Parents of LO's w/ ASD question...

crystaleyes39 · June 2013

My daughter has not been diagnosed w/ ASD but I do worry she may be showing early signs. She's only 18 months and I just had her evaluated by Early Intervention. She qualified for Occupational, Developmental and Speech Therapies all once a week each.

My question is are these therapies you have done with your LO and did you find them to make a big difference? I've read that if you start early with these it can really make a difference.

Thanks for any input.

MirandaHobbes · June 2013

Talk with your developmental pediatrician. It can vary from kid to kid. Our son started EI at 19 months with a variety of loosely administered methods- ABA, Floortime, ST, OT. We had him diagnosed at age 3 and his doctor recommended a classroom setting with peers. He did not recommend ABA, as DS' issues are primarily social, and not behavioral. Since he turned 3 he has been at a SN inclusive daycare- his day is split between typical peer preschool, ASD preschool through EI, and private therapy ASD preschool. It's a nice mixture and will set him up nicely for mainstream kindy next year. I was hesistant to get DS evaluated by a developmental pedi right away because I didn't think his symptoms were "stark" enough. To be honest, DH and I were probably in denial. If we had gone in right away, we would have started the SN inclusive preschool sooner. Instead we stayed at a typical church-run center which was nice, but didn't challenge DS in the ways he needed to be challenged, e.g. they let him play by himself instead of setting up and encouraging opportunities to socialize. '

Good luck!

pastalady · June 2013

DD went from having a severe speech delay to now being advanced for her age. She no longer has any speech or motor delays at all. We only started therapies this last year. For her it made a big difference.

She is also able to attend a typical preschool without an aide now. A few months ago that would not have been a possibility. She was over 3 when we started therapy. DH and I work with her everyday on all the things the therapists have shown us. She has done really well.

I also think there can be improvements at any age. Man, my DH was diagnosed with AS as an adult. Some of the theory of mind exercised DD does has helped him lol!

mommy0411 · June 2013

My DS1 is on the spectrum and is in the same therapies as your daughter through ECI. We have also put him in a university speech program that is 2.5 hours a day. He is severely speech delayed and has no functional verbal language at 26 months. The therapy has helped a lot especially with his sensory issues! In the 8 months he has been in therapy he has gained 17 signs (he had none and he communicates using his signs) and 3 words! It doesn't sound like a lot but it is huge for him! He started therapy at 18 months as well. Early intervention can be a huge asset to these kids that are identified early, especially with the language delays.

crystaleyes39 · June 2013

mommy0411:
My DS1 is on the spectrum and is in the same therapies as your daughter through ECI. We have also put him in a university speech program that is 2.5 hours a day. He is severely speech delayed and has no functional verbal language at 26 months. The therapy has helped a lot especially with his sensory issues! In the 8 months he has been in therapy he has gained 17 signs (he had none and he communicates using his signs) and 3 words! It doesn't sound like a lot but it is huge for him! He started therapy at 18 months as well. Early intervention can be a huge asset to these kids that are identified early, especially with the language delays.

crystaleyes39 · June 2013

crystaleyes39:
mommy0411:
My DS1 is on the spectrum and is in the same therapies as your daughter through ECI. We have also put him in a university speech program that is 2.5 hours a day. He is severely speech delayed and has no functional verbal language at 26 months. The therapy has helped a lot especially with his sensory issues! In the 8 months he has been in therapy he has gained 17 signs (he had none and he communicates using his signs) and 3 words! It doesn't sound like a lot but it is huge for him! He started therapy at 18 months as well. Early intervention can be a huge asset to these kids that are identified early, especially with the language delays.

What age were they able to tell you your LO was on the spectrum and who diagnosed him?

mommy0411 · June 2013

crystaleyes39:
crystaleyes39:
mommy0411:
My DS1 is on the spectrum and is in the same therapies as your daughter through ECI. We have also put him in a university speech program that is 2.5 hours a day. He is severely speech delayed and has no functional verbal language at 26 months. The therapy has helped a lot especially with his sensory issues! In the 8 months he has been in therapy he has gained 17 signs (he had none and he communicates using his signs) and 3 words! It doesn't sound like a lot but it is huge for him! He started therapy at 18 months as well. Early intervention can be a huge asset to these kids that are identified early, especially with the language delays.

What age were they able to tell you your LO was on the spectrum and who diagnosed him?

He was diagnosed at 21 months by a neurologist.

crystaleyes39 · June 2013

mommy0411:
crystaleyes39:
crystaleyes39:
mommy0411:
My DS1 is on the spectrum and is in the same therapies as your daughter through ECI. We have also put him in a university speech program that is 2.5 hours a day. He is severely speech delayed and has no functional verbal language at 26 months. The therapy has helped a lot especially with his sensory issues! In the 8 months he has been in therapy he has gained 17 signs (he had none and he communicates using his signs) and 3 words! It doesn't sound like a lot but it is huge for him! He started therapy at 18 months as well. Early intervention can be a huge asset to these kids that are identified early, especially with the language delays.

Do you mind me asking what kind of tests the neurologist ran?

What age were they able to tell you your LO was on the spectrum and who diagnosed him?
He was diagnosed at 21 months by a neurologist.

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