All About Autism

[schweppes]

ImMeeMee


Re handwriting, there's a separate thread in KSP on All About Handwriting (under the sub-forum Working with Children) that covers handwriting tips as well. It's not a problem that only asd kids face, NT kids too. Have a read thru for more ideas

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1939&start=220

[Karkar]

Blokus:

Ask ALOT of questions before deciding if you should book an appointment for the first visit. Make sure you are on the same page as them. I think you have to choose very carefully because most of the first consultation or not cheap. It's ridiculous to hop from one center to another paying exorbitant fees each time.

I think you are off to a good start. You have identified some areas to work on like joint attention, etc. For instance, Try to google 'how to teach joint attention' & get some ideas so that you can work with at home while searching for centers. The best therapist is not out there, it's at home, its you.

Blokus,

Thanks for the tip. do you mean ask a lot of questions when you book an assessment with them or even before going down to centre? there are a lot of intervention centres out there. i just try the ones mentioned here first.
Personally feel wee care is too expensive, their home therapist is 288/hr, which is quite ridiculously high to be honest. although money aside, it's still the quality of the therapy that counts. for 288/hr i will bankrupt my entire family.

Understand your kid's situation a little more from your post. from your description, it seems to me that your kid is fine. My boy can't even do that. cant look at the direction you point to, can't call me or my hubby mama baba, can't follow instructions, can't stand and weight himself at clinic. he has eye contact, but very briefly.

Brought him to see PD for vaccination yesterday, mentioned this to PD. She played with him on the toys, he did look at her and was a bit amazed. so PD said she is not too concern. She said we must know how to play with them, need to follow their interest.

From what i read in floor time, therapist can get the kid's attention by following their interest and play some obstruction to slightly annoy or engage the kid. this is called the centre of the philosophy behind floor time. While i am searching for help, this is how i arrange his day.

9am-11am when term starts next week, he will go for non parent assist montessori class, (new sign up for him and see if he can adapt)
11am-2.30pm going home, lunch time and nap time
2.30pm- 5.00pm at home playing time with mummy and inlaws
5.00pm-6.30pm outdoor playground, sand play, walk around the park
6.30pm-8.00pm bathing, dinner time
8.00-9.30pm playing at home and milk time
10.00pm-10.40pm rolling on bed to sleep time

when i get the centre, will throw it the therapy hours, and meanwhile since my boy is into music, i wanna sign him up for once a weekend music enrichment, which is to allow him relax and be happy in this session. learning music is not my objective here.

how do you arrange your kid's day?

[Karkar]

mashy:

Met a 3 yr old gal at kkh McDonald's today. She doesn't talk and I saw her pointing to tell her parents what she wants. Reminded me of my son when he was that age. We have come a long way and he is now so chatty.

Mashy,

Thats very good to hear that your son is chatty now..it must be a huge relief to you and your family. i feel happy for you too.

are you able to introduce me some interactive toys?
currently at home, we have blocks, rolling beads, lots of books, some matching puzzles, water bottles, bottles with beans, toy cars, electronic guitar, little music house, small football, flash cards, small drums, and many many household items and many many toys that i put away so as not to overwhelm him. i admit his room is filled with too many toys and like a indoor playground.

[ImMeeMee]

Karkar:

ImMeeMee and Double E,


Thanks for your reply. I intend to check up the mentioned centres first to see if i get comfortable with the therapists and program managers there as well as if they can build good connection with my son.

My colleague recommends me isadd. not sure if it's the more expensive choice, but from what my colleague told me, it seems a good centre. first they will assess my son and let program manager to plan the therapy he needs, then they send different therapist to address those issues. my colleague uses them as home therapist, and has program manager to go to their home once a week, and senior therapist every other weekday and sat. 2 hr each day, for 6 times a week, roughly about 2.3k a month, which seems quite reasonable as i check other centre. found in http://www.cel.sg/Services_Child_Early-Intervention-Programme-for-Infants-Children.aspx.

is that sufficient for 2 hr daily intervention?

karkar, just curious as to what does isadd means. the weblink you provided refers to the EIPIC program. My daughter is currently on the program. Please let me know if you need more information.

[ImMeeMee]

schweppes:

ImMeeMee


Re handwriting, there's a separate thread in KSP on All About Handwriting (under the sub-forum Working with Children) that covers handwriting tips as well. It's not a problem that only asd kids face, NT kids too. Have a read thru for more ideas

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1939&start=220

thanks schweppes for the information and tips. Will check them out!

