Re: 3 year old son may have AS

[Guest guest]

Hi:

You are so observant in not giving up. The best intervention in any child

with any type of disability is early intensive intervention so kudos to you

for having the perseverance to investigate and not pulling yourself into a

denial mode.

That said, I truly believe before you can apply any type of intervention it

is necessary to find out what your child has. In order to determine what

your child has you must start at the beginning and that is a proper diagnosis

done by a reputable doctor. I would suggest that you contact your pediatrician

and insist upon a referral to a " developmental pediatrician. " I cannot

stipulate enough that it be done by a developmental pediatrician. These are

pediatricians who are able to perform the proper tests in order to determine

your

child's, if any, disability. With a proper diagnosis you can immediately

being to find intervention and methodologies to best suit your child's

strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, the developmental pediatrician can

guide you,

based on their experience, on the types of interventions best suited to your

child. There are so many interventions from dolphin therapy to special

diets and rather than wasting time on useless interventions that may not be

beneficial to your child it is best to start with the professional who can map

and

plan your type of interventions. Please make sure you continue to advocate

for your child as you have done, for you may find yourself often time

insisting with your own doctors on avenues and approaches. Often time your

pediatrician may ask you to wait and see before referring you to a

developmental

pediatrician just for the sake of saving the insurance money. Make sure you

insist upon seeing your developmental pediatrician. In autism time is your

enemy

as it is proven that early intervention is the best for these kiddos.

Good luck.

Connie Ajay

[Guest guest]

Hi

Your son sounds similar to mine. We found out initially our son had

hyperlexia (by your description your son may be similar) but it is

hard to convince me that this is very separate from AS. Then our son

was 'put' on the spectrum and as he gets older (now 3y 3m), we believe

he has Aspergers.

Advice on what to do???? I could go on forever but in the end, each

child is different.

To get rid of the tantrums, we stopped reinforcing him for them. We

just ignored him, walked over him at home and left the room, NO eye

contact. In public, I just stood beside him and let him go for it

(didn't look anyone else in the eye either LOL). It worked, his

tantrums are a lot less though have reared again lately because he

doesn't want to leave shops/places but we are getting on top of them

again.

We use aba- 8 hours a week- plus our parenting is similar for the rest

of the time. I will possibly reduce this next year and aim for more

social interactions with his peers.

We also use the biomedical approach- he is gf, cf, sugar reduced for

yeast issues, on many supplements and enzymes.

We have started to notice a major difference.

He is starting to engage in conversation, rather than a monologue- yes

it is still about his interests but we are making progress. He is

understanding more questions. Auditory processing and social

interactions along with some sensory issues are his biggest problems.

When we look at him and compare to 11 mths ago when we found out, it

is amazing the difference in him.

Feel free to ask questions or email me if you want to follow anything up.

Best wishes, it is an exhausting journey but rewarding and I think our

wee man is such a great character-its all worth it.

[Guest guest]

I agree with 's suggestions. Our daughter, almost 5, is

hyperlexic and recently diagnosed with AS. Her hyperlexia really

helps in terms of communicating concepts to her through books. This

doesn't help her social interaction, but does help her absorb new

concepts (visually and through words).

Here are a few links to places to buy books, either for kids to

read, or for parents.

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore.htm

http://www.autism-resources.com/childrengenres/aspergers.html

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=422

http://www.specialneeds.com/booklist.asp?id=7 & cat=Autism

We've had some success with Diane Murrell's books (about Tobin the

train), but that's just been our experience.

In terms of tantrums, we find it's a tightrope between providing

structure and giving her limited choices. Sometimes she responds

better to knowing we're going to x at this time, then y. Other

times, it's better just to take her someplace (grocery store, etc.)

without telling her where we're going. We suspect that when we tell

her " We're going to [insert place] " and she yells " NOOOO, I don't

want to go there " sometimes it's almost a reflex that her brain

can't process what that will mean, not that she truly will meltdown

if we go there. Of course, we're not always right!!!

[Guest guest]

Yes, you might consider doing some research in to ABA and starting an ABA

program. A good book to buy is " Behavioral Interventions for Young Children

with Autism. " It has a curriculum outline in it with a ton of programs plus

" how to's " as well.

