introducing my self

Michelle - posted on 02/23/2011

I would highly recommend Neurofeedback brain wave training. Both of my children do training sessions regularly and the office that I take them to is very successful at working with children of all ages and the training makes a huge difference for autistic children - I even heard of one client who's 2 year old son was diagnosed borderline autistic and then after completing the training program, no longer met the criteria for autism spectrum and is now functioning well in a mainstream classroom - I was told this was mostly because he trained at such an early age and was able to retrain his brain before he fell further behind in development. I don't know where you live, but this is the link to their website and I know that you can find neurofeedback providers in any area...www.centersforsuccess.com - I would highly recommend this training as an alternative to the many medications that doctors usually prescribe for autistic children. Neurofeedback is non-invasive and drug-free. Hope this helps.

Diane - posted on 02/09/2011

I saved an email sent to friends and family about ten years ago before our son was diagnosed with autism. At the time, he was two years old and we were still trying to figure out what was going on with our non-verbal son with significant developmental delays. He was having staring spells and occasional episodes of having his eyes roll up behind his eyelids, act as though he was in a trance for about 30 seconds, then shake his head and continue to play. His pediatrician ordered a 20 minute EEG to check for seizure activity. Here is my recount after his EEG experience at age 2:



Ryan's test is over (HOORAY!!!!).  Don't know whether

or not it was a success, and probably won't for a

couple of weeks. 

For the brain scan results to be accurate, Ryan had to

be completely sleep-deprived.  Getting him up at 4:00

AM and playing non-stop with him throughout the day,

giving him a wide variety of stimulating games and fun

stuff, was a guarantee that he had to be dog-tired by

1:30 (SO WERE HIS PARENTS!).  The only difficult time

up to the actual test was the 20-minute freeway drive,

with me in the back seat poking and annoying him, to

keep him from nodding off while Joe drove.  Ry was NOT

a happy camper. 

The first few minutes at the hospital, they had us

wait in the playground, and Ry was in heaven!  Then

check-in only took a few minutes, leaving us nearly a

half hour to keep him going (still NO snoozing).  Joe

and I were furious because they brought us to a

playroom filled with toys that immediately placated

Ry, and he ran completely ecstatic from toy to toy,

only for us to be told 5 minutes later that a

last-minute confidential hospital staff meeting was

scheduled for that waiting room right then, and we had

to leave and play in the hall as the testing room

wouldn't be cleared for another half hour.  Joe put up

an indignant fight, asking to speak to the Director in

charge who had ordered the room to be cleared, and the

meek attendant was at a loss how to keep everyone

happy.  Other families cleared the room, leaving us

stubbornly behind watching Ryan blissfully at play,

and they started their hush-hush meeting with furtive

glances at us as to why we were still there.  Our

timid nurse finally got us to go roam the hallway for

the last ten minutes so that she could keep her job,

though she tried to make up for it by trying to engage

Ry in chasing her up and down the corridor. 

For the test itself, sleep-deprived Ryan was to calmly

fall asleep with a head covered with bandages and

electrical wires.  Needless-to-say, he was completely

EXHAUSTED, and EXTREMELY annoyed, and yes -- FURIOUS

-- at having to be wrapped in a sheet with his arms

pinned to his sides, so that he couldn't pull at the

bandages wrapped around his head, or the wires

attached by sticky goop and cotton balls all over his

skull.  Amazing that he was expected to slumber

peacefully through that indignity.  He screamed more

than we've ever heard before.  The toughest thing for

Ry was having his two parents, who he trusts more than

anyone, participate in that circus, and allow him to

undergo such torment.  (There was nothing invasive or

hurtful, but was very similar to putting a two-year

old in a straight jacket, mummifying his head, bodily

pinning him down, and expecting instant sweet dreams.)

At a certain part, when he seemed to be running out of

steam, we let his arms come out from his cocooned body

for a few minutes, and he groped my face, moving his

hands to press my lips, which he does as an intimate

gesture.  Tore my heart!!!  Of course the next move

was to start flailing his head and try to pull off the

bandages, so the arms had to go back inside, and the

screaming increased again.  We can't imagine how they

would have ever been able to finish the 20-minute

(seemingly 20-hour) test without Joe there as well to

help keep Ryan immobile.  Our son has the strongest

will we have ever witnessed.  In the meantime, all Ry

could do while he flailed and wailed was to keep

yelling DA-DA, DA-DA.....heartbreaking!

The attendant said that the test data she was

receiving appeared usable, with or without Ryan's

compliance, and that the important thing was that he

be completely sleep-deprived with no artificial

stimulants.  If the final results show

inconsistencies, and are questionable, then there will

need to be a second session, this one after 24-hours

without sleep.  (for a 2-year old???  Really!!!!)

Please pray that today will reveal answers to the

developmental delays Ryan is having, as well as

guidance in the next steps to his speech therapy.

We're so anxious to help him overcome whatever is

blocking his development, and causing him such anger

and frustration.

The Gallants are looking forward to a peaceful, and

restful evening tonight!!!  Thank you much for your

kind thoughts, prayers and continued support!!!



NOTE: Results that came in were inconclusive, and the doctor ordered a 24-hr EEG. We opted to try dietary intervention first, and immediately put him on a GF/CF diet (gluten free, dairy/casein-free). He has not had a seizure since so we never pursued the more thorough testing. Had his staring episodes continued, we would have figured out a way to get through the 24-hour test.



Our son is now 12 years old,with very high-functioning autism, highly verbal, and excelling in Middle School. He is still on the GF/CF Diet and under the care of a DAN Doctor since 2001.



diane in Middle TN, originally from Southern CA

Katherine - posted on 02/04/2011

i have a 3 and a half year old that was diagnosed at 2 years old as well. When ever we even walk into the doctors he KNOWS its like a 6th sence or something . He doesn't know them and just doesnt want to be bothered with them touching him. Your son isn't comfortable and doesn't like it so he screams. Bring stuff for him like pictures or rock him and sing a song or a stuffed animal whatever he likes a coloring book and some markers. My son loves to swing and take baths because he is what they call a sensory seeker loves to play in boxes of dry beans or dry noodles, sand, hair, water, hugs, massage he obsorbs it like a sponge. Its hard to adjust to your baby being autistic but that diagnoses will get him the treatment he needs. I pray for you and your family and I am happy to have read your intro.

Sheila - posted on 02/03/2011

Hi Alyissa,

I'm sorry to hear the appointment caused your little guy so much stress. When my little guy had to have his MRI and bloodwork, they actually sedated him (he was given "sleepy" pills mashed in applesauce, and they sedated him through an IV. Is there any possibility that your son will be given a mild sedative? It might make the testing easier for him.

Good luck...and don't worry about getting the right "lingo". When you have a worry, a concern, a question...or are looking for strategies...just let us know! Some mom will see your post and be ready to offer a suggestion or two!

Good luck with the testing....and be thankful you are in Sacremento! We just had a blizzard roar through in the last 24 hours! LOL

Sheila