Jul. 19, 2008 - What I Have Learned about Autism: Part 2

Here is the 2^nd part of my series on what I have learned about Autism so far.

I am a list person and love to see information displayed for me in a graphic and clear manner.  That’s probably why I love this report from Austin’s doctor. 

Here is a list of Common Characteristics of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders):

·       Lack of empathy

·       Naïve, inappropriate, one sided social interaction, and little ability to form friendships

·       Pedantic and monotonic speech

·       Poor nonverbal communication

·       Intense absorption in specific topics

·       Clumsy and ill- coordinated movements and odd posture

To my knowledge someone who is diagnosed with Autism does not have to display all of these characteristics.  Austin doesn’t. 

The one trait the concerns me the most is the lack of empathy.  Austin shows this trait and I am lost as to how to teach someone empathy.  It seems so inherent as human beings that we would just know that someone was hurting or that when someone was in pain you act a certain way.  When I see Austin struggling to comprehend a situation, I just tell him exactly what he should do or feel.

For example, when he tripped Lily the other day, I immediately asked him to apologize.  He actually said he was sorry and then I told him to look at her and asked if he could see that she was hurting.  I told him she was sad and hurt and that he needed to help her up.  Well, he listened but he didn’t help her up. 

I was glad that he stayed with me while I was talking about Lily and didn’t just walk away. 

On the other hand I don’t know how to get the other kids to really understand that he is different.  I want them to love him for who he is. 

He really is a sweet child who is a little eccentric at times.  I am blessed that Austin does have really good days when he acts so neurotypical that I never think about Autism.

One other item to note in Austin’s report was that it is common for High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s to be diagnosed late or after other diagnoses. 

That one sentence erases any guilt John and I may have been bearing. 

Here are more websites that we were given to look up reliable information.

The National Autistic Society

Social Skills Resources by Carol Gray

Oasis Online Asperger's Syndrome Information and Support

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Jul. 17, 2008 - What I am Learning about Autism: Part 1

I am going to do a series of blog entries on all I have learned about autism and sensory integration disorders.  I am by no means an expert, but I know that I would have coveted information written by a mom, not a scientist/researcher, these last few months.

Today, I am going to list the tests that Austin took these last few months under a clinical psychologist we hired.

• WISC-IV Core/Supplemental
• WIATT-II
• Bender Gestalt-II
• Vineland-II Adaptive Behavior
• Scales Survey Interview Form
• Short Sensory Profile
• The Children's Problems Checklist

I have added links to websites that can shed more light on the content of these tests and questionaires than I can. 

I'll have to say that the IQ test, WISC-IV, gave us the most peace of mind.  We wanted to know what Austin's strengths and weaknesses were.  I teach him every day and intend to continue to teach Austin, so I valued this information.  Obviously, I filtered the information through my rational mind.  I know Austin is not a composite number nor is he less valuable in my eyes because he has weaknesses.  Don't we all have areas of our lives where we flourish and other areas we need support in.

We learned that he learns best in a visual manner. For Austin, that means he will love the Netflix documentaries, the new microscope (it should be here soon!), the trampoline, and the ball of clay he loves.    If he can see it he can own the information. 

On the IQ test there was a subtest of Perceptual Reasoning and Working Memory and Austin did awesome!  His scores were in the gifted range.  On the other hand his Processing Speed was lacking, shall we say.  This one area affects so much of his learning.  Here is an excerpt about what the processing memory affects.

"Processing Speed Index

The PSI is a measure of processing speed. It assesses children's abilities to focus attention and quickly scan, discriminate between, and sequentially order visual information. It requires persistence and planning ability, but is sensitive to motