Double E:

Something new that I have noticed in my boy

Imaginary play
- he finally displays some of them. Now he will take two figurines (we pass it to him) and pretend them to be the characters in a book he read. Then he will narrate \"Ben and bella are waiting for the bus\", \"The bus is here\", \"Ben and Bella are taking the bus\", it may be just echoing what he read, but at least, he will move the figurines like make them walk and take bus. He was never able to do that last time

Negotiation
Previously, when we asked him to stop playing and go to bed, he will protest and throw tantrums and we will tell him he has another 5mins. Now when we ask him to stop playing, he will say \"mommy, give me 5 more mins\". Though he will still throw a bit of tantrum when we eventually ask him to stop after 5mins, but am just glad that he can contextualise what we do to him and use it on us.

His OT just asked us today if we want to start music therapy on him at home which I have been procrastinating. Cos I am a FTWM, I worry that I can't find the time to do it consistently at home. Has anyone of you try music therapy at home?

My boy is doing music therapy now. I'm also FTWM, sometimes need to travel too, so got to depend on my mum and helper to make sure it is done. My boy needs to listen to the CD for 30 minutes a day. I gave him a timer as a form of 'motivator' since he is quite obsess with looking at the clock and checking on the time nowadays.

Gee… wonder why the information I got from KKH CDU different from all of you. The doctor and nurses at CDU said that therapies at KKH rehab is not for kids on the spectrum, therefore they placed me on the waiting list for CDU service… which in end I decided not to wait for it.


I find that CDU is understaffed and many are inexperienced. I think my son will be stuck and not progress if I totally rely on them to plan for his intervention program. Very often, they leave me feeling lost and don’t know how to proceed. Glad that we are at internet age, when I can google more knowledge and or exchange information from forum like this.

Fizz:

specialboymum:

hi parents,


need your advice.
my son's case has been with KKH CDU since he was first diagnose with ASD. We did not go through any of the service they refer us to (all his therapies are at private practice) but we do go back there once a year for follow up and also get psychological assessment for school enrollment.

Now he is in primary 1, KKH has to discharge him since they only handle pre-school kids. The nurses at KKH told us that we could send him to Child Guidance Clinic at Institute of Mental Health. The nurses also added they could refer him to CDU but that doesn't mean they are transferring his case to CGU for continue follow up. . However, if I don't have any referral from them and if I need to go there in future.. I will need to go through the whole process of getting referral at poly clinic... do series of assessment to confirm he is ASD...

I'm a bit lost and don't know how to proceed from here. On one hand, I don't require any of the CGU service for the various kind of therapies, since I'm already making my own arrangement. However, at certain point of time, I may require some letters from the doctors or other recognized professionals to help him to get additional support at school for example exemption from oral exams or mother tongue (if it really get too difficult for him to handle).. where else can I go to get such help?

I just saw the PD this afternoon. I was asking her about the options after CDC KKH since he is going to P1 next year. She gave me the opetion of going private totally or being referred to CGC at Outram. I am still undecided. But I asked her for referral to CGC (meant for P1 to teens) due to cost and there is continuity (they will transfer his records there).

I guess you can still call up KKH to see if they can refer you there based on your prior records. My next appointment is June next year. I guess they will discharge him too.

Thanks. Think I will clarify again. It doesn't make sense to me that we need to start all over again i.e get referral letter from polyclinic, go through diagnose and be informed he is \"autistic\" again, when they could just transfer the file over to CGC

I'm also considering the private route, but is a registered psychologist's letter be sufficient for application for any exemption in future? Because the psychologist reports I got from KKH, are not valid without a medical doctor's signature.

mashy:

Specialboymum


Didn't they give u a report after the diagnosis? I was given a psychological report to say that he has autism and that if required, I could submit the letter for Chinese exemption. It has suggestions on how to help my boy, his weaknesses and strengths, iq assessment etc. I even gave a copy to his form teacher. My boy is going to see them in Nov, also same thing, we didn't use any of their services. I wonder if they will discharge us when we see them in nov...

Yes, we got a psychological report from them last year, which I also submit to his school before he started primary 1. The report is prepared by psychologist and must be sign by doctor at KKH CDU in order to be valid.
I understand the report will not be valid forever leh. If I need to apply for any exemption, I will need to submit an updated one. Our plan is to let him go \"blur\" through lower primary, and when he still show that he couldn't cope when it is closer to PSLE, we will then apply for exemption.

hi parents,


need your advice.
my son’s case has been with KKH CDU since he was first diagnose with ASD. We did not go through any of the service they refer us to (all his therapies are at private practice) but we do go back there once a year for follow up and also get psychological assessment for school enrollment.

