Re: Overcoming Autism Book

[Guest guest]

We had similiar a situation. Movies are the only motivator. My creative move was a small step. I gave her a choice between movies. Do you want this one? This gave us yes or no (it took a while) then yes please and no thank you. It was a start. Actually our first words came after the Baby Bumblebee videos. I didn't think she would watch them but I kept them playing on a TV until she noticed and low and behold start to watch and repeat. Watch Me Learn helped us alot as well, especially with social interaction. She never would say her name when asked until watching these. 30 hours a week and many hundreds of dollars of ABA to get the result after watching it on a video! Also, knowing what is going on in the movies helped also. If she tries to say something from the movie, even if it is only mumbling I answer what the opposite character says. She looks at me in amazement and really enjoys this. Scripting is definitely bad but has really helped her articulation. But that's another debate.

Good luck !!!

Deanna

"Overcoming Autism" Book

I received the "Overcoming Autism" book in the mail today. Got it just so I could read and hopefully implement the communication strategies for my non-verbal son. Problem is, these are the same techniques that I and all his therapists (he gets over 30 hours per week of wrap around services) have been doing for years with no luck whatsoever. He does have much improved joint attention now though, since starting antivirals, so I will continue trying this approach. My bigger problem is this... when I use his favorite item to try and get sounds/words, the item is MOVIE (his 24 hour preferred activity...sigh). He knows and uses the sign for movie. So when I try to get him to sound it out with his mouth, he signs for it. When I tap my mouth to try to show him I want him to use his voice not his sign, he imitates by tapping his mouth. And now he is getting frustrated because I will not turn the movie on when he signs MOVIE. We worked so hard to get him to use signs and now we should not accept them? The book says to use his absolute favorite things to get words. His absolute favorite thing is MOVIE and there's not much else. What to do now???

[Guest guest]

> >

> > I received the " Overcoming Autism " book in the mail today. Got it

> > just so I could read and hopefully implement the communication

> > strategies for my non-verbal son. Problem is, these are the same

> > techniques that I and all his therapists (he gets over 30 hours per

> > week of wrap around services) have been doing for years with no luck

> > whatsoever. He does have much improved joint attention now though,

> > since starting antivirals, so I will continue trying this approach.

> > My bigger problem is this... when I use his favorite item to try and

> > get sounds/words, the item is MOVIE (his 24 hour preferred

> > activity...sigh). He knows and uses the sign for movie. So when I

> > try to get him to sound it out with his mouth, he signs for it. When

> > I tap my mouth to try to show him I want him to use his voice not his

> > sign, he imitates by tapping his mouth. And now he is getting

> > frustrated because I will not turn the movie on when he signs MOVIE.

> > We worked so hard to get him to use signs and now we should not

> > accept them? The book says to use his absolute favorite things to

> > get words. His absolute favorite thing is MOVIE and there's not much

> > else. What to do now???

> >

> >

> >

>

Hi , I understand, where you are I 've been there too. If you use only

one

reinforcer you will frustrate your child. Have you tried food. We started with

Popcorn. It

worked great for us. I had my sons twin brother (as peer example ) daddy too

" say

popcorn please " and then hold it up till my Autistic son said his version of

" popcorn

please " ! This became " May I have popcorn " . My son now speaks some 7 word

sentences.

Just continue to expand on any food, then to animals and fun activities,etc.

Use peers as

often as possible for examples. Good Luck, and be very Patient.

[Guest guest]

Do not extinguish the signs. If you want sounds work on sounds

seperately. Hold up puzzle piece a, b,c ,d and use an edible

reenforcer if possible. Pause the movie and have him echo something

on the screen that he can say, " baby " You want him to continue

signing until he can say the word. Work on words he can say.

nne

-- In mb12 valtrex , " Handley "

wrote:

>

> Yep, definitely apraxic. We used to think no apraxia...he had more

sounds a year ago than he does now. His 'nonverbal-ness' is getting

worse, not better.

