Guest guest Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Yes, absolutely I can attest to that! My dh and I both hope that Seth can grow up to be as advanced as Gareth is. You would never know that Gareth has any dx other than DS. I am getting to the point now where I am going to start charting Seth's behaviors. Maybe next summer we will TRY some form of medication, if I can find a GOOD child psych. Seth isn't doing any self injury behaviors, is easily redirected, but his stimming is way out of control. Char can tell you that Seth is the EASIEST kid. :-) Easiest out of my five for sure! But, I think the stimming, if it continues, will certainly interfere with his learning. Gail :-) In a message dated 8/8/2005 8:59:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, mfroof@... writes: We were told by the psych that our child (age 6) was 'severely autistic and profoundly MR and that nothing could be done'. Well........let me tell you, (and Gail can attest to it) that G is no longer severely autistic. He is a high functioning kid who happens to have DS and autism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 he can read on a 5-6th grade level im sooo jealous. i keep on nagging and nagging the school as nathan just turned 14 yesterday and he still cant read maybe a few words, im at a loss weve done soo many tests and have been using what is suggested by the docs etc and i still see little to no results, not even a 1st grade level yet. i understand he may not evert be a reader but sooo want him to be able to read imprtant stuff in his surroundings and at least understand them toa certain degree, like danger means to stay away from.shawna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 a, I understand where you are coming from. I have been fighting the schools to teach Trisha to read for a long time now as well. Trisha also cannot read except for a some sight words but she can't read a whole sentence. We got her two programs called first verbs and first categories. One thing I have learned, is that in order for them to be able to read they must first understand different things like: nouns, verbs, categories sentences etc. You can get a trial version of these programs at www.laureatelearning.com We didn't order the first words because she did so well on them at the AT eval that we decieded to go with first verbs. I love the program and it is beginning to help Trisha. She had no clue what categories meant and now she knows animal, clothing body part and is working on furniture categories. Carol Trishasmom She isn't typical, She's Trisha! If we always do what we always did We'll always get what we've always gotten! -- Re: n....long winded!!! he can read on a 5-6th grade level im sooo jealous. i keep on nagging and nagging the school as nathan just turned 14 yesterday and he still cant read maybe a few words, im at a loss weve done soo many tests and have been using what is suggested by the docs etc and i still see little to no results, not even a 1st grade level yet. i understand he may not evert be a reader but sooo want him to be able to read imprtant stuff in his surroundings and at least understand them toa certain degree, like danger means to stay away from shawna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 thanks margaret- it's good to hear that the meds gave you the light at the end of the tunnel...frankly, meds-even through trial and error- will be easier on me than me sitting with him trying to engage him or watching him stimming by himself and feeling guilty and helpless. I guess I didn't want to medicate just to take the easy way out- if DTT or floortime (enough of it) can do the job... thanks for the info- i'll take it to heart. n....long winded!!! <<Isaac is only 5 and is still developing, I'm not sure that the constant stimming, inattention and some OCD behaviors renders medication. How " severe " do these behaviors have to be for someone to decide on medication?...... What are your experiences as far as seeing changes on meds for inattention and self-stim behaviors. >> Hi, Everyone....n...this can be a very touchy subject and I know that there are those who are completely against " drugging " their kids. I felt the guilt of having Gareth on heavy duty mind drugs for yrs. but a child psych once asked me " What was MY problem? If G. was diabetic, I wouldn't feel guilty about giving him Insulin, would I? If he had MD and needed meds for muscle spasm/control, etc, would I feel guilty about meds to control that? " He takes Prilosec daily for GERD....I don't feel guilty about that. Whether we want to admit it or not, our kids do have some sort of chemical imbalances in their brains. We are not drugging our kids into zombies. Gareth is 17y/o and takes the lowest dose possible of an SSRI for his OCD and is only on 1 mg. of Risperdal (am and pm) after being on it for 7 yrs. He still has his warped sense of humor and has matured into a 5'4 " , 155# young man.....so the meds have not affected or stunted his growth. He started on Prozac at age 6 and we added the Risperdal at age 10 and he's been on that combo for over 7 yrs now. Isaac's behaviors (stimming, inattentiveness, etc.) ARE affecting his life. You have no reason to feel guilty because you can't be with him 24/7 to keep him occupied/learning. Before drugs, G's behavior was constant teeth grinding, rocking, stimming, growling/vocal noises, master Houdini, ADHD, echolalia, up all night, very light/sound sensitive, wicked head banger, and had no reasoning/redirection ability. We were told by the psych that our child (age 6) was 'severely autistic and profoundly MR and that nothing could be done'. Well........let me tell you, (and Gail can attest to it) that G is no longer severely autistic. He is a high functioning kid who happens to have DS and autism. Once he was on the SSRI/Risperdal combo, he started talking (albeit 2-3 word sentences) and he could be reasoned with. That right there led to the ability to open doorways on all the other issues. The teeth grinding stopped, he sleeps through the night, his OCD is lessened, his stimming is limited, we can have lights on in the house, he doesn't run or flop and drop anymore, no more rocking or head banging, etc. In school, he is reading on a 5-6rd grade level, comprehension is 3rd grade level, and he can do basic math...adding/subtraction, money, etc. I am not saying the past yrs. have been a piece of cake. We have tried meds that didn't work. You always have the option of withdrawing meds at any time if the behaviors get worse or the meds don't do anything. It is trial by error and not all kids have positive results with meds. BUT.....you will never know if you don't try. If you do go the med route, find a child psych who is willing to work with you....especially over the phone for the first few months. Watch for the negative behaviors from some drugs. Like I said before, G. can't handle ritalin or adderall, but other kids are doing fantastic. Keep a chart of all his behaviors before meds and check off how those behaviors are affected by the drugs. Follow your instincts. Ask your hubby if he is willing to TRY a drug for 6 weeks. That may be all he needs to show whether it helps or not. Start at the lowest dose possible. Our kids don't need a lot. Take care, Everyone. Margaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 In a message dated 8/9/2005 12:01:49 PM Central Standard Time, Csvillars@... writes: www.laureatelearning.com thanks i will check it out, im not sure weather or not nathan can group items but I know ive suggested this for several years now as to aid in his augmentive comunication, shawna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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