RE: Re: Treatment/diff &children to Rhoda Boyd

[Guest guest]

Hi Rhoda

I'm not sure where you live, but possibly you are in an area where you can

obtain ABA services that would be more beneficial to your child than your

current provider. Not all ABA/DTT providers are highly qualified or will tailor

a program to your child's specific needs (such as targeting expressive language,

etc). Many DTT providers use a " one size fits all " program with all of their

clients. We have been through several providers in the past and have now been

with a wonderful (extremely qualified) agency for a couple of years with very

positive results.

We also have stopped many meds with our son without regression.

If you would like to chat, you can e-mail me privately at

sonyaemerson@...

Take care

Sonya

" Palmer, F " <palmerr@...> wrote:

Good question. I have asked that. That has been the bane of research in

this area. To make up for your long but relevant post, the short answer

is that we don't know. And that can be frustrating.

Ray

Re: Re: Treatment/diff & children

I have a question for everyone. It is one that I toss around in my mind

over

and over.

How do you know if the long-term improvements your child makes are the

result of , ABA, other interventions, a strong parental commitment

to

being " involved " with your child or just the result of your child

developing/improving as he/she gets older?

I have talked to parents whose children are almost indistinguishable

from

their peers and they have done nothing -- literally. No special diets,

no

drugs, nothing. Their children are in regular classrooms with no

support.

They speak well. They have friends and hobbies. I've seen a few of these

children. They are indistinguishable. I've met other parents who have

sworn

that supplements made all the difference to their child's recovery.

Others

who swear by something else.

I have friends with children who have been on the protocol and are

now

off of it. They are following a holistic regime. One's child has gained

weight and looks much healthier now, where before he was very thin and

had

dark circles under his eyes. The other child, also following the same

holistic regime, is starting to say a few words and is showing a much

better

range of emotions (e.g. cries if his mother leaves, where before he

seemed

indifferent). Both are off all drugs. Nothing horrible has happened.

They

have not fallen off in their learning. They have not taken a step

backwards.

They appear to be healthy and doing fine.

In support of , I know that the anti-virals helped my son. He was

diagnosed with low muscle tone and after a short time on anti-virals had

great muscle definition and strength. He was stronger and more active.

He

was on them for two years and has been off of them for one year. I have

seen

no deterioration off the meds. He still takes an SSRI (but again, after

a

brief initial improvement, I wonder if they are still effective). He has

tried several and many seemed to have no effect at all. His first one

was

Paxil and it made a difference right away with his learning, but seemed

to

plateau within a month. An increase was not helpful/good. After trying

many

others with no real difference, he is now on Prozac and seems fine, but

no

miracles -- no surge like that first initial jump (which didn't last).

Does anyone else ask this question? I would like to hear what others

think.

Are some kids just destined to " make it " with a lot of intervention and

others just destined to walk a tougher road? My son started a new ABA

program for those in half day school this November. It has really opened

my

eyes and made me think. There are kids there who are talking and doing

really advanced learning who are the same age. They don't have a medical

regime in place and no extra private supports like we have (OT, speech,

etc.). We've been doing NIDs and ABA since my son was just a little over

2

years old. We caught it early. We acted early. He's 5 now and he is

still

really stuggling. He can't talk at all. He's not toilet trained. Is

there

anyone else walking in my shoes right now? I would like to hear what

others

think about this.

Sorry for the long post.

Rhoda

Re: Re: Treatment/diff & children

> >

> >In a message dated 1/5/2006 10:13:31 AM Central Standard Time,

> >candisfirchau@... writes:

> ><<Your the first parent I have talked ( emailed- whatever!) that has

said

> >this. I have never seen any children who are " recovered " , meaning

talking and

> >holding conversations and doing all the typcial kid stuff. >>

> >

> >I have met three people I'd consider " recovered " -- meaning able to

blend

in

> >with the " typical " population, no longer showing any challenges.

I've

met

> >more kids and adults who have overcome their challenges and are able

to

blend in

> >but still have some sensory, cognitive or social challenges. I

suppose

both

> >could be considered " recovered " . My son is talking well, initiating

and

> >participating in conversations and doing many of the things you'd

typically see

> >kids his age, or a bit younger, do. He blends better with kids a few

years

> >younger than him and on some days would fool many people into

believing

he didn't

> >have any challenges. Other days though, his challenges or

differences do

make

> >him stand out.

> >

> >My comment about taking " recovered " at face value was more to point

out

that

> >there are many levels and stages of " recovery " . Just because someone

declares

> >their child " recovered " doesn't necessarily mean that the child has

reached

> >the level you'd like to see your child reach. This isn't meant to

down

play

> >the progress the child made, just to suggest that you ask more

questions

to get

> >a better understanding.

> >Gaylen

> >

> >

> >