We have had the psychological evaluation (and are still awaiting the behavioral/OT and developmental pediatrician evals). He recommends that my son go into an ABA class (5 full days/week). The psychologist admits that my son is high-functioning but feels because he didn't do what the psychologist wanted him to (but my son was able to do the tasks for ME perfectly) that he lacks attention to task and ability to follow directions (my son doesn't do well with men). My question is: How do you figure out which class would be right for the child (ABA versus non-categorical versus integrated...)? Does anyone have any helpful hints? I am afraid of putting him in a class that doesn't have higher-functioning kids for him to model (since he is currently verbal 4-5 word sentences but not consistently without prompting). I would like to have him in a class maybe Tues/Thurs so I could keep him in the typical class that he is in now on Mon/Wed/Fri for the best of both worlds. :confused:

How old is your son? I did my ABA program at home and my child attended a regular pre school so he had the best of both worlds. I agree that it is very important to be around regular kids. However, since ABA has scientificaly proven that 50% of children who go through the program are cognitvely indistinguishable from their peers it is extremely important to do as much ABA as early on as you can.

My son is 3 1/2 years old. I guess I need to see the different classrooms to know what will be best. I agree that ABA has some proven success but at what level did those kids start? My son does have difficulty attending to tasks (once he starts though he can do almost anything you ask him to) and has alot of delayed echolalia. Does this mean he needs very intensive ABA therapy or because he can ask questions, combine 2 phrases into a question, speak in 4-5 word sentences, etc., is he ready for the "next level" (whatever that level is - I am not sure). I just don't know. Hopefully, some of the teachers at these schools will be able to help me decide.

I was also under the impression that ABA may not be right for my daughter because she is verbal, etc. Every case study I read about that supported ABA invovled these really retreated children and usually they were not verbal at all. However, the more I learned, through reading and actually meeting with professionals who practice ABA, I realized that getting them to speak is only part of what ABA deals with, it teaches so much more, though meaningful communication is a big part of it. Abby's attending was so poor, but she has made tremendous progress already. TREMENDOUS, and in only four weeks. She was getting 16 hours a week up until this week, and now she is getting 40 hours a week, plus what we do at home. All my reading, talking to other parents, and listening to what the DX doctor had to say about Abby's strengths and weaknesses and what ABA addresses all contributed to our decision to persuit ABA for Abby, first anyway.The Bryna Seigel book I've mentioned before in particular helped us decide what Abby might best benefit from, but actually getting busy with some professionals really made up our minds. If your son is already that far along, communication wise, then that is just that much futher down the road you get to start. How encouraging! We are doing the SI too, largely based on Temple Grandin's explaination of her experiences as a young child and as an adult in her book, "Thinking in Pictures." It seems like that in Abby's case, like in her own, a multi-disciplinary approach is in order, but Abby needs more than child-directed therapy. At least that's what my gut tells me. Of course, every child is different. Autism is so puzzling.
I like also that ABA is so proactive. When I hear a professional use the phrase "life-skills," I run the other way. She is three years old! I have no reason not to believe that she will recover. That's our prayer anyway.

Sandy, if you decide to do both schools I would try ABA 3 times a week and regular preschool the rest of the week. Since your son has accomplished so much with no ABA he should FLY THROUGH THE PROGRAMS. You will see results so quickly. ABA helps fill in the gaps that children with autism have. I think you will be amazed with his progress and I bet he will be ready to be mainstreamed by the time he is in Kindergarten.

Hi.

I am curious about your child's verbal skills. My son was diagnosed last week with autism. He has a decent vocabulary, the problem is that he doesn't use his words to communicate (except if he wants a drink or something to eat, then he'll say "want milk, want pizza). He doesn't answer any questions, or seek out interaction through conversation. His eye contact is very inconsistant, and he doesn't try to play with other kids in day care. He only follows one little girl around and touches her ponytail very affectionately. He demonstrates happiness at home, and smiles frequently. He also seems to be thinking of something funny at times and starts to giggle.