Roxanna

( ) 3 year old son may have AS

Hi, I just found this group by accident while doing research on AS.

My 3 (turned 3 in Sept.) year old son will be getting tested to see if

he has AS. He is a very smart child. Knows ALL of the letters of the

alphabet by sight and sound. (has known them for about a year now, he

is obssessed with it) The alphabet is just a small spetrum of the

things that he knows. He has an amazing memory. He isn't very social

at all, would rather play by himself. Competely ignores my 10 month

old daughter, acts as if she doesn't even exist. In fact he doesn't

even acknowledge our dogs either. Has MAJOR temper tantrums. I hate

going anywhere public with him because he usually has a meltdown of

some sort. It's almost as if he doesn't know how to handle the things

going on around him and it sends his world spiraling around him. I

just got him to reply to the question " What is your name? " I am now

working on the question " How old are you? " He also doesn't use his

vast vocabulary to communicate with me. He basically talks at me

rather than to me, forget about an actual conversation with him.

I read a lot of the postings and WOW everything sounds so familiar.

Any advice on things to do with/for him?

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[Guest guest]

Felicia,

I agree with Roxanna that a good ABA program should be on your short list of

things to do. If not first. However, I would recommend that you consider the

more advanced forms of ABA. Specifically Verbal Behavior. Similar to the

Leaf/McEachin book " A Work in Progress " The Maurice book is excellent in that is

gives you a nice basis of understanding as to why you need a behaviorally based

intervention as your focus and the basics of how that will work, however it was

written in the early to mid 90's and the recommendations in some instances are

no longer consistent with the best available practices of ABA.

Consider joining the verbalbehavior group for more information.

Also, the books " Teaching Language to children with autism and other

developmental disabilities " by Sundberg and Partington. located at

www.behavioranalysts.com and my book called " Educate Toward Recovery:Turning the

Tables on Autism " located at www.lulu.com/knospe-aba.

Look into workshops offered by Dr. Partington, Dr. McGreevey, The Carbone

Clinic, or EO inc.

EO inc, also has two new teaching DVD's that are very helpful at

www.establishingoperationsinc.com

I figure if your going to invest in ABA you really ought to start with the most

advanced, child and family freindly versions that consider more than just what

will work to teach your child skills but what will motivate your child to want

to learn all that he or she can.

Hope this info helps.

( ) 3 year old son may have AS

Hi, I just found this group by accident while doing research on AS.

My 3 (turned 3 in Sept.) year old son will be getting tested to see if

he has AS. He is a very smart child. Knows ALL of the letters of the

alphabet by sight and sound. (has known them for about a year now, he

is obssessed with it) The alphabet is just a small spetrum of the

things that he knows. He has an amazing memory. He isn't very social

at all, would rather play by himself. Competely ignores my 10 month

old daughter, acts as if she doesn't even exist. In fact he doesn't

even acknowledge our dogs either. Has MAJOR temper tantrums. I hate

going anywhere public with him because he usually has a meltdown of

some sort. It's almost as if he doesn't know how to handle the things

going on around him and it sends his world spiraling around him. I

just got him to reply to the question " What is your name? " I am now

working on the question " How old are you? " He also doesn't use his

vast vocabulary to communicate with me. He basically talks at me

rather than to me, forget about an actual conversation with him.

I read a lot of the postings and WOW everything sounds so familiar.

Any advice on things to do with/for him?

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[Guest guest]

It's not nice to say I'm outdated. That is akin to saying I'm " old. " lol.

I am on that group. I honestly do not get the big difference between VB

and ABA. We did an ABA program with our ds and used the " Behavioral

Intervention " as a guideline. We also had several other books that we drew

from. So it was never one specific program but rather, what our ds needed at

that time. Can you explain the difference for me? I do have the video you

mentioned and I still don't get it. I work with a 4 yo now as a tutor and we do

all those things anyway. So I really want to get what I don't get as I'd like

to help him as much as I can. I also have the book " " Teaching Language to

children with autism and other developmental disabilities " but it must be " as

old " as the one I mentioned because I've had it a long time as well. ????

