All About Autism
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2ppaamm:
I agree with this too - that's my experience with my 16yo daughter. Around 6yo or so, we accepted what we had suspected for a long time, that there was something different about the way she saw the world and dealt with it. We also don't try to change her basic nature; what we do is to help her make sense of the 'normal' people around her and help her learn to interact with them. In academic matters, we try to tread a middle path where we enforce a reasonable amount of effort to try to make the standards required for her to move on to the next level of education. She's not very academically inclined, so that can be a struggle, and we try not to push her beyond her limit. Our aim is that she find her niche eventually, doing what she enjoys, and interacting with the people around her as much as she is comfortable.I realized that since we got into his world and allowed his gifts to prosper, his confidence grew and he was more willing to get into ours. So he decided to learn the social rules instead of challenging them. I also methodically taught him how to bring his different points of views up in appropriate ways, instead of telling him his thoughts were all wrong.
I am still unsure which psychologist is right, whether my son is autistic or not, but does it matter? I would have brought him up exactly the same way. Through the years, I have come to understand that learning disabilities are real and they do impair children, but more tragic than learning disabilities is the loss of the children's passion and childhood. -
My 3.5yr old ds has been pre-assess by KkH doc with mild autism. Queuing for further KkH testing in aug. very worried n been crying since. I lost my dh one year ago n my beloved dog 2 months ago. Ds has been coughing since last year oct n has frequent nose bleed. i been to many pds, chinese sinsehs n even did xray n nose scope! all cleared except he has rhinosinustitis. His persistent cough is still ard. he just nose bleed a lot again. My life seems to be a total wreck n no matter how I pick up myself, I met with more hurdles. Other than waiting for KkH, what can I do?
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einnoc:
My 3.5yr old ds has been pre-assess by KkH doc with mild autism. Queuing for further KkH testing in aug. very worried n been crying since. I lost my dh one year ago n my beloved dog 2 months ago. Ds has been coughing since last year oct n has frequent nose bleed. i been to many pds, chinese sinsehs n even did xray n nose scope! all cleared except he has rhinosinustitis. His persistent cough is still ard. he just nose bleed a lot again. My life seems to be a total wreck n no matter how I pick up myself, I met with more hurdles. Other than waiting for KkH, what can I do?
Firstly, it is upsetting to have a son diagnosed with autism, but it can be a blessing. Secondly, tomorrow will be better - promise.
Break the problems into smaller pieces and handle one at a time. Nose bleed is worrisome and I'd bring the child to see whatever doctors necessary to ensure he is fine. And if you have done everything, then that's it! Wait for him to grow out of it. My son used to have to same problem, and I was told by a doc that it was because he was growing too fast and true enough when he grew up, that problem went away. Not sure if your DS's case is the same, but be optimistic yet ready to handle for anything. If it is just inflammation of sinuses, then handle it as it is and don't imagine it to be anything else unless told so.
Persistent cough is what many of our parents call 100-day cough. Get a doc to prescribe a medication and then keep believing he will get well and he will.
There's nothing you can do except to keep calm, pray and believe things will get better. Then, come to KSP (though I am not here often but others will be) and there are so many parents who will be willing to listen and help.
Smile, and celebrate every small victory. -
einnoc:
My 3.5yr old ds has been pre-assess by KkH doc with mild autism. Queuing for further KkH testing in aug. very worried n been crying since. I lost my dh one year ago n my beloved dog 2 months ago. Ds has been coughing since last year oct n has frequent nose bleed. i been to many pds, chinese sinsehs n even did xray n nose scope! all cleared except he has rhinosinustitis. His persistent cough is still ard. he just nose bleed a lot again. My life seems to be a total wreck n no matter how I pick up myself, I met with more hurdles. Other than waiting for KkH, what can I do?
Hugs to you.
Must think positive. Crying is ok, but after that, must be strong for your boy. If you fall, what will happen to him? Be careful not to fall into depression.
Re his mild autism, early intervention is impt. Your boy is still young, go for the necessary therapies and give him space and time to grow. Manage your own expectations. Besides waiting for KKH, u can start to read up on Autism and source for the therapies required. If speech is his weakness and is also your concern, start to look for speech therapy...if it is social skills, then look for social skills training classes, etc. There are private therapy centres out there that can provide the necessary intervention. Fees may be high, so focus on the area that most concern you first since that is probably also his worst area. Spread out the therapy sessions. With a therapist helping you, you will have someone to talk to abt your boy's issues and that helps to relieve some of your 'stress'. I know it helps me
. I always bring my problems with my boy to his therapist and she will listen and sometimes provide me some suggestions to try, else she will try to tailor her teaching to address my concerns. Also can talk to the mummies here....they may have experience it, so can give you suggestion how to tackle .
Re his persistent cough n nose bleeds, is it 'cos of his sinus problem? Is he having post nasal drip? If it is post nasal drip, then solve the drip problem and the cough will be gone. My boy has sinus problem too so the insides of his nose is always swollen and clogged with mucus. The moment he rubs his nose hard or picks it, it will bleed. Sometimes, he has nose bleed every day. His PD prescibe Singulair for him. Another expensive drug. I try to clear his nose every night before he sleeps to get rid of his mucus and have to remember to cut his nails short. Also keep his beddings and sleep area as clean as possible. If his nasal congestions gets too bad, I will just give him Zyrtec.
Hope these will help. -
einnoc:
My 3.5yr old ds has been pre-assess by KkH doc with mild autism. Queuing for further KkH testing in aug. very worried n been crying since. I lost my dh one year ago n my beloved dog 2 months ago. Ds has been coughing since last year oct n has frequent nose bleed. i been to many pds, chinese sinsehs n even did xray n nose scope! all cleared except he has rhinosinustitis. His persistent cough is still ard. he just nose bleed a lot again. My life seems to be a total wreck n no matter how I pick up myself, I met with more hurdles. Other than waiting for KkH, what can I do?
einnoc
If I may, first things first would be for you to have a support system for yourself.
It is quite an emotional turmoil to lose close family members, and be faced with multiple problems with your loved ones. So please ensure that you take good care of yourself, and the rest will come slowly along the way.
My doter was 3 yo when she was diagnosed to be ASD. Back then, she was deemed moderate to severe as she was non-verbal. We put her on early intervention program that included EIPIC school, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy. Now she is 6 yo and verbal, and her latest psy report recommends that she accesses the mainstream primary school curriculum based on her cognitive abilities.
Do take heart that with early intervention, the children will improve. It takes time, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Dont give up, and hang on tight. When you hit rock bottom, the only way is up.
:hugs: -
DesertWind:
Thanks for the sharing! :goodpost:
Hi nugget,nugget:
Mummies who kids are already in Mainstream Primary school.
Can I ask:
1. Do you approach the AED before you enroll your kids into that school Or after you enroll then you approach the AED? Or do we wait for AED to contact us after enrollment?
2. Do we need to submit all the psy report and IQ test upon enrollment of the school?
Thanks so much.
My boy going P1 next year and I just attended a talk organized by the KKH-CDC and the Q&A touched on these two questions.
The advise given by the panel of advisers were:
1. Contact the AED only after the child got assigned to the school. The recommended timing would be around Sep/Oct to prep. the kid for P1 by bringing the kid to the school to orientate him and be familiarize with the environment. It is also the time to start communicating with the schools about the learning support necessary for the child.
Of course parents can contact the school about AED support BEFORE the actual enrolment but that would be more to find out if the school is supportive and whether it would be the right school for us to choose for the child.
2. At the P1 registration, no need to submit such reports. We were told the P1 registration process is very strictly adhered to and schools do not have the right to deviate from it. The school has no right to reject special needs kids hence the child will not be disadvantaged in this way. If the child could not get into the school of choice, it would purely be because of chance that occurred during the balloting process.
However, such docs. will be needed in order to obtain AED support or chinese deferment.
That's what I gather from the talk! -
ImMeeMee:
I second this.. You must look after yourself first before you can look after your child.
einnoc
If I may, first things first would be for you to have a support system for yourself.
It is quite an emotional turmoil to lose close family members, and be faced with multiple problems with your loved ones. So please ensure that you take good care of yourself, and the rest will come slowly along the way.
My doter was 3 yo when she was diagnosed to be ASD. Back then, she was deemed moderate to severe as she was non-verbal. We put her on early intervention program that included EIPIC school, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy. Now she is 6 yo and verbal, and her latest psy report recommends that she accesses the mainstream primary school curriculum based on her cognitive abilities.
Do take heart that with early intervention, the children will improve. It takes time, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Dont give up, and hang on tight. When you hit rock bottom, the only way is up.
:hugs:
There are a lot of help available.. Dun give up. Come talk to us when you are feeling stressed up. Its a long journey.... Stay Strong. -
Thanks all. I did suspect abt his behaviour one yr ago but i was trying to cope with the lost, finances, followed by my dog’s illness. I finally came out of my shell and is seeking KKH help. Sad to say, this pre-assessment in KKH prove that i was right. I’m sad, tired and afraid. For the sake of my son, i have to find theraphists for him asap while i continue to queue @ KKH for his 2nd tests.
While searching the forum for recommendations, there are so many pte clinics in the mkt. I do understand that different kids perform differently under the same theraphists. Can anyone recommended tested and proven speech therapists to me? I want to send him one asap so that there’s slight improvement before his 2nd tests in KKH. -
einnoc,
U can try leap frog, is along bukit timah road.
Do u hv any family support like help fr your parents or in laws to look after your son? -
Hi einnoc
Agree with what the other mummies said.. things will start looking up as your son progress. Every milestone he achieves will make you smile and treasure it so much more...even if it is he telling his first lies :imcool:
Do remember to take good care of yourself..get breaks.. don't get burn out.. we rest in order to walk a longer path.
CEL (a govt group) gives out a $300 subsidy for parents that enrol their children in private centers while queuing for space at EIPIC centers. There are 5 approved private centers. I am not sure of the exact fees but it is typically in the range of $1000 to 2000/mth.
http://www.cel.sg/uploads/Fact%20Sheet%20on%20PPIP_14%20May%202013.pdf
Sign up for a private center first while waiting for the psychologist test. This is because after the test they still need about 1 month to prepare the report. The EIPIC centers then rely on the report to prepare admission. After that there is waiting time for individual EIPIC center which can range from 3mth to 1 year. Total waiting time from now till admission in EIPIC could be 6mths away. For a special need kid.. this 6 mths is impt.. they need all the help we can give to \"pull out\" their antenna.
For the EIPIC center.. I have heard good vibes about Autism Resource Center as they are very focused on autism. Queue is long though.. 9 mth to 1 yr.. but worth the wait if it is good. Maybe can try calling them to see if you can start to queue first. Sometimes if there is a student leaving and the profile fits, they can slot you in first.
Temple Grandin (herself autistic) have written a few books on autism. I have read The Way I See It which is very good. She gives very practical advice as she herself is autistic. It is available at NLB.
http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/EXPNOS/BIBENQ/8112559/5143544,6
Lastly (finally ending the post..so long-winded..), try to find out your son learning style. Teach him the way he could understand best. A lot of autistics (but not all) are visual learners and have a good memory. To teach a word or concept.. it is much more effective to engage him the way his brain is wired..
I use to bring along a note pad when I go out. If there is something I want to teach my son, I will show him the object and write down its name. This way he absorbs much faster. I learned this through trial and error. I was trying to teach my son \"pram\" and I must have repeated myself 10 times over different occasions. He still could not remember and finally I decided to write it down and viola, he remembered after that.
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