I have a second opinion coming up, and I am hoping to get a different dx. All his evals put him significanly under age level (17-20 months in self help skills, language reception, sensory integration) He is 33 months. Does anyone else have a child who behaves like this?

Still wondering,
Matts mom

He sounds just like Abby at 33 months. She was diagnosed at 34.5.

Hi.

I am curious about your child's verbal skills. My son was diagnosed last week with autism. He has a decent vocabulary, the problem is that he doesn't use his words to communicate (except if he wants a drink or something to eat, then he'll say "want milk, want pizza). He doesn't answer any questions, or seek out interaction through conversation. His eye contact is very inconsistant, and he doesn't try to play with other kids in day care. He only follows one little girl around and touches her ponytail very affectionately. He demonstrates happiness at home, and smiles frequently. He also seems to be thinking of something funny at times and starts to giggle.

I have a second opinion coming up, and I am hoping to get a different dx. All his evals put him significanly under age level (17-20 months in self help skills, language reception, sensory integration) He is 33 months. Does anyone else have a child who behaves like this?

Still wondering,
Matts mom

Hi Matt'sMom,

My daughter does similar things as your child except she is 8 years old now. Her language, cognitive, and social skills are still at a pre-school or maybe kindergarden level. Like your son, She can speak several word sentences but only when she wants something (I want cookies, I want this (pointing to object), can I have a fruit snack, etc.). She can't engage in a conversation at all and often doesn't respond to you when you ask her to do something. She will not interact with other kids normally except with an occassional light touching of one of the kids in her classroom - which usually gets her in trouble because other Autistic kids don't like to be touched so they wind up biting her back or hitting her when she tries to touch them.

She also, out of the clear blue, starts laughing but then she could turn around and start crying minutes afterwards. She has a high sensory input requirement as she always rubs the carpet, or touches things, or rubs her hands on other people's clothes.

Her eye contact use to be like your child's where she would not look at people when she was around your child's age but eventually, we worked on her giving us eye contact over the years and that is no longer a problem. She tends to hide her eyes when she's getting too much sensory input and we force her hands down to correct that behavior (they also reinforce this in school). That seems to work and she doesn't have a melt down when we do that.

She was diagnosed as PDD-NOS originally but then that was changed to Austism later on (she didn't have all of the raits of autism so that labeled her PDD).

So, are you trying to determine if the autism diagnoses was the right one for your child?

RD

Hi alltheanswers and everyone.

It's like I stated,I'm confused. I guess I'm just trying to compare him to more of what I always considered "classic" symptoms. I definately see him as "younger" than his actual age. He doesn't act like the kids in his day care, and is usally sitting alone (even at lunch time, he is physically at the same table, but apears to be somewhere else).. He is very interested in shapes,to the point of obsession. Example: We went to our library acouple of days ago, and he pulled my hand to have me follow him. Rather that go to the kids books, he dragged me downstairs to the AV section , over to the microfische machine to stare at a part shaped like a triangle with real intensity. On the other hand, he's not so prone to tantrums. He doesn't seem t be bothered by touch. He's always talking, humming, I think to hear his own voice. I do think that he is much better at home than in public, and seems less "stressed" .Does this sound typical to you guys? I just always thought that autistic children were nonverbal, self injuring, and totally reclusive. Thanks! Mattsmom

Autism has an extremely wide range of cognitive levels and behaviors. I have never met two children with autism with identical symptoms. There are lots of similarities. A lot of children with autism have great difficulty outside their homes because of sensory issues. I feel very fortunate that my son has never had a problem with this. When my son first started to speak I want (whatever he wanted) was in in about 90% of sentences. When we started ABA he was 33 months and his speech was at a 24 month level. I think the reason you are confused is because you do not have enough information about what a child with autism is really like. Some children will never be able to lead a normal life and others will be able to function extemely well.