[Blokus]

ImMeeMee:

Blokus:

Double E


So in your list, only wee care has social programs? Looks like I've to stick to them?

Besies Wee Care, Dynamics and Kaleidoscope also offer social programs. I have spoken to the therapists from all 3 centres not long ago to make enquiries, but in the end did not place my child on any program. You may like to check these centres out too.

Thanks! I checked out the websites, they do have social group programs! One of them is nearer for me. I will call them up!

Anyway, I'm meeting Densie tomorrow. She says she will help me identify my son's needs. I hope it would not be a wasted trip. I've to lug my 1 year old, and my mom with chronic backache- no joke.

[Blokus]

ImMeeMee


Im not sure about professional coaching but I agree with your therapist. If you don't start teaching them to write properly from the beginning, It will create alot of problems later. And it would be difficult to correct when they are older- coz habits are hard to change. I guess unless you are confident in teaching your daughter then can put off the coaching for now? Otherwise I don't think it's a bad idea, coz starting at 3 years old is better than starting at 5.

My son was averse to writing & coloring- anything to do with picking up a pencil. He didn't even doodle. I didn't push him much though at 3 years old. He started to be Ok with it when he went to a regular school at 4- but teachers kept saying his writing is poor. So I took it upon myself and teach him. I was very very strict with him. If he doesn't write in the correct direction, or if the letters don't touch the top or bottom lines, I'll make him re-write. There was alot of frustration on both of us, needless to say. But I pushed him hard. Now His teacher thanked me, yah she actually said 'thanks!' for his improvement in handwriting.

I guess, you must know your daughter limits. Push her but don't push her beyond what she can do- otherwise she will detest writing forever. I pushed my son because I know he can. He just needs more confidence- he tends to say 'cannot' at the first try. If you think she cannot focus a long time, then do one letter a week or two etc. Don't rush through the alphabets. Very important to Follow her learning pace, coz if you don't, you will ruin her interest.

Just my two cents.

[Blokus]

Kar kar


Try to ask lots of questions before deciding to book for the first appointment. Like what exactly is to expected from the first visit? Will they help you identify his areas of needs? How? Will they play with him? Or just talk to you? Will they Ask him a set of questions & tabulate scores to see where he stands? Etc? Or is it just to see him? Will there be a report or just verbal sharing? As I shared, I expected to emerge from my visit to wee care a little wiser about my son’s needs. But I came out none the wiser & $75 poorer. Dr kelvin saw my son physically but he didn’t share any of his observations with me. Don’t wish that for you.

Actually, I’m wavering between believing my son is ok and not. Some days he shows he’s typical some days not. Few days ago he actually played UNO with my niece & I could hear some verbal exchanges between them- much to my surprise. He also joined in to play with the rest of the cousins. I suspect my son is PDD. Cause he’s at a level where he’s mid way between being on spectrum & typical. Like I shared, he has some level of joint attention but not all. He has some level of interaction but not at the normal range. He’s cognitive learning is above average even better than typical kids i’d say. He can tackle maths questions 2 levels up his age requirement & understand concepts almost instantly. Those teachers who have taught him one on one like his Montessori teachers always say he’s a fast learner & intelligent. Yet when it comes to using words to match his thoughts, he has much difficulty. He can read & understand (he can answer all questions relating to the text) but cannot describe his own feelings. Many times he’d wake up crying from his nap but say ‘I dont know’ when I asked him why. So I’m very confused. Sigh.

[crabbygal]

Hi all,


Any recommendation of dentist good in handling autistic kid? My son needs to see a dentist and he is oral sensitive. Tried googling but can’t seem to find much information, except Smilefocus at Camden Medical Centre, Dr. Ong. Help?

Thanks!

[Karkar]

ImMeeMee:

karkar, just curious as to what does isadd means. the weblink you provided refers to the EIPIC program. My daughter is currently on the program. Please let me know if you need more information.

Hi ImMeeMee,

Isadd http://www.isadd.org/is a centre where my colleague recommended. they have their therapist to go to their house. i worked out the cost to be around 2.3k a month for 2 hr x6 a week.

my bad, i post the wrong link. it should be http://www.cel.sg/uploads/PPIPServiceFeeMatrix1Mar2012.pdf which shows all other centres' cost. to me, Isadd is not too much more expensive considering it's home therpy.