Autism or Learning Disability?

[Christine UK]

Allthough both of my kids have been diagnosed as Autistic I am beginning to wonder whether they have in fact Learning Disability as I have tried and tried most treatments/diets etc etc with no results.I constantly read others who have used/tried similar things with at least some joy.Any thoughts on this? Anyone feel the same way?I feel I have been kidding myself.

Best wishec Christine

[Leslie Gallagher]

Have you tried Applied Behavior Analysis? I feel that this is the only thing that I have tried with my son who is mildly affected in behavior but moderately affected in language. CF/GF did not really make a significant change nor did secretin drops, fatty acids, or SuperNu Thera.

[Diane2boys]

Christine,
What have you tried with them? I have twins who are Autistic and have Fragile X and have tried so many diffenert things and found some worked and some didn't. Each of these children are different and it is a matter of trial and error to find out what works. What makes you feel the dx is just learning disability? IS there anyway you can get a second dx? If you give us some of the different things you are focusing on, maybe I or someone else can be more specific as to what has worked for us.Take care,
Diane

------------------
"Act mindfully. Accept entirely. Move strongly. Think softly. Speak beautifully. Live simply. Love completely." Anon


[This message has been edited by Diane2boys (edited 12-05-2000).]

[Roman S]

Hi, if meds don't help, it doesn't deny autism. The thing is that underlying pathology of autism is not clear and a lot of meds is just trial-and-error. Very few things work well with autism.

LD might be related to autism. LD just includes many different conditions that affect learning, it is not just one thing. So some of it might be autism-related.

Autism is heterogeneous too, bu the way. This makes it difficult to treat.

[Thai]

All Autistic children have learning dissorders, so if you use some technics for both you may find a happy balance. My son who has just been diagnosed as not autistic but so close they are using similar things to intergrate the sensory, language and behaviour problems. (By the way He has a server language dissorder, and this presents very simmilar to autism.)
Key word sighning has helped a great deal and so has the use of compics. So has his Psychologist, ocupational therapist, speech pathologist, physio and the numerous special early intervention teachers he has had over the last 18mths.
Don't give up there are lots of places to get help and support, remember you are not. alone and if no help comes keep pushing it is the only way some times.