Now he is in primary 1, KKH has to discharge him since they only handle pre-school kids. The nurses at KKH told us that we could send him to Child Guidance Clinic at Institute of Mental Health. The nurses also added they could refer him to CDU but that doesn’t mean they are transferring his case to CGU for continue follow up. . However, if I don’t have any referral from them and if I need to go there in future… I will need to go through the whole process of getting referral at poly clinic… do series of assessment to confirm he is ASD…

I’m a bit lost and don’t know how to proceed from here. On one hand, I don’t require any of the CGU service for the various kind of therapies, since I’m already making my own arrangement. However, at certain point of time, I may require some letters from the doctors or other recognized professionals to help him to get additional support at school for example exemption from oral exams or mother tongue (if it really get too difficult for him to handle)… where else can I go to get such help?

GabyEn:

Audvis:

[quote=\"GabyEn\"]Hi Parents

Just to share. My son has been using this online programme for over a year now. Its from Fast ForWord. I like the convenience this programme offers, cos i can get him to do it every day or afew times a day at home. Especially helpful during school holidays!

I heard that they are running a free parent seminar sometime this month. So for those of you who are interested you may wanna check it out. Their website is http://www.fastforword.com.sg.

Hi, I am keen to enrol my girl for the program. Which series are you using (language, literacy or reading) and how much does it cost? Basically the fee covers just installation of the software on your computer? We have to buy our own headphones? Thanks!

Hi
My son is on language currently. Initial sign up is for 3 months @ $900. Thereafter its renewable at $250 per month. Yes, the fee covers installation and you get your own headphones. Hope info helps.

Regards[/quote]Hi,

I'm interested in this program. I read from some website that it has started to become a 'standard therapy' in Australia.

I can't access the website you provided. Is there any email address or telephone number that I can contact them?

Thanks

GabyEn:

Audvis:

[quote=\"GabyEn\"]Hi Parents

Just to share. My son has been using this online programme for over a year now. Its from Fast ForWord. I like the convenience this programme offers, cos i can get him to do it every day or afew times a day at home. Especially helpful during school holidays!

I heard that they are running a free parent seminar sometime this month. So for those of you who are interested you may wanna check it out. Their website is http://www.fastforword.com.sg.

Hi, I am keen to enrol my girl for the program. Which series are you using (language, literacy or reading) and how much does it cost? Basically the fee covers just installation of the software on your computer? We have to buy our own headphones? Thanks!

Hi
My son is on language currently. Initial sign up is for 3 months @ $900. Thereafter its renewable at $250 per month. Yes, the fee covers installation and you get your own headphones. Hope info helps.

Regards[/quote]Hi,

I'm interested in this program. I read from some website that it has started to become a 'standard therapy' in Australia.

I can't access the website you provided. Is there any email address or telephone number that I can contact them?

Thanks

Hi Mummies with kids in primary schools now,


How do you coach them in picture composition? My boy, like most ASD kids is quite literal. He can only tell what he see in the picture, but can’t really explain the story behind the picture

Helplessmum,


If your son’s case is with any hospital, for example, KKH, they could refer you to their social workers to source for some kind of financial support.

I’m not sure how exactly it works, but I understand from friends working in hospital that there is some charity organization or some funds available to help families who have difficulties paying medical bills, you can try asking if such assistance is also available to the ASD related therapies.

Double E:

specialboymum:

[quote=\"Double E\"]Hi mummies, I just came back from a vacation in Goldcoast with my family and friends. It was a tiring but enjoyable experience. And I am thankful that my boy behaved much better than I expected! He was totally cooperative during the 7 hours flight journey and most importantly, he was open to try the different rides at Movieword and Dreamworld. I was initially very worried that he will reject the rides but he didn't and was game for more. Not only that, he loved taking photos with the mascot and was willing to touch the koalas and feed the kangaroos.


The only setback during the trip was his visual stimming, he did a lot of it and at every opportunity he could find. Sigh! He stopped his stimming for two mths and it came back recently. I really need to find a way to deal with it.

Mummies, how do u deal with your kids' stimming activities? My boy likes to look at lines with the corner of his eyes and walk along it.

My boy used to do exactly what your boy did- this is what his therapist described as \"side gaze\". It doesn't really affect his normal function, it just doesn't look nice and it often invite curious stares from people who doesn't understand. I also didn't know what to do about it except for constantly \"nagging\" at him not to do that..Anyway, I also don't know what happen, he somehow decided to stop doing that sometime earlier this year

Me too, nothing I can do but to ask him to stop each time he does that. So your boy stops doing it that totally? I really hope for the day to come.[/quote]Yup, he just stop doing that suddenly. I also don't know why, but since it is a good change, we didn't bother to find out