Re: OT speech

May 12, 2006

I can confirm the severity of speech issues. I have a very intelligent

and beautiful little boy who turned 8 in April. He has only 2

sentences. " I want .... " and " I love you. " It is much easier for him

to take you to what he wants rather than speak.

He has been on SCD for 2 years.

> Deanna wrote:

....My son turned 5 in Feb. He has one sentence. " I want

(whatever) " . He has had this one sentence for about 8 months now and

each time he says it he has to work really hard to get each word ...

May 12, 2006

I wonder if some kids just will never talk do to permanent changes in

the brain, thanks to autism? Can you guys tell me more so that I can

prepare myself if it happens.

If KiKi never talks I will be sad and heart broken for a while. But

hope that she can communicate in other ways. I am already grieving the

loss of the " perfect " child that was in my head...and accepting her

for who she is. Don't get me wrong I love her...but trust that you

guys understand this loss.

She was just comfirmed with autism just two some weeks ago. Trying to

get use to this new label...thought it was " just " celiac disease and

injured intestines. I knew it but didn't know it...now it is in my

face eryday. Same little girl though...different label....same tune.

If she doesn't improve with speech with just SCD when her intestines

heal we will look into chelation maybe.

The fact that I just got my first hug is a start to normalcy. And she

now is babbleing and trying to mimic. But like I ahve shared before

sounds like a cute baby chimp. She use to scratch and hit me....in a

delerium not knowing who I was. When I would breast feed her I wasn't

allowed to touch her...now I can even brush her hair a bit easier.

Can you imagine that one, nursing a baby that you can not touch? Some

here probably can. I hope for her to say " I love you some day " . Her

smile that disappeared at three months old is back...this just warms

my heart. She is so beautiful now that she can smile.

Not to minimilize your stress about his lack of talking....We all want

more for our kids...that's what makes us all GREAT MOM's here!

Thank God one of his sentences is " I love you " ...perfect for mother's

day! Proof that you must be a great mom! Happy Mothers DAY to all!

God knows we need three or more holidays a year just for us, but this

one will have to do!

Antoinette (mother to two year old KiKI/celiac/injured

intestines/autistic

> ...My son turned 5 in Feb. He has one sentence. " I want

> (whatever) " . He has had this one sentence for about 8 months now

and

> each time he says it he has to work really hard to get each word ...

>

May 12, 2006

>>> I wonder if some kids just will never talk do to permanent

changes in

> the brain, thanks to autism? Can you guys tell me more so that I

can

> prepare myself if it happens.<<<

We all have to take things one day at a time. If we stress about the

future, we miss too much of now.

No one can answer your question at this time.

Hunter came to SCD at 51/2 with only a couple words, not even

sentences and he now speaks quite a few words and many sentences,

constructing new ones every day. He still speaks unclearly, making

him slow down, he speaks clearly.

Ben came to SCD without even anything beyond bye. He is finally now

putting together some short sentences. He comphrehends everything.

His first real words didn't happen until last summer at age 41/2.

And now they are both progressing like quick silver. Perhaps a bad

analogy there.

I also went through speech in school when a kid. I had sentence

scrambling, couldn't pronounce some sounds after a round of

vaccinations before living abroad.

6 years ago I had a stroke and then a brain bleed. I was a pianist,

saxophonist and flutist, music teacher, playing in many bands, owned

a store. I was told by many specialists, as I no longer could use my

left arm and hand or keep decent balance, I would never play piano

again, and now I am working on the Rach III.

So, if I told you that Kiki would never speak would it matter? If I

told you she would? We cannot foresee the future this way, and these

are just words.

If language gets aquired super slow, like in this house, what I

would do would be to invent or look for other therapies that

stimulate other parts of the brain. If the brain can rewire itself

in someone older, there is always the possibility in someone

younger. I would keep looking and keep trying and incorporating

therapies. Many of our own were home-made, Hunter's gift is in art,

painting and drawing, and we use this actively as a way to stimulate

the brain, those areas that are working well may be able to

incorporate somewhat into the speech areas of the brain. If not

verbal speech, other forms of communication can be brought forth in

the same way.

As a music teacher, I buck against the idea each student who comes

to me will learn music in the way " taught and trained into us " in

music school. I buck against the idea there is any one way or

therapy for all to achieve, each child is unique, you are

homeschooling, this will make it easier for you.

Best of luck, Don't Worry, Just Be Happy!

Summer

May 12, 2006

It's way too soon to have any idea if she will talk or not but the babbling and

attempts to mimic are GREAT signs!!! I was devastated when Mikey was first dx

but now I can't even imagine him other than just Mikey. He's awesome....just

one look into those big, blue, sweet and innocent eyes and I melt! And, bye the

way, he often listens to me and gives me less trouble than my NT first grade

daughter!! She's sweet, too, but sometimes......aaargh! Having a child with

autism does change how you look at things. It's a loss, but you can still have

that dream for a beautiful, intelligent, loving child....things are just a

little different...not bad...just different.

God bless!

Deanna

kikijabunce wrote: