is there help for a non verbal pdd child with autistic characteristics?

Answer 1

I am not sure what type of help that you are asking about, but I can share some resources that I hope can help you. You might also try searching for your local chapter of the Autism Society of America at www.autism-society.org . I wish you all the best!

Websites:

"Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew" by Ellen Notbohm - http://www.southflorida.com/sfparenting/sfe-sfp-autism,0,6196233.story

Website of Paula Kluth, Ph.D. - http://www.paulakluth.com/autism.html

Positively Autism (free online magazine, includes free lessons/activities) - http://www.positivelyautism.com

Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism by Temple Grandin, Ph.D. - http://www.autism.org/temple/tips.html


Books:

"Your Life is Not a Label: A Guide to Living Fully with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome" by Jerry Newport

"You're Going to Love This Kid!: Teaching Students With Autism in the Inclusive Classroom" By Paula Kluth

"Not Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism" By Paul Collins

Any book by Temple Grandin

Answer 2

There are tons of services out there for your child.

1. Start using PECS with your child right away. Pecs are picture cards that non verbal children use to communicate their wants and needs by picking up a picture and exchanging it for the real item/activity. Pecs have been proven to help non verbal children learn to talk faster than if they don't use pecs. Ask your child's speech therapist or teacher or any other therapist for information.

2. Start doing occupational therapy with your child everyday...the more the better! Work on fine motor tasks, and sensory areas everyday.

3. Ask about having your child enrolled in DTT Therapy which is Discrete Trials Training for autistic children. This is a therapy where they are taught different skills, as well as the pecs system by going through drills where they are rewarded each time they do something. This system works great for autistic children.

4. Where are you located? in California there is an agency called regional center. If you have regional center in your area please call them if you haven't yet as they can give your child almost all these services and more.

Please email me if you have any questions, I have an autistic brother and I also work with the disabled so I could send you tons of resources and activities.

[e-mail]

Answer 3

I babysit a 2 yr old that was completely non-verbal until about three months ago, I'd be happy to share with you what I've been doing with him. My son is 4, but wasn't completely non-verbal when we started. They're both on the spectrum, mine is pdd-nos. Contact me if you'd like: [e-mail]. I will tell you, though, my methods involve a lot of hands on with your child, so if you'd rather find therapists to work with him/her, take some of the advice listed above. I do all my own therapies for both boys, I don't use therapists. Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

Answer 4

Yes, there is always help. There are a lot of early intervention techniques that experts are using in this field.

I am assuming the child you are talking about has a case manager. Have the guardian talk to the case manager about getting this child into habilitation ASAP. The earlier the start the better. My company has a new program working with at risk infants (too young for an accurate diagnosis) the techniques are pretty time intensive but they claim they do work.

Try checking out :
maapservices.org

Answer 5

YES!!!! absolutely YES!

I would go to icdl.com----that is the interdisciplinary council of developmental and learning disorders and read about Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieders DIR model of intervention. I work with very young children with PDD and Autism and many other diagnosis and there is much that can be done.


Serena Wieder and Dr, Stanley Greenspan also have written a wonderful book entitled "engaging autism" I would recommend this as well.

At the web site I listed above there are many links for parents and information to read.

It is truly amazing how children and even adults can progress when their individual differences are understood and therapeutic relationships are tailored to advance their development. Its truly amazing---------

Good luck as you learn about treatment approaches and the DIR model. DIR stands for
Developmental
Individual Differences
Relationships
and is a wonderful model .

Answer 6

Its something that has to be tested for. and they dont exactly become autistic...they are either born like that or if there is some kind of trauma to the brain at any age can cause autism. in young kids some signs can be if they play alone by themselves alot when around other kids, or if they dont adapt well at all to change, they are also easily to upset, and they can be very agressive. But they are extreamly smart. There are also different levels of autism.

Answer 7

I smiled as I read your question..the answer ..YES..TONS. I am an SLP that has had the good fortune of working with kids at the early childhood level and have changed positions to where I now am working at the high school. This has led me to work with some of the same kids for 11 years. The progress can be truly amazing. For young, newly diagnosed children, contact your county health department for early intervention programs available in your area. For children approaching 3, contact your local school district administrator that is in charge of special education. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

Answer 8

There aren't any definite methods out there... Music therapy has been proven to facilitate language in pre-lingual autistic children. Most doctors think it's a new-age method and it has no merit being included in the care of individuals, but if a child responds well to music, it has been proven to be quite effective in facilitating language, reinforcing positive behaviour, increasing social interaction, etc.... there are lots of resources that you can check out.

Try:

www.musictherapy.org/

www.musictherapy.ca/ (search: Autism)

http://www.autism.org/ (also some useful information on music therapy)

Answer 9

Let me share somethin I have used with my niece that has improved her verbal skills.

I bought a "talking photo album" (Radio Shack & Sharper image carries them) & made cards with pictures & the words (she is FAR away from reading but exposure to words can't hurt). I insert the card in the photo slots & record a 10 second message. "Popcorn - popcorn - Arianna loves popcorn" She seems to think it is just another toy & she sits there punching bottons trying to repeat the words.

When at all possible I record a 10 second tune. She is much quicker to sing a word than to say it.

Answer 10

Ask your child's pediatrician for recommendations. If you live in or near a city, there are probably intervention programs you can look into that can help your child.