Parents identify, intervene with daughter's autism

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Parents identify, intervene with daughter's autism

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of articles from the Dexter Daily

Statesman focusing on special needs of special children.

By NOREEN HYSLOP

Dexter Daily Statesman

seemed to be the perfect newborn for and Holly of rural

Puxico, Mo.

" She was an angel, " said her mother, remembering her daughter as an infant eight

years ago.

" She ate well. She slept well. She rarely cried. She would coo and smile like

all babies, " said her father. " We had the perfect child. "

By all indications, proceeded on track for about a year, reaching

appropriate milestones with success. It wasn't until she was nearly 12-15 months

old that her parents, both registered nurses, recognized some changes in their

blue-eyed, blonde toddler.

" She was not making eye contact as readily, " Holly said. " And she just seemed to

be withdrawing at times and became a little distant. "

's speech was not developing in an age-appropriate manner either. By the

time she reached 18 months, the s were convinced that something was " just

not right. "

When she could not verbalize her needs, an often visibly frustrated would

take her mother or father by the hand and try to show them what she wanted.

" So often we could tell she wanted to say something, but the words just wouldn't

come, " Holly said.

is the s' only child, and they have spent a lot of energy to

intervene on the symptoms of autism that, left untouched, would have separated

her from the everyday world of reality.

Early visits to the pediatrician were often met with the suggestion that

was fine and that her parents were just " overconcerned or overreacting. " That

diagnosis was often attributed to the fact that both parents had a medical

background.

" It was frustrating to know that something wasn't right and to be told over and

over that we were reading too much into her behavior and her lack of progress, "

Holly said.

Before the diagnosis of autism, 's hearing was tested, and the s were

told she needed tubes in her ears because of a buildup of fluid. The anxious

parents hoped the tubes would solve all of 's problems. While the

procedure helped her overall, there were still obvious signs that something was

wrong.

The s said after a frustrating period of referrals and appointments, when

was nearly 3, they visited a St. Louis physician who confirmed that

had autism. By then, she was attending the Kenny Children's Center

in Sikeston to receive speech therapy and occupational therapy after being

diagnosed with verbal apraxia. While still on the waiting list for Kenny ,

was also on a waiting list to see a pediatric neurologist at St. 's

in St. Louis.

" It's a real waiting game, " Holly said.

When the day arrived for the St. 's appointment, the s were told after a

nearly daylong examination, that their now-3-year-old had autism. While the

couple's thoughts had been going in the direction of an autism diagnosis for

some time, the spoken words still came as a surprise.

" I think a lot of people, even her therapists, suspected autism, but were afraid

to tell us that's what they thought, " said. " And so we weren't convinced

until that day. "

A subsequent visit with specialists in the autism field from the Autism

Center based in Columbia, Mo., proved invaluable for the s.

" Therapists came to our home and spent two full days evaluating and working with

, " said. The therapists drew up an Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)

therapy for 's specific needs. The program's implementation would serve

at home and at school for the next four years.

" The ABA program required from 30 to 40 hours a week to implement, " Holly said.

" It involved a lot of positive reinforcement and began with very basic

instructional lessons and commands. We found it to be an invaluable tool that

has served amazingly well with her development. "

Another gold mine discovered by the s through a mutual friend with an

autistic child is the relationship, although only via telephone, with a Kansas

physician, Dr. Brown.

" He is a Defeat Autism Now physician and he's incredible, " said Holly. " He's

very expensive, but we have gained invaluable information and techniques from

his wisdom regarding autism. "

Brown promotes a natural treatment, with proper diet and vitamin supplements,

before referring children to prescribed medications. The s have found

through his analysis of 's blood work and behavioral concerns expressed by

the couple, what they consider to be the best solutions for their daughter to

not only cope with autism, but to achieve goals they once thought impossible.

There is a wide spectrum of autism, and was diagnosed as " mild to

moderate. " Intense therapy has played a major role in her success in school, in

sports and especially in the realm of music. loves music, singing, acting

and dance. She takes music therapy at Poplar Bluff, Mo., once a week.

She also attends Social Group Therapy in three times a week. Much of

's therapy is expensive and involves several hundred miles of travel. And

yet, the two working parents, with Holly also in school to become a nurse

practitioner, accommodate 's needs through working together and sharing

the responsibility of their daughter's needs.

At the age of 8, today is functioning well at Puxico Elementary School.

She plays ball, is active in Girl Scouts, church activities and has a close

circle of friends. But the steps that brought her to where she is today are

substantial, and they point to the success of early intervention when dealing

with the special needs of special children.

" We have been so blessed with an excellent school system and a wonderful staff

of professionals, " Holly said. " We're very fortunate. "

It becomes evident when visiting with the family that the trips for

therapy, the physicians' visits, the evaluations and the expense of an autistic

diagnosis, are not considered a burden, but rather a privilege.

The s agree that if there is one point to be taken by parents of children

with special needs, it is not to give up. They said to find a physician you

trust and use resources like the Internet and libraries to learn about new

treatments.

" We've learned so much through research and just going forward, that now I can't

imagine it any other way, " Holly said.

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