I have a 6year old son w/autism. Ryan at this time has no speech. I am very disturbed in knowing that in the past 6 almost 7 years Ryan has never been able to tell me he doesnt feel good! A simple tummy ache, throat/ear hurts, nothing! He has had a few ear infections in his life but never seems upset by them until they are really bad. (doesnt get fevers or fussy) I feel bad that he can not come to his parents when he is not feeling good for some extra TLC...Has anyone taught their child how to respond properly when they may be sick? if so how did you teach them? thanks alot!

Carolann - posted on 03/03/2009

Im very sorry to hear about your son, Ryan...Although my son does not have aspbergers,he a speech delay and is just starting to speak @ the age of 4. 

My cousin's son does have aspberger's and I know he has a difficult time with it. However, he is invoved with many activities and gets occupational, and speech therapy.. I wil speak to them for you and get back to you once I have some helpful answers....

Andrea - posted on 03/03/2009

Have you ever thought about teaching your child sign language? That would be start to a successful communication between you two. I have a daughter that too is non verbal. I can tell alot by my daughters eyes & her sign language.

You also might want to use PEC pictures for your son to point to. I had a friend of mine create a "book" of all PEC pictures that my daughter would use through the whole day. It has been very useful. In fact, today, she took her "book" & pointed to COOK & got her dads attention & showed him COOK on the PEC pick & HE WAS COOKING so we were SO shocked & proud of her!

Good luck & keep me updated.

Andrea

Andrea - posted on 03/03/2009

Have you ever thought about teaching your child sign language? That would be start to a successful communication between you two. I have a daughter that too is non verbal. I can tell alot by my daughters eyes & her sign language.

You also might want to use PEC pictures for your son to point to. I had a friend of mine create a "book" of all PEC pictures that my daughter would use through the whole day. It has been very useful. In fact, today, she took her "book" & pointed to COOK & got her dads attention & showed him COOK on the PEC pick & HE WAS COOKING so we were SO shocked & proud of her!

Good luck & keep me updated.

Andrea

Pam - posted on 03/02/2009

Have you ever heard of boardmaker, you could make icons to help your child talk and explain in his way what is wrong. Check with your childs school I am sure they will be able to help you with the icons that you need, for example sick, I want to eat and so on. You could also teach him simple signs to explain what his needs are.

Sasha - posted on 03/02/2009

we use makaton in all the special schools in the UK, I have the bits of paper to teach it. I didn't know it was around in the US.

Sasha - posted on 03/02/2009

It often seems hard for them to understand the concept of communication, on the plus side they do have an easier time learning 'second' languages, because all languages are learned as second languages to the autistic brain. If an aspie/auti gets to the point where they are self-caring they can pick up most languages by the emersion method. Drop them into the relevent country and expose to nothing but the new language. By the time they get back home they have the new language down. It does seem to be the first one that is the biggest hurdle, and not all auties do communicate verbaly. It is important that you do not feel you have failed if your child does not. Find another way, signing or symbols. I have known some mute auties who can read very well, and communicate by typing on handheld mini computers. Try anything and see what works.

Kim - posted on 03/02/2009

When my son was younger we taught him sign language. He didnt talk Now he is a senoir and has made wonderful strides Sign language or pictures work great They can point to the picture to tell you how they feel or what they need

Sasha - posted on 03/02/2009

Valerie, when my son was little I was told he would not speak, that I should enjoy spending time with him and when he got too much, to not hate myself for putting him in a home. Now he is 16. He gives me no end of lip. He starts at college in september and has been offered a scolorship at an intensive performance art school for two years at weekends and during college holidays (vacations). He's also been asked to join an acting agency that would put him forward for profesional stage and screen work. He tests in the top 2% academicly in everything exept english comprehension and interpritation. Having said that, he does not say anything if he has pain anywhere or if he injures himself. He does not get himself a drink without being told to do so and he still hords food. He is nothing if not a contradiction. I woould warn against believing the prognosis of any 'specialist'. For a long time I did insist that Alec would be 100% self caring, and while I am now realising that this might not be quite true, he will be able to live independantly with a support worker helping him for an hour or so a day when I can no longer do it, as I have it made clear my daughter is his sister not his carer, and she wil not be old enough to do the job nor will it be her responsability.

