Re: dtt for a 9 year old

December 9, 2007

I can't speak to whether it's " too late " for DTT (although the younger the

better, I can't imagine she wouldn't benefit from it, anyway), but she might be

a candidate for an augmentative communication device to facilitate

communication. My son (6) relies on his device a lot!

Judy

-------------- Original message --------------

From: " writart2004 " <writart2004@...>

We have finally got the regional center to pay for DTT (with help from

an attorney)...problem is she is 8 years old. She has had years of

services including, floor time, ot, speech, in home behavorists, also

on gfcf diet since 4 plus supplements. Attends a private school for

autism. Verbal in the sense of commands. Does well academically...but

is very frusterated with her lack of verbal skills and that is where

her bad behaviors stem from. She has been evaluated for DTT and

approved for it, but we are concerned it is too late. I would

appreciate any thoughts on this.

Thank you

December 9, 2007

Never too late! I am an SLP with behavior background, etc.

Always know that the old adeage of brain plasticity to age 8 has been proved

reinvented and that new neuropathways can be created in older people (i.e.

seniors with brain injuries such as strokes who relearn/regain skills) and the

same theory applies to those who need to acquire language and other skills. The

brain needs repetition and instruction so that it may reorganize itself. With

that in mind, you want a therapist who knows the power of technology and the

power of therapy that can support the brain thereby enhancing your 9 year olds

ability to communicate.

Again, late is not the word here...but " how " and " what " the approach will be to

support the behavior we want to see.

Landria M. Seals,M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech & Language Consultants, LLC

www.speechandlanguageconsultants.org

[ ] dtt for a 9 year old

We have finally got the regional center to pay for DTT (with help from

an attorney)... problem is she is 8 years old. She has had years of

services including, floor time, ot, speech, in home behavorists, also

on gfcf diet since 4 plus supplements. Attends a private school for

autism. Verbal in the sense of commands. Does well academically. ..but

is very frusterated with her lack of verbal skills and that is where

her bad behaviors stem from. She has been evaluated for DTT and

approved for it, but we are concerned it is too late. I would

appreciate any thoughts on this.

Thank you

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http://www./r/hs

December 10, 2007

This has been studied, while not the same age, it shows it works for

older kids. There is an older study on this too, but I don't have it

at my fingertips.

--------------------------------

Outcome for Children With Autism Who Began Intensive Behavioral

Treatment Between Ages 4 and 7

A Comparison Controlled Study

Behav Modif 2007; 31; 264

Svein Eikeseth

Akershus University College, Norway

Tristram

University of Rochester, NY

Jahr

Akershus University Hospital, Norway

Sigmund Eldevik

Nordvoll School & Autism Centre, Norway

This study extends findings on the effects of intensive applied

behavior analytic treatment for children with autism who began

treatment at a mean age of 5.5 years. The behavioral treatment group

(n = 13, 8 boys) was compared to an eclectic treatment group (n = 12,

11 boys). Assignment to groups was made independently based on the

availability of qualified supervisors. Both behavioral and eclectic

treatment took place in public kindergartens and elementary schools

for typically developing children. At a mean age of 8 years, 2 months,

the behavioral treatment group showed larger increases in IQ and

adaptive functioning than did the eclectic group. The behavioral

treatment group also displayed fewer aberrant behaviors and social

problems at follow-up. Results suggest that behavioral treatment was

effective for children with autism in the study.

>

> We have finally got the regional center to pay for DTT (with help from

> an attorney)...problem is she is 8 years old. She has had years of

> services including, floor time, ot, speech, in home behavorists, also

> on gfcf diet since 4 plus supplements. Attends a private school for

> autism. Verbal in the sense of commands. Does well academically...but

> is very frusterated with her lack of verbal skills and that is where

> her bad behaviors stem from. She has been evaluated for DTT and

> approved for it, but we are concerned it is too late. I would

> appreciate any thoughts on this.

> Thank you

>

December 10, 2007

Hello.

ABA works as well as reward and punishment (conditioning) works

for " anyone, " all the time.. . The more important question is is it

viable as to the return on investment, for Us, of efficacy, thereof.

It wouldn't be worth doing (so intensively) if it caused a family

(the group) to split up and abandom the works, including the child-

student, thereof. Hello.

The return on investment diminishes with time has been clearly

established (Don't ask me for that, or to elaborate? .. .) of best

practices, but of calculus, thereof, ( never diminishes to zero,

except perhaps at death? [i haven't been there, " maybe " ? .. .]

Then " priorities " to life and sustaining it become the thing to

teach, of acceptance and quality of life, thereof, I Feel as

understand of that. " Something " like that.. .

It's hard to ignore the truth, or what " isn't, " (?) to justice and

education, thereof.

I hope/ " more " than hope that " helps, " Us All

Bio-Logically speaking.

Mike,

I ABA

ABA for Understanding .

More open and direct than most, of Communication? .. . Something like

that. [it] Works for " me, " as I would hope it works for " you, " too,

thereof

> >

> > We have finally got the regional center to pay for DTT (with help

from

> > an attorney)...problem is she is 8 years old. She has had years

of

> > services including, floor time, ot, speech, in home behavorists,

also

> > on gfcf diet since 4 plus supplements. Attends a private school

for

> > autism. Verbal in the sense of commands. Does well

academically...but

> > is very frusterated with her lack of verbal skills and that is

where

> > her bad behaviors stem from. She has been evaluated for DTT and

> > approved for it, but we are concerned it is too late. I would

> > appreciate any thoughts on this.

> > Thank you

> >

>

December 11, 2007

Here's another study by the same group:

Behavior Modification, Vol. 26, No. 1, 49-68 (2002)

Intensive Behavioral Treatment at School for 4- to 7-Year-Old Children

with Autism

A 1-Year Comparison Controlled Study

Svein Eikeseth

Akershus College

Tristram

University of Rochester

Jahr

Sigmund Eldevik

Akershus Central Hospital

This study was designed to evaluate 1 year of intensive treatment for

4- to 7-year-old children with autism. An independent clinician

assigned children to either behavioral treatment (n = 13) or eclectic

treatment (n = 12). Assignment was based on availability of personnel

to supervise treatment and was not influenced by child characteristics

or family preference.The two treatment groups received similar amounts

of treatment (M = 28.52 hours per week at the child's school).

Children in the behavioral treatment group made significantly larger

gains on standardized tests than did children in the eclectic

treatment group. Results suggest that some 4- to 7-year-olds may make

large gains with intensive behavioral treatment, that such treatment

can be successfully implemented in school settings, and that specific

aspects of behavioral treatment (not just its intensity) may account

for favorable outcomes.