Aspergers/Autism/Sensory Integration Chatter #3

[deletedit]

DS has gotten really really fussy again. Driving me nuts.

DD#1 is having the reverse at the moment. She's rather proudly listing all the things she likes now that she used to hate. Chips, jeans and tomato sauce top the list. And we had some really long discussion about something really weird and technical last night WITHOUT ARGUING and I can't remember what it was now ...

Ah that's right. Interstellar travel, the effect of no gravity on the human body, the speed of light, the speed of sound, lightning and thunder, and of course it always comes back to her favourite topic - the way you are most likely to die if you are hit by lightning. But no arguments!

Pinch me!

[Yeddi]

DD was diagnosed with her PPD last year. Over that time we have incrementally tried new things/therapies. Osteopath was one, which made a big difference because he put her on a GABA supplement. It not only changed some of her behaviour, but it also stopped her from having fits whenever she went over 37 degrees. Before that, if I thought she was going to have a temp I'd have to stalk her. Since starting she's had temps up to 39 degrees without fitting and I've seen the difference in her eyes and the smell of her breath because they were normally the give away of an impending fit.

Then we started (about six months ago) doing Sensory Integration Therapy and Extra Lesson through our local psychologist Marriane Judd. The differences were obvious, but mainly only to us in an everyday context. After the initial period we are now doing the at home program as part of our homeschooling Integrated Listening Systems Australia. Sound Learning Systems. Auditory, Listening Program, Sound Therapy, Australia which has been super beneficial. I can really tell the days when we have done our music time and when we haven't. (We do ENKI for homeschooling btw, if anyone is interested. It's expensive for a homeschool curriculum - about $800 a year to ship from America - but it is awesome and well worth it.

But the biggest change was with the diet, which was the GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) diet created by Dr N. Cambell-McBride, who has an autistic son herself. Very interesting reading, and makes lots of sense. I since come to truly believe that yeast-overgrowth is evil, particularly for my child. Balancing her good gut flora and removing yeast and yeast feeding foods from her diet has made the world of difference. Everyone comments on it. Those who don't know her would never guess she has any issues anymore. In fact, her public psychologist and therapy team have warned me that when they do the review in 6 months time, they're most probably going to have to take her off the spectrum. And I agree. She doesn't really belong there anymore. She still has some issues (like chewing metal and licking strange things), but it's worlds apart from where we were.

I encourage you all to look into some of these resources because they've made such a big difference in our lives, and having tools always helps.

[maz]

ya all

long time me no post. Hope everyone is well and dandy.

I have an appointment tomorrow its so I can get a scoail worker for me its only taken 3 years but Im finally going to get one. I had waited fo rhte lady from Hume services to get me one once Mario left their 'care' but was sick of never hearing from them so did it myself. Friday I have 2 social workers coming here to help from another organisation for if we need help, funding ect for Mario and Tank..HUGE step forward for us.

Mario had a speech therapist at school the other week...and instead of ringing me to chat she send home a picture chart for us to 'follow' and use...um if she would have taken the time to ask me she would have known we dont use them. So Ive left a message for her to contact me so we can discuss my son and 'our' teaching ways. Love how someone who doesnt know you try and change the way you do things that work in your house....grr one simple phone call and a min chat would sooo be better.

Hope everyone has checked out the other thread I popped up about getting a career's card and companion card. I received my application in the mail today so can take it tomorrow when we see our pead

[Lulu]

Why don't you use the picture chart Mazzie?

Does anyone know how much Boardmaker is?

[maz]

I saw quiet a few kids who were non verbal using the chart and refused to say a word after using them for years, even after showing signs of being verbal. I knew that Mario was verbal but was echolaliac so I worked on getting him to speak correctly rather then copy. It took me a long time but by the time he was at kinder he was able to comminicate verbally. I had ever dame specialist tell me what I had to do without either listening to me or brush off what I had to say as I was only a mum and hadn't studied the specturm.... I had an OT come here one day telling me I should do this and that (should is a pet hate word for me) and when I said brushing doesnt work for us she laughed at me and asked me what I would know....it took me alot not to punch her in the face. Her supervisor went very white (supervisor know's me personally) but I stood up...looked her in the eye and told her I llived it every ****ing day..is that not enough??!! Then I politely thanked her for coming but asked her to walk back out the front door she had walked in and forget were we lived.
I spoke to our pead about Mario and he said I know what works as the proof was infront of him. He has supported me so much with what Ive done and agree's the board is sueless for mario.

[mrsmac]

Lu- I am going to post you the cards Christy made! (just talked to her about it today in fact). The early intervention unit at my school has boardmaker but I don't know how much it costs- do you get Facsia or Dadec money?? I know my pupil's mum was looking at buying one with one of those allowances.

Maz- I am learning so much about the sensory stuff every day and I see how one thing work with one child and not another- YOU are your child's primary carer and know him and what works best.

Finally convinced school to pay for me to go to an inservice on ASD with Sue Larkey next week ! I am really excited to find out more info to help the boy in my class and any other spectrum kids I teach in the future. I think the dept ed is very lax in not providing these courses for all teachers. I will grab every handout I can and send them to anyone who wants them.

[Lulu]

Aaah, I see. What a PITA that they wouldn't listen to you - and what good reason you had to object to it!! Glad you have a paed on your side, it would be AWFUL without that.

Oh tanks Mrsmac, I know how busy you are. I'm really crap at drawings and I've learnt how much he needs the visual to help him get him through changing activities.