As for sleeping, Alec was sleeping for 6 hrs at 8 weeks old as soon as he was put in a cot in a room on his own. He didn't like being swaddled, but stratched out on a cot he would sleep like a rock. And woe betide anyone daft enough to wake him. Some things havn't changed :)

All the best
sasha

Cheryl - posted on 03/02/2009

This was informative for me. I appriciate it and thank you for the web sites, I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR SOME AND THESE WILL HELP ALOT..... CHERYL

Valerie - posted on 03/01/2009

Hello, my name is Valerie, I also have a child with Autism. My son is 8yrs tom. I understand how frustrating it can be, how alone, and how nice it would be if doctors were more educated. But I have found that parents sometimes know more. We seem to do more research and we always want more for our children. I refuse to hear any one say my son can't do something. I was told, by a not so smart Ped. Neurologist, that Billy would never say a full sentence, never interact, never use scissors, never write. He was so wrong. The day I left that doctors office I went to K-Mart and bought almost everything in the art department. I made Billy look me in the eye. I put him in group activities and I made it known that he is Autistic. I made Billy repeat after me.

I, we were not going to let any negativity in our life.!!!!!!!!!!! By accident a doctor that was looking at my little girls tonsils asked Billy to show my little girl how to open wide. When he did this, she found that his tonsils were at or a little bigger that a 4(Huge). Within two weeks, Billy had his tonsils and adnoids out. This was hard, he struggled with the healing process, so did I. Billy was also diagnosed with Sleep Apnia. The tonsils, adnoids, and sleep apnia where not allowing the oxygen that he needed for his brain. After a month he was more alert, talking in short sentences and sleeping throughout the night.

I am not saying this is the cure, tonsils and adnoids, but it's a beginning. There are a lot of studies on Tonsils and Autism and the link between the two. Google it, you will find alot of information and maybe talk to your primary care. You are welcome to call me, you are not alone. Be strong, I say this to my self daily I also prey over my child daily. My name is Valerie my number is 719-287-4141

Kim - posted on 03/01/2009

makaton is a good way to teach yr child even if they have no speech it helped me alot and my son and it is fun

Sasha - posted on 03/01/2009

And i'm dyslexic, so sorry about the spellings.

Sasha - posted on 03/01/2009

Using signs and symbols is definatly the way to go. When it comes to the body, having a big body poster with sticky smily or frowny fases are brilliant. You can get the child used to the idea by doing a daily 'mummy has a headache' and put a frowney tab on the head. Or 'mummy burnt her finger on the sausepan' and a frowney on the finger. Then encourage the child to put smiles or frowns. While it is the hardest thing in world not to worry, if your son is aware how stressed the communication issue makes you it will be harder from him to relax into communication. My own son learned to speak by reading. He started reading because I the old him what all the road and street signs said, all the shop names. After a while he started saying to say the words too. Then he would bring me things and paper and pen to write down what they were called. Then I would tell him what the word sounded like. At 16 years old my son has not done anything by the book. It's very stressfull, but never dull.
All the best.

Karen - posted on 02/28/2009

Hi I have a son who is almost 6, we used PEC's (I call them Pecks but apparently that is wrong) from Boardmaker and modled speech, he started to talk last year and I felt that same way you did, with intense speech, pecs and modling I can not get him to stop talking....be careful what you wish for.LOL

Best wishes!

Rebekah - posted on 02/28/2009

I taught my son sign language at age 3 I'm sure your son can pick it up. I am no expert I just taught my son simple signs for important everyday stuff, ex. eat , potty, sick, play, sad etc.. The video that taught myself and him was called Talking Hands. I highly recommend it and because autistic kids are so smart he will pick it up. Give it a try what do you have to lose. :)

Angie - posted on 02/28/2009

Erin--- Hello there. I have some great advice for you. You really need to check into some vision boards. They are the best thing ever for communicating. It might even help you in more areas other than just feeling sick (if you need that??).  Do you have a computer?      

Good luck and I hope this helps out. We have 4 boards for our son and he loves, loves, loves them. We bought a morning & nightly routine--along with 2 trip charts for use in the car while traveling. I bought them off ebay, but there are downloadable programs to print & design them, too. I will send some information, now.....

Here are some important links to check out:

http://students.depaul.edu/~hguendli/AAC...

http://www.mayer-johnson.com/

http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/as/boardmak...

Now, if you're interested in buying something off ebay like I did, then go to ebay and type the following in the search engine.

Communication Book/PECS/special needs

Let me know if you need anymore help with it. I can guide you through it.

Good luck & all the best to you & your family!

Angie