Roxanna

( ) 3 year old son may have AS

Hi, I just found this group by accident while doing research on AS.

My 3 (turned 3 in Sept.) year old son will be getting tested to see if

he has AS. He is a very smart child. Knows ALL of the letters of the

alphabet by sight and sound. (has known them for about a year now, he

is obssessed with it) The alphabet is just a small spetrum of the

things that he knows. He has an amazing memory. He isn't very social

at all, would rather play by himself. Competely ignores my 10 month

old daughter, acts as if she doesn't even exist. In fact he doesn't

even acknowledge our dogs either. Has MAJOR temper tantrums. I hate

going anywhere public with him because he usually has a meltdown of

some sort. It's almost as if he doesn't know how to handle the things

going on around him and it sends his world spiraling around him. I

just got him to reply to the question " What is your name? " I am now

working on the question " How old are you? " He also doesn't use his

vast vocabulary to communicate with me. He basically talks at me

rather than to me, forget about an actual conversation with him.

I read a lot of the postings and WOW everything sounds so familiar.

Any advice on things to do with/for him?

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

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/492 - Release Date: 10/23/2006

[Guest guest]

Roxanna,

I would never indicate that you are old or outdated.

However, the differences between VB and traditional ABA are not only many but

they are important and continuing to grow as Dr. , Dr. Partington, Dr.

Carbone and other continue to research and develop the additional concepts

introduced in Skinner's book " Verbal Behavior. " For instance, traditional ABA

teaches approx. 80% or more in the intensive table teaching environment. In VB

we in most cases reserve intensive table teaching to less than 20% of our

teaching time opting to focus on natural environment teaching.

Our teaching is always based on understanding the child's EO. That means, what

is the reason the child will want to learn this skill and more importantly what

will be the best way to teach this skill so that the child is choosing the

behavior for natural reasons that will last beyond the teaching setting?

We use teaching procedures and programming that limits if not completely

removing the need for escape extinction. Meaning there will be no need to ever

hold the child in a learning posture against his will. Instead we manipulate

the natural environment so that the child will decide that participating in

learning is his best option and more fun than he can have by himself. Thus

allowing us to lead the child instead of pulling him through learning

activities.

We do not just teach expressive or receptive language but instead teach across

all of Skinner's behavioral classifications of language. In other words we do

not just teach a child to point to a cup or say cup when we point to one.

Instead we teach the concept cup accross all of the necessary functions of

language. Can a child ask for a cup, label a cup, answer questions about a cup,

receptively identify a cup, label it by one of its features, functions, or its

class?

In VB we employ errorless learning which means that we always teach with as much

prompt as necessary to help the child be correct and then in successive trials

we systematically reduce the amount of prompt necessary. This keeps the child

successful throughout the process offering more reinforcement and making the

child more likely to participate in the activity longer. (not to mention

actually enjoy the activity as it has been paired with positive experience).

We choose not to teach repetitively but to mix and vary the skills in which we

teach so that the child is not bored by individual skills or able to just follow

the patterns of teaching but actually learns to discriminate more quickly what

is the salient part of any SD (instuction).

We generalize skills from the beginning teaching loosely so that the child is

never lulled into incomplete understandings that need to be generalized later.

This is just a few of the major differences that research has proved to be more

beneficial to traditional ABA approaches. A better more detailed look can be

found in ETR. Another great resource for ABA/VB information is the website

www.christinaburkaba.com and the group " verbalbehavior. "

www.lulu.com/knospe-aba

( ) 3 year old son may have AS

Hi, I just found this group by accident while doing research on AS.

My 3 (turned 3 in Sept.) year old son will be getting tested to see if

he has AS. He is a very smart child. Knows ALL of the letters of the

alphabet by sight and sound. (has known them for about a year now, he

is obssessed with it) The alphabet is just a small spetrum of the

things that he knows. He has an amazing memory. He isn't very social

at all, would rather play by himself. Competely ignores my 10 month

old daughter, acts as if she doesn't even exist. In fact he doesn't

even acknowledge our dogs either. Has MAJOR temper tantrums. I hate

going anywhere public with him because he usually has a meltdown of

some sort. It's almost as if he doesn't know how to handle the things

going on around him and it sends his world spiraling around him. I

just got him to reply to the question " What is your name? " I am now

working on the question " How old are you? " He also doesn't use his

vast vocabulary to communicate with me. He basically talks at me

rather than to me, forget about an actual conversation with him.

I read a lot of the postings and WOW everything sounds so familiar.

Any advice on things to do with/for him?

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

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Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/492 - Release Date: 10/23/2006

[Guest guest]

With regards to hyperlexia, many times you can write an agenda or list of

activities you are going to do. It helps to see it in writing vs. being told.

Roxanna

( ) Re: 3 year old son may have AS

I agree with 's suggestions. Our daughter, almost 5, is

hyperlexic and recently diagnosed with AS. Her hyperlexia really

helps in terms of communicating concepts to her through books. This

doesn't help her social interaction, but does help her absorb new

concepts (visually and through words).

Here are a few links to places to buy books, either for kids to

read, or for parents.

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore.htm

http://www.autism-resources.com/childrengenres/aspergers.html

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=422

http://www.specialneeds.com/booklist.asp?id=7 & cat=Autism

We've had some success with Diane Murrell's books (about Tobin the

train), but that's just been our experience.

In terms of tantrums, we find it's a tightrope between providing

structure and giving her limited choices. Sometimes she responds

better to knowing we're going to x at this time, then y. Other

times, it's better just to take her someplace (grocery store, etc.)

without telling her where we're going. We suspect that when we tell

her " We're going to [insert place] " and she yells " NOOOO, I don't

want to go there " sometimes it's almost a reflex that her brain

can't process what that will mean, not that she truly will meltdown

if we go there. Of course, we're not always right!!!

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Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/493 - Release Date: 10/23/2006

[Guest guest]

Thanks for not calling me old. lol. And thanks for the information. I am

already on an email group for VB and have been trying to soak up how to do this

stuff. I work with a 4 yo with autism as a tutor and I already try to use the

things you have listed. The errorless learning was taught to me when my own now

10 yo was in his own ABA program as well as teaching him in all sorts of places

and not just at the table. I did not know it as VB though - just was the way we

did ABA.

It is much more challenging with the 4 yo because he is " Mr. Stim. " Even if you

take away everything, he stims just staring at things. Keeping his attention is

a major challenge. Also, he has zero interest in anything except food. We have

been trying to teach him play skills to create some interest in playing in him

but it's been all uphill. I do try to find toys that would incorporate the way

he stims as well but he never gets excited about that either! I don't have a

problem with him leaving the play room or the table. And some days he pulls me

in there to get started. So I know at least part of this is interesting for

him. He can talk but he doesn't talk. He has learned to say a few necessary

phrases to get food or drink and that's it. It would be easier if one person

could be with him all day to coordinate everything - from school to home to

tutoring.

Roxanna

( ) 3 year old son may have AS

Hi, I just found this group by accident while doing research on AS.

My 3 (turned 3 in Sept.) year old son will be getting tested to see if

he has AS. He is a very smart child. Knows ALL of the letters of the

alphabet by sight and sound. (has known them for about a year now, he

is obssessed with it) The alphabet is just a small spetrum of the

things that he knows. He has an amazing memory. He isn't very social

at all, would rather play by himself. Competely ignores my 10 month

old daughter, acts as if she doesn't even exist. In fact he doesn't

even acknowledge our dogs either. Has MAJOR temper tantrums. I hate

going anywhere public with him because he usually has a meltdown of

some sort. It's almost as if he doesn't know how to handle the things

going on around him and it sends his world spiraling around him. I

just got him to reply to the question " What is your name? " I am now

working on the question " How old are you? " He also doesn't use his

vast vocabulary to communicate with me. He basically talks at me

rather than to me, forget about an actual conversation with him.

I read a lot of the postings and WOW everything sounds so familiar.

Any advice on things to do with/for him?

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

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/492 - Release Date: 10/23/2006