Gracias

[Guest guest]

Señores y Señoras:

The more I read about the success stories, the more encouraged I feel about

this forum. It is so refreshing to hear that amidst all the frustration an

dispair we live, there are also stories of comfort.

My 15 year old autistic twin boys were diagnosed with aspergers syndrome

several years back. We insisted on hyperlexia because of their precousious

ability to decode reading/writing and unbelievable memorization skills.

At age 4, we took them to every single imaginable evaluation and no one

could give us a prognosis... and did not fit the " Autism " knowledge

that existed back then. The social worker at their pre-school was pushing for

a retardation verdict, but all specialists, including the school psychologist

did not want to assign this label to them.

It was not until the third grade, that their teacher (Who with by the way,

we had so many problems with) forced the school to delve deeper into their

condition, because while she noticed they were learning the subject matter,

their behavior was not conditioned to acquire it by conventional methods.

By then that the spectrum concept was gaining momentum, and the school

psychologist studied their condition and took the time to compare it to the new

order of understanding of the spectrum and returned a dignose of " mild autism

with symptoms of aspergers syndrome "

All the other symptoms of mild autism were there. They did not clearly speak

until they were 9, they read but there was no comprehension. Very limited,

and i mean VERY limited eye contact, and no socialization with their peers

whatsoever. No fear of any sort to anything and while there were no tantrums,

they were somewhat difficult. Obseessions with routines or objects were mild,

but they were there.

Since we noticed there were problems, my wife (Whom I grant the total merit

of their advances) has enrolled them in music classes (One of them learned to

read music within two weeks), gymnastics, art classes, summer camps, computer

classes, and swimming. On their own they learned to skate and ride a bike.

Now I am not so sure the diagnose was all that correct, unless we are not

aware of related new advances because for that last three years my wife and I

have been experiencing the wonderfull feeling that represents seeing them

" come out " from oblivion, per se. Eye contact is there, they have become very

sociable and outgoing,awareness of their surrondings increased, proper fears

and

a need to communicate appeared as if induced magically.

All of a sudden it is like something clicked and they started developing a

closer relationship with all that surrounds them. To top it off, now that their

interest has shifted to the opposite sex, we are very happy to see also that

they are becoming quite popular in school. With their teachers in academic

progress, with their male peers in good disposition, sportsmanship and

excellent humor.

We are ecstatic! The problems are still there though. One of them studders a

little and the other has a lisp. But they seem to understand their

conditions and are really working to get rid of them because they have

identified and

are know to re-enunicate in order to get it right. this of sourse with the

help of their special ed teacher, the high school psychologist and the speech

therapist.

Their need to be pulled out of some classes for one-on-one monitoring is

disappearing as they have been placed in more regular classes.

They are excellent drawing artists and one of them is quite competitive at

sculpture. They have joined a bowling team and focus on their work. we have

been Mexican folk dance instructors for 25 years, and they have danced with us

since they turned 6, with problems and all they were never affraid to perform

and have never missbehaved while doing it. Somehow we attribute part of

their awareness to the quasi military discipline and forceful involvement of

the

dance troupe.

Some irrational behavior is improving, and although we understand that they

will never be completely " normal " , we can settle with any advance.

We are also involved with an autism support group for Spanish speaking

families and they have volunteered to babysit other autistic children while the

parents join the session. They are a big hit with them. However, we have been at

work translating all that we have gone through and all this wonderful

information that I read here and in other " enlightening " autism sites. Autism

affects us all in the same manner, regardless of boundaries or nationalities...

I would like to eventually take them to Dr. Goldberg for an evaluation, or

at least attend one of his lectures when he comes to the Chicago Area.

Especially now that I have dilligently read everything about and

misdiagnosis...

Keep giving us information..This site has taught us so much and we have

followed some suggestions and ideas that have been given here.

Un millon de Gracias ...

Ovalle