HELP for kid with autism?

Question

My 7-year old little brother does not speak. We have a big age difference (for those of you who are wondering). He does not want to learn anything. Lately, he doesn't even want to wake up to go to school. We literally have to drag him. What can we do? He's currently in a Special Education class with 2-3 speech therapy sessions per week (half hour each) but we don't see any improvements. Mom is frustrated and screams all the time. We are desperate. This situation is making everyone's life unbearable. Does anyone know of a good program/teacher in Southern CA (Los Angeles/Orange County) that can help him with his speech and make a difference with his condition? If you have any friends that have kids with similar problems, please help.

I've heard that his speech may not improve over time, but I want to try anything possible.
Any comments are appreciated. Thank you for all the replies this far! All of you have taken the time and effort to help.

Answer 1

I'm sorry to hear of your family's trouble. I agree with the other responder that speech doesn't always happen. However, you need to understand that speech doesn't always solve the problem. Your brother needs to learn how to communicate. Check with your brother's school. Find out what type of communication system he is using at school. If he is using picture communication or augmentative communication (voice output device) ask for training so you can use it at home. Be sure you know how to use the communication system before bringing it home. Your brother will need consistency.

Contact your local autism society chapter. http://www.asalosangeles.org/ (LA) http://www.asaoc.org/ (orange county). It sounds like your family really needs support. Other families in your area are going through the same thing. They can help you by lending support, knowing about community resources, and simply understanding your frustration.

Autism is a life long disability. Many children do very well with appropriate therapies, behavioral interventions, medical interventions, and social skills training. Your family needs to become more active with his school's IEP team and find out how they are working with him and how you can transfer those learned skills to home. If he is not making progress in his current educational placement, then ask the district to show you what else is out there.

It sounds like he is getting a good amount of speech therapy. Maybe your mom could attend one of those sessions or have sessions video taped. If you know how to help your brother communicate your family stress level may get better.

There are also services offered through mental health agencies. In Pennsylvania they are called "wrap-around" services. I'm not sure what they are referred to in CA. These agencies do a psychological evaluation on a child, then prescribe behavioral therapuetic staff to work with the child in the home. This is to help families learn better strategies to make life easier.

Your brother is young. There is a long road ahead of him. There is hope out there for all families of autistic kids. You have to look and empower your family with knowledge.

Good luck to you. Please check out your local chapters for more help and advocates if needed.

Answer 2

There are good programs in the Los Angelos area, I would start with UCLA, which is considered to be one of the best in the nation. I live in the Sac area and there is the ABC school, if you can't find anything you might want to give them a call and see if they can recommend anything http://www.abcreal.com
Applied Behavior Analysis is the most effective therapy for autism, I would make sure the programs you are looking into are using these methods.
For children with autism that are non-verbal the PECS system (pecs.com) is a great way to communicate, you can also teach your brother signs in order to help him ask for what he needs. This will really help with the frustration. Also, read up on the disorder, there is a lot of literature out there which can be very useful. There are simple characteristics of children with autism that when understood by family members can make all the difference in the child's development.

Answer 3

This may or may not help, but here goes. My son falls in the autism spectrum. His diagnosis is PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified).

At the age of two his speech was emerging, he had about ten words or so that he would use. At his two year checkup the doctor noticed that he was "tongue tied" (don't remember the medical term). I noticed this before the doctor said anything but didn't know it was a problem. Being tongued tied is a condition when the tongue is attached to the bottom of your mouth more than normal.

My son's case was extreme, his tongue was attached all the way to the tip. He could not move his tongue from side to side or lift it. It took four months to get in to see the ENT doctor at Children's Mercy, then another month wait for the surgery to release his tongue.

During the five month wait Robert quit talking, even though we had speech therapy going he still wouldn't talk, he was too frustrated, I was frustrated. Now at almost four, after about two years of speech therapy, he is finally putting two word sentences together 2 or 3 times a week. He still gets frustrated but not as often. My frustration now comes when he won't use a word that he knows.

I know my son is younger than your brother, but if that student doctor had not noticed Robert's problem, I would be in your shoes now. Sometimes "not talking" can be a "physical problem" not just a mental one.

Answer 4

Has he been evaluated privately? I mean not just through the school district? School district isn't very much help with speech therapy in my opinion. Usually going private is more beneficial. There are several places but I personally would stay away from Newport Speech and Language. You've probably done all the evaluations such as hearing. What is his diagnosis? It is so frustrating to not be able to use language to communicate. But it is possible to get him to eventually. It really sounds as if he is frustrated. I don't know what else to say at this point, not sure what his diagnosis is and what you have done as far as evals. You might ask your pediatrician if they will do a speech referral to a speech/language therapist and see if insurance will pay. I'm not sure if I was of any help.

