Autism

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Comment by Holly Collins on July 23, 2009 at 3:26pm

Hi!! Does anyone live in Massachusetts and have a high functioning child in the 10-15 age range? I am looking to start a social skills group for my son who is 15.

I am a mom of two autistic kids and can be found over at www.fearlessfolks.com so come on over and say hi, would love to know you!!

Comment by catherine on July 22, 2009 at 1:48pm

oh ok, sadly they don't use the PDD diagnosis here anymore...apparently it is an old term they got rid of otherwise I think that is where we would be sitting. Since they don't use it we are still floating out in limbo....

Comment by Aimee on July 22, 2009 at 1:44pm

Quick update -- had our evaluation with the developmental pediatrician on Friday. Ig's Dx is pretty much what we expected: PDD-NOS with a clear delay in semantic-pragmatic language skills. Also some signs of ADD/ADHD, but not diagnosed since he's only 3.5. Full report from the doctor coming soon....

Comment by Tammy Lessick on July 19, 2009 at 7:27am

Hi everyone. How's it going? I just started a new giveaway on my blog for a Weighted Lap Blanket. Come on over and enter. You can enter the other giveaways on my site, too.

Comment by catherine on July 15, 2009 at 5:40pm

Our appointment was to include 2 doctors, one a psychiatrist and one psychologist I believe...but the psychologist hurt her back so we had a shorter appointment. The psychiatrist basically told me that he knew our background, but still wanted to hear it from me...I told him straight up that I still firmly believe my son is on the spectrum. He looked puzzled, so I explained I am trained in Early Childhood Education and have only seen my son's behaviors in children on the Spectrum. He nodded his head, and told me that he is most likely on the spectrum...that he hopes that he and his team can help us.
He then asked me tons of questions about his sleeping habits, like how long it takes him to get to sleep and what is he like socially...stuff like that.
In the end he thought that Ethan should be put on some meds, to help him be a bit calmer during the day and able to focus more...plus it will help him get to sleep at night. Not sure if I am okay with this drug, will do research first...
So we have to wait until this other dr. get's better, to see what she can do to help us out...

Hugs,
Catherine

Comment by catherine on July 15, 2009 at 5:35pm

Monica,

I am sorry to hear that Possum is doing biting/pinching/kicking...just out of curiosity do you make a sudden movement or noise when he does that?? I have found that if there is a noise or a movement that they might like after they do either biting/kicking/pinching that they will keep doing it to try to get the same response from you. Has this started or gotten worse since your dog has passed away?? Might be Possums way of letting you know he is hurting too...just throwing ideas out here...
If time outs don't work for him, and you said he get's worse every time it isn't the best discipline for him. Have you read the book 1-2-3 Magic??
There are also library book series out there for children (board books), not sure how many are in a series but one of the titles is "Teeth are not for biting" and another one is "Hands are not for Hitting".
I am also sure that Possum doesn't hate you, will do some searching for you to see if I find anything in the books I have here that might help you. *HUGS*

Catherine

Comment by Monica Seeber on July 15, 2009 at 7:35am

Possum still asks about the dog but otherwise seems fine with it. My second dog, Chili, is very lonely though. Poor girl.

We have been using the time-out strategy recommended by the paed and clin psych, and every time i put Possum in his room he bites or kicks or pinches or does something else that causes extreme pain (i have bruises on my wrist from today's episode). I make it clear that what he is doing is hurting me, and that it is not ok, and I put him in T/O regardless of what he does. But we have been doing this for weeks now and he is not backing down. If anything he is getting more aggressive each time I use it. I does seem to work though. he is usually more co-operative (provided he has 100% of my attention 100% of the time) and has become more responsive to our requests and instructions. we have also had some progress with the toileting.

so what do i do about the biting/hitting/pinching etc when I put him in his room? do I just persevere hoping that he will give up and accept the consequences, or is there something else I can try?

i can't cope with a child that keeps trying to hurt me, even when I am crying in pain. it feels like he hates me. :(

Comment by Aimee on July 15, 2009 at 6:25am

Catherine - we have an appointment with the Child Development Center for Ig on Friday morning. I think it's probably pretty similar. We're expecting a diagnosis and RECOMMENDATIONS for a treatment course...but I don't think they actually offer therapies there.

Since it's already Wednesday morning, let us know how it goes! We'll be thinking of you!

Comment by catherine on July 14, 2009 at 3:44pm

Well, tomorrow morning at 10:30 we have an appointment for Ethan with the Mental Health team from our local children's hospital. I am really nervous about this meeting, since I don't know anything about them and or what services they offer. OR what they are going to do for him...our pediatrician seems to think he has Opositional Defiance Disorder (he doesn't though) and also perhaps ADD or ADHD (which we also believe he doesn't).
Anyone else go to a team like this before?? Any suggestions/advice??

Catherine

Comment by catherine on July 14, 2009 at 1:06pm

Never had to deal with that sort of thing with a pet and my children before, hope things went well...*HUGS*

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