>

>

> Re: " Overcoming Autism " Book

>

>

> What did he do at therapy when there were no movies? Would

that be a

> more appropriate setting in which you could revisit the PRT

> strategies? Does he EVER pick up a toy. or get involved in

anything

> but TV? Playground? being pushed on a swing? Can you pause

the movie

> and try to get him to say " play " ? Maybe a new toy would

entice him?

> One that he doesn't have a sign for. When we were first

starting out,

> we put ALL of 's toys in a locked closet so that he would

be put

> into a situation where he HAD to communicate to get ANYTHING.

A

> friend of mine who is a psychologist/behavioral therapist

suggested

> this and at first, I thought she was crazy. and then I

thought the

> toys will never get put away, but we did it and it helped. We

had

> total control of the reinforcers. same with outdoor play. he

loved

> to swing. I wouldn't push him until he said push. I would even

> occasionally stop him so he'd have to say it more often. and

when he

> was doing that well, I wouldn't push until he asked me with

eye

> contact. this is how we lived every moment of every day.

>

> Before his diagnosis, we always felt like had gains

after he

> spent time with my parents or my husband's parents. He knew

that I

> knew that a throat clearing sound meant he was thirsty. I

would get

> him water sometimes just out of habit. Other people didn't

know that

> and he'd be forced to communicate his needs more. Usually

just by

> pulling them where he wanted them to go and throwing their

hands

> toward the sink, but it did make him think through it a

little more.

> Is there anyone he can spend a little quality time with?

>

> was verbal before we even realized he had autism. He

started

> speaking (just labeling and echoing, no communication) when

he was

> almost 2 and wasn't diagnosed until he was 3 yr/9 mo. Every

step of

> the way has been a struggle. I never went through what you're

going

> through, but I can imagine it's terribly frustrating. I

really hope

> you can get the ball rolling after reading the book. Even

just one

> little idea might get something going. I wish you the best!

>

> Kari

>

>

> >

> > I received the " Overcoming Autism " book in the mail today.

Got it

> > just so I could read and hopefully implement the

communication

> > strategies for my non-verbal son. Problem is, these are the

same

> > techniques that I and all his therapists (he gets over 30

hours per

> > week of wrap around services) have been doing for years

with no luck

> > whatsoever. He does have much improved joint attention now

though,

> > since starting antivirals, so I will continue trying this

approach.

> > My bigger problem is this... when I use his favorite item

to try and

> > get sounds/words, the item is MOVIE (his 24 hour preferred

> > activity...sigh). He knows and uses the sign for movie. So

when I

> > try to get him to sound it out with his mouth, he signs for

it. When

> > I tap my mouth to try to show him I want him to use his

voice not his

> > sign, he imitates by tapping his mouth. And now he is

getting

> > frustrated because I will not turn the movie on when he

signs MOVIE.

> > We worked so hard to get him to use signs and now we should

not

> > accept them? The book says to use his absolute favorite

things to

> > get words. His absolute favorite thing is MOVIE and there's

not much

> > else. What to do now???

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

He will only watch the same ones over and over and over. Anything

new he runs over and signs movie movie movie for me to change it back

to familiar ones. He does watch Baby Bumblebee.

>

> Have you tried using movies that have alot of language he can pick

up or

> movies focusing on social skills, etc. Since your child likes

movies, your

> therapists and you can make video clips on your digital camera of

skills,

> language you want your child to learn. Hope that helps some.

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: mb12 valtrex

[mailto:mb12 valtrex ] On

> Behalf Of tommysmommy67

> Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 2:54 PM

> To: mb12 valtrex

> Subject: " Overcoming Autism " Book

>

>

>

> I received the " Overcoming Autism " book in the mail today. Got it

> just so I could read and hopefully implement the communication

> strategies for my non-verbal son. Problem is, these are the same

> techniques that I and all his therapists (he gets over 30 hours per

> week of wrap around services) have been doing for years with no

luck

> whatsoever. He does have much improved joint attention now though,

> since starting antivirals, so I will continue trying this approach.

> My bigger problem is this... when I use his favorite item to try

and

> get sounds/words, the item is MOVIE (his 24 hour preferred

> activity...sigh). He knows and uses the sign for movie. So when I

> try to get him to sound it out with his mouth, he signs for it.