Answer 5

My sone has Autism and in the beginning he did not speak either. It was very frustrating to try to figure out what he wanted so I taught him to "show me". I would have him bring me to what he wanted. for example when he wanted a drink he would take me to the fridge, where he would bang on the door until I opened it. Then he would hit the object he wanted. Slowly after a while I would have him repeat the object's name and then he would get it. But it took a while before actual words were used. But it was better than just confused frustration.
His speech therapist told us he would get frustrated too and then shut down. Maybe you can try something similiar. I also have a friend that took digital pics of the things in their house and put them in a book. When her son wanted something he would bring the book and point. She put in pics ofmovies, song, toys, clothes-anything important to him including the potty and sink. It got to be a big book, but it really worked.
Above all, remember that everyone is stressed and that your brother doesn't mean to cause so many problems. He feels the stress in the house and every time your mom yells it makes him want to shut down even more. The stress in the house (and maybe something at school) really affects kids like him and they don't know how to deal with it, and don't know how to express any of their feelings, they just quit trying to do anything. It sounds like your mom needs a break, trust me I know how it feels :) . Maybe you could babysit so she could get away for a while or try to make a book and work with your brother on your own.
Talk to your brother's school and see if they have a program at the University that might help. My son needed one on one speech therapy, group never did anything. Maybe their insurance will cover even a few sessions. We saw huge improvements with just 10 visits. Keep trying and never give up. He is very lucky to have you in his life!!

Answer 6

You have to understand that his brain doesn't interpret things the same way yours does. He may never talk or talk in full sentences. That is something you need to be prepared to accept as does mom.
My 8 year old has Asperger's Disorder which falls into the Autistic spectrum so I understand the stress it puts on the entire family. My other kids range in age from 6 -18.
Ask the special ed dept at school that is handling him if there is a support group in the area. That will make a world of difference when you all can meet with others that are going through the same thing and compare notes. Until then search around online for the autism websites out there and educate yourself and when you find something worth trying print it out for mom. It's easier to try things when the whole family is involved.
Next you don't mention anything about OT (occupational therapy) If he isn't getting it get a dr to write you a prescription for it and the school has to provide it. An OT can experiment with what they call fidgets. Many times a fidget can make all the difference in the world. A fidget is something the child holds that has a texture. it could be sandpaper, a squishy ball, something prickly. Each kid reacts to a different fidget better. For my son it is the squishy ball.
Before we got the fidget I couldn't get him to go to school, he wouldn't do any work at all. He now begs to do his homework although he still has to be pushed a bit to get out the door in the morning it isn't as bad and no more crying.
Until you can get a OT find things around the house with texture and rub them on his arm. Some may irritate him and make him mad others may soothe him or get a response from him. Use your findings and allow him to get the sensory he needs from the things that soothe him or make him happy.
PS give mom a hug and tell her how concerned you are and that you are willing to help and work this out with her. She really needs that right now.

good luck!

Answer 7

It sounds like your mo there needs some help from another Dr. Autism is large problem. Has he been diagnosed with a certain type. We look after an autistic child regular. He is pretty good when he is here. Is there any more than you and your brother, because you are carrying large load. Get your brother some help and your mother, you don't indicate how old you are but if you are still ins school it will be affecting you grades. your brother needs one on one that is probably the only way to get any progress.

Answer 8

Disabilities like autism are lots extra complicated then some human beings think of. that's not one answer extra healthful all. Their are severe and low functioning, Asparagus's. No 2 everybody is effected the some way regardless of the some incapacity. She might desire to attempt piano lesson and sing to motivate speech. I did have piano lesson even those I disliked them. I actual have a incapacity myself and while i replace right into a newborn they did not think of i circulate to severe college yet while i replace into 14 I did. i know a pair of seen artist with autism 3 choose help works with them each and all of the time and the different 2 choose miniaum supvision and return and forth independently. some are very sturdy at maths you could desire to confirm the "Curisist canine incident interior the nighttime" the author works with lot of different infants with disabilities so it supply you some concept of what they are in a position to be like. the main character great at maths. i does not be surprized in the event that they chanced on extra styles of Autism I might desire to assert I dislike the words retardation and psychological so please use autism or psychological incapacity. I actual have motor and speech dyspraxia

Answer 9

I'm not familiar with the geography of California, but there is an outstanding Autism Center in Santa Barbara, the Koegel Autism Research & Training Center (website: http://www.education.ucsb.edu/autism/index.html ). On this website are also some training manuals that you can purchase for only $7 each. If this center is too far away for you, I recommend reading Dr. Koegel's books: "Overcoming Autism" and "Pivotal Response Treatments for Autism," both of which focus a lot on language development and developing positive behavior.

About the going to school, I read about a technique, I think in the "Overcoming Autism" book, but I can't remember for sure. The child had a strong dislike of going to school, so they arranged with his teacher to have a favorite activity for him to do for a short time when he first arrived at school. Another option you might look at to help with this is picture schedules and picture communication methods.

Here are some other resources that I hope can help. Best of luck to you and 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 10

I don't know of a good program where you currently live, but I would recommend the programs offered in the Keller ISD (Near Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas) if you are willing to relocate. This distract has an incredible program in Autism with a HUGE success rate. Good luck to you.