things he wanted. Now he is 5 and has so many words and uses them correctly. So stay strong and never give up on your child. They do come around. Some more than others some better than others. But NEVER GIVE UP. Hope this helps. Patti OKeefe <bbills72@...> wrote: Also, with my son's recent diagnosis, I am terrified that he will never talk ( I know some autistic children never do). At 26 mos. he only says "Ma Ma" and "Da Da" and sometimes uses them inappropriately. He's getting speech therapy twice a week now but I'm hoping to get him 3 sessions per week.

If you have a success story about when you're child started talking (and you thought he/she never would), I would love to hear it. My husband and I are trying to stay as positive as we can but it's hard because we don't have much to go by...being so new to this and all. Thank you,Patti Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

Patti - I Have Identical Twin 5 yr old boys with Autism, similar story to the start of words & then the disappearence of words with my twin boys at around 3 1/2 they really said not much at all, maybe even not a single word. Well I got them enrolled in a good Preschool program around the 3 1/2 yrs of age, & they have been enrolled in thearapedic horsebackriding this year! I am currently trying to enroll them in adaptive swiiming for thearapy for children that have disabilities. Last year age 4 one of my twins Cameron started to say quite a few words, this year I am amazed he asks questions answers questions & recently on a road trip in our van he was telling me knock knock jokes. He likes playing with dolls this past yr ages 4 to current 5yrs & stuffed animals, I read that this type of play realy deveolpes socil skills. I believe it helps Camerons speech is amazing in the past year it just keeps emerging!! Now on the other hand his

identical twin brother Carmine, does not say much he repeats words for us sometimes when asked, requests few things such as cookies, candy & a few more. Carmine does not play with anything much at all, Carmine has made baby step improvments in vocabulary, he bearly says anything he screams alot, both still in pull ups, not potty trained!!! Read alot of books to your son, I beleive this helps alot!!!'''' ' Best Wishes, TraceyPatti OKeefe <bbills72@...> wrote: -Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. It helps to hear of success stories such as yours. My husband and I always try our best to keep our heads up. It's so hard sometimes...I know you and everyone else understands. Thanks for the

encouragement!Patti Biehl <angelabiehl@...> wrote: Hi Patty, My son Dylan talked at 11 months with mom dadda, and bottle. Then he lost it. He did not say another word till he was 3 1/2. He would not point to what he wanted and would just sit on the floor and cry till we figured out what he wanted. Our SLP told us when we knew he wanted a cup show him the sign show him the cup and make him sign it and then say it. Even if he tried with a noise he would get the cup. After many days of sitting on the floor and sometimes crying with him to get him to say it he had to show an effort to get that cup. It was probably a few weeks of being consistant he finally said cup. We moved on to I want. Then to I want cup. I did this with the things he wanted. Now he is 5 and has so many words and uses them correctly. So stay strong

and never give up on your child. They do come around. Some more than others some better than others. But NEVER GIVE UP. Hope this helps. Patti OKeefe <bbills72@...> wrote: Also, with my son's recent diagnosis, I am terrified that he will never talk ( I know some autistic children never do). At 26 mos. he only says "Ma Ma" and "Da Da" and sometimes uses them inappropriately. He's getting speech therapy twice a week now but I'm hoping to get him 3 sessions per week. If you have a success story about when you're child started talking (and you thought he/she never would), I would love to hear it. My husband and I are trying to stay as positive as we can but it's hard because we don't have much to go by...being so new to this and all. Thank you,Patti

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

Thank you Tracey! Pattijared owca <jowca@...> wrote: Patti - I Have Identical Twin 5 yr old boys with Autism, similar story to the start of words & then the disappearence of words with my twin boys at around 3 1/2 they really said not much at all, maybe even not a single word. Well I got them enrolled in a good Preschool program around the 3 1/2 yrs of age, & they have been enrolled in thearapedic horsebackriding this year! I am currently trying to enroll them in adaptive swiiming for thearapy for children that have disabilities. Last year age 4 one of my twins Cameron started to say quite a few words, this year I am amazed he asks questions answers questions & recently on a road trip in our van he was telling me knock knock jokes. He likes playing with dolls this past yr

ages 4 to current 5yrs & stuffed animals, I read that this type of play realy deveolpes socil skills. I believe it helps Camerons speech is amazing in the past year it just keeps emerging!! Now on the other hand his identical twin brother Carmine, does not say much he repeats words for us sometimes when asked, requests few things such as cookies, candy & a few more. Carmine does not play with anything much at all, Carmine has made baby step improvments in vocabulary, he bearly says anything he screams alot, both still in pull ups, not potty trained!!! Read alot of books to your son, I beleive this helps alot!!!'''' ' Best Wishes, TraceyPatti OKeefe <bbills72@...> wrote: -Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me.

It helps to hear of success stories such as yours. My husband and I always try our best to keep our heads up. It's so hard sometimes...I know you and everyone else understands. Thanks for the encouragement!Patti Biehl <angelabiehl@...> wrote: Hi Patty, My son Dylan talked at 11 months with mom dadda, and bottle. Then he lost it. He did not say another word till he was 3 1/2. He would not point to what he wanted and would just sit on the floor and cry till we figured out what he wanted. Our SLP told us when we knew he wanted a cup show him the sign show him the cup and make him sign it and then say it. Even if he tried with a noise he would get the cup. After many days of sitting on the floor and sometimes crying with him to get him to say it he had to show an effort to get that

cup. It was probably a few weeks of being consistant he finally said cup. We moved on to I want. Then to I want cup. I did this with the things he wanted. Now he is 5 and has so many words and uses them correctly. So stay strong and never give up on your child. They do come around. Some more than others some better than others. But NEVER GIVE UP. Hope this helps. Patti OKeefe <bbills72@...> wrote: Also, with my son's recent diagnosis, I am terrified that he will never talk ( I know some autistic children never do). At 26 mos. he only says "Ma Ma" and "Da Da" and sometimes uses them inappropriately. He's getting speech therapy twice a week now but I'm hoping to get him 3 sessions per week. If you have a success story about when you're child started talking (and you thought

he/she never would), I would love to hear it. My husband and I are trying to stay as positive as we can but it's hard because we don't have much to go by...being so new to this and all. Thank you,Patti Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.