When

> I tap my mouth to try to show him I want him to use his voice not

his

> sign, he imitates by tapping his mouth. And now he is getting

> frustrated because I will not turn the movie on when he signs

MOVIE.

> We worked so hard to get him to use signs and now we should not

> accept them? The book says to use his absolute favorite things to

> get words. His absolute favorite thing is MOVIE and there's not

much

> else. What to do now???

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

But he can say no words at all...repeat NO sounds at all. He just

gets frustrated and cries and has a MAJOR meltdown and beats me or

the therpist up with head butts, kicks, slaps, bites. The book says

only to use things that are totally reinforcing and that he is

motivated to say. He would not be reinforced or motivated to say a,

b, c, d.

> > >

> > > I received the " Overcoming Autism " book in the mail

today.

> Got it

> > > just so I could read and hopefully implement the

> communication

> > > strategies for my non-verbal son. Problem is, these are

the

> same

> > > techniques that I and all his therapists (he gets over 30

> hours per

> > > week of wrap around services) have been doing for years

> with no luck

> > > whatsoever. He does have much improved joint attention

now

> though,

> > > since starting antivirals, so I will continue trying this

> approach.

> > > My bigger problem is this... when I use his favorite item

> to try and

> > > get sounds/words, the item is MOVIE (his 24 hour

preferred

> > > activity...sigh). He knows and uses the sign for movie.

So

> when I

> > > try to get him to sound it out with his mouth, he signs

for

> it. When

> > > I tap my mouth to try to show him I want him to use his

> voice not his

> > > sign, he imitates by tapping his mouth. And now he is

> getting

> > > frustrated because I will not turn the movie on when he

> signs MOVIE.

> > > We worked so hard to get him to use signs and now we

should

> not

> > > accept them? The book says to use his absolute favorite

> things to

> > > get words. His absolute favorite thing is MOVIE and

there's

> not much

> > > else. What to do now???

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

We are putting him back on mb12 shots very soon. What are other

talking supps?

> >> >

> >> > I received the " Overcoming Autism " book in the mail today. Got

it

> >> > just so I could read and hopefully implement the communication

> >> > strategies for my non-verbal son. Problem is, these are the

same

> >> > techniques that I and all his therapists (he gets over 30

hours per

> >> > week of wrap around services) have been doing for years with

no

> >> luck

> >> > whatsoever. He does have much improved joint attention now

though,

> >> > since starting antivirals, so I will continue trying this

approach.

> >> > My bigger problem is this... when I use his favorite item to

try

> >> and

> >> > get sounds/words, the item is MOVIE (his 24 hour preferred

> >> > activity...sigh). He knows and uses the sign for movie. So

when I

> >> > try to get him to sound it out with his mouth, he signs for

it.

> >> When

> >> > I tap my mouth to try to show him I want him to use his voice

> >> not his

> >> > sign, he imitates by tapping his mouth. And now he is getting

> >> > frustrated because I will not turn the movie on when he signs

> >> MOVIE.

> >> > We worked so hard to get him to use signs and now we should not

> >> > accept them? The book says to use his absolute favorite things

to

> >> > get words. His absolute favorite thing is MOVIE and there's

not

> >> much

> >> > else. What to do now???

> >> >

> >> >

> >> >

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Matt was getting worse, not better too in the language dept and their

was all this emph on signing with him...we went HARDCORE on diet

interventions....not surprising that his first whole word was AHPLE!

And then JU MO...I do not know where you are at with diet, but for

the kids who are reallly struggling in the language dept - like ours-

DIET is a huge step to recovery. Go on highly nutritious bone broth

soup offering only the cooked veggies ala SCD for a week...we held

out apples, which he loves, and only the g wmith ones for now as to

not feed yeast...and all I can tell you is that it worked. After

that I would use ABA therapists to get a healing diet on board...that

is the direction we are heading in, tantrums or no...like

whose child now eats fermented foods...there is a kid who is going to

get well and STAY well....good luck. We also used an electric

toothbrish for teeth brushing and the strategies for oral motor

mentioned in prev posts...but not until later...I believe diet,

antivirals and antifungals and upping the probiotics and vits and

supps actually gave us the pathways to language...floortime helped

to, PRT was major, and now we are going for real aba syle therapy for

food choices....but the diet changes were the foundation of all of

it. And they are not forever....

> >

> > I received the " Overcoming Autism " book in the mail today.

Got it

> > just so I could read and hopefully implement the

communication

> > strategies for my non-verbal son. Problem is, these are the

same

> > techniques that I and all his therapists (he gets over 30

hours per

> > week of wrap around services) have been doing for years

with no luck

> > whatsoever. He does have much improved joint attention now

though,

> > since starting antivirals, so I will continue trying this

approach.

> > My bigger problem is this... when I use his favorite item

to try and

> > get sounds/words, the item is MOVIE (his 24 hour preferred

> > activity...sigh). He knows and uses the sign for movie. So

when I

> > try to get him to sound it out with his mouth, he signs for

it. When

> > I tap my mouth to try to show him I want him to use his

voice not his

> > sign, he imitates by tapping his mouth. And now he is

getting

> > frustrated because I will not turn the movie on when he

signs MOVIE.

> > We worked so hard to get him to use signs and now we should

not

> > accept them? The book says to use his absolute favorite

things to

> > get words. His absolute favorite thing is MOVIE and there's

not much

> > else. What to do now???

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

We pulled tv in our house, and only have video choices and onl7y as

big rewards...there is a bit in Overcoming autism book about a child

who would only do thomas videos and how hey used that as a starting

point....give that small section a looksie....and nobody I know of

got first words without tantrums...it was two days of hell in our

house for the first sounds of mo with the hand sign....go for JUST

that sound with sign. Make that your goal and gibve yourself two to

three days of tantrums...it fels like forever, but it is only two to

three days in the big scheme of things and the first sound is

PIVOTAL.....

> >

> > Have you tried using movies that have alot of language he can

pick

> up or

> > movies focusing on social skills, etc. Since your child likes

> movies, your

> > therapists and you can make video clips on your digital camera of

> skills,

> > language you want your child to learn. Hope that helps some.

> >

> >

> >

> > _____

> >

> > From: mb12 valtrex

> [mailto:mb12 valtrex ] On

> > Behalf Of tommysmommy67

> > Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 2:54 PM

> > To: mb12 valtrex

> > Subject: " Overcoming Autism " Book

> >

> >

> >

> > I received the " Overcoming Autism " book in the mail today. Got it

> > just so I could read and hopefully implement the communication

> > strategies for my non-verbal son. Problem is, these are the same

> > techniques that I and all his therapists (he gets over 30 hours

per

> > week of wrap around services) have been doing for years with no

> luck

> > whatsoever. He does have much improved joint attention now

though,

> > since starting antivirals, so I will continue trying this

approach.

> > My bigger problem is this... when I use his favorite item to try

> and

> > get sounds/words, the item is MOVIE (his 24 hour preferred

> > activity...sigh). He knows and uses the sign for movie. So when I

> > try to get him to sound it out with his mouth, he signs for it.

> When

> > I tap my mouth to try to show him I want him to use his voice not

> his

> > sign, he imitates by tapping his mouth. And now he is getting

> > frustrated because I will not turn the movie on when he signs

> MOVIE.

> > We worked so hard to get him to use signs and now we should not

> > accept them? The book says to use his absolute favorite things to

> > get words. His absolute favorite thing is MOVIE and there's not

> much

> > else. What to do now???

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Okay here's the overview on my baby:

He's five.

On the negative: He's nonverbal (apraxic). He's very stimmy,

including vocal sound of gasping air...sounds like a bird or

something. He's a picky eater, doesn't feed himself with utensils,

etc. He's very very sensory, always wanting rubs, tickles, etc. He's

somewhat prompt dependant and needs 100% help (like baby) with stuff

like putting on shoes, utensils, etc. He has a lazy eye (another

ongoing battle to correct). He doesn't play well with toys or

others. He throws everything and slams his palms on everything. (We

consider these stims...he thinks he wants the sounds of the smacking

noise and crashing of toys to the floor.) His receptive language is

good at home, limited elsewhere. He doesn't seem to always generalize

his skills from person to person. When tantruming he hits, slaps,

kicks, bangs his head (hard!) on floor, wall, door, you, etc.

On the positive: He's so stinking cute, all his therapists love him.

People stop me in stores and tell me how gorgeous he is and that he

should be a kid model. Then they realize he won't say anything to

them... He's affectionate and smiley most of the time. His

imitation skills have improved tremendously with phyical motions such

as touch your head, arms up, tap the table, jump with me, etc.

(He'll do almost anything you try to show him physically.) He has

very good eye contact, especially during imitation drills. Watches

our mouths when we try to get him to imitate sounds, but can't do

it. He signs for the basic needs...some independent, some prompted.

He has a sense of humor and likes to be laughing and horsing around

with anyone willing to do this with him. He's not afraid of people,

nor does he crave alone-ness, although he's also content to be alone.

He is potty training very well lately and wakes up with a dry pull

up. He is awesome at puzzles (but doesn't crave them enough to use

them as a reinforcer). He loves water and swimming/baths. He is

very " aware " and responds to his name 90% of the time and usually

immediately. He can shake his head yes and no. He has formed stools.

If you say " hey Tommy can I have a hug/kiss? " , he'll come right over

with a smile and comply. He is fairly compliant and even goes to time

out when told.

He was diagnosed at 22 mos. old and has recieved TONS of

therapy/treatment including but not limited to: speech, ot, pt, hbot,

DAN, Krigsman, B12 shots, supplements, gfcf (no gains, now just cf),

etc etc etc.

Most all of the people that work or have worked with him say... " gee

we don't get it with Tommy. He's a mystery. He doesn't " look "

autistic...just doesn't have that sort of lost/spaced out look about

him. " And then the statements like " but he seems so smart, we really

think he'll talk eventually, he's doing well lately, " etc etc etc.

Strange thing is he had more sporadic words last year (or word like

sounds to clarify) than now. Why are they still disappearing?

I just feel like I'm in a constant state of panic that this smart

little boy will never be able to speak. Stims don't even bother me

anymore...I just want him to be able to speak so desperately.

However, I am working really hard on using the techniques I have

learned (so are his therapists) and I will keep on plugging away. I

JUST got him to make an EEE sound for the eat sign. (Thanks to

someone who suggested I pair sounds with signs. Obviously, I know

this already but you tend to get complacent when you are so used to

seeing him use the signs and are happy about this ability.)

Anyone have any ideas? Which supplements (besides mb12 shots which

we will start up again very soon) might help promote speech?

THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING/LISTENING. EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS... LOVE

THIS BOARD.

> > >

> > > I received the " Overcoming Autism " book in the mail today.

Got it

> > > just so I could read and hopefully implement the

communication

> > > strategies for my non-verbal son. Problem is, these are the

same

> > > techniques that I and all his therapists (he gets over 30

hours per

> > > week of wrap around services) have been doing for years with

no

> luck

> > > whatsoever. He does have much improved joint attention now

though,

> > > since starting antivirals, so I will continue trying this

approach.

> > > My bigger problem is this... when I use his favorite item to

try

> and

> > > get sounds/words, the item is MOVIE (his 24 hour preferred

> > > activity...sigh). He knows and uses the sign for movie. So

when I

> > > try to get him to sound it out with his mouth, he signs for

it.

> When

> > > I tap my mouth to try to show him I want him to use his voice

> not his

> > > sign, he imitates by tapping his mouth. And now he is getting

> > > frustrated because I will not turn the movie on when he signs

> MOVIE.

> > > We worked so hard to get him to use signs and now we should

not

> > > accept them? The book says to use his absolute favorite

things to

> > > get words. His absolute favorite thing is MOVIE and there's

not

> much

> > > else. What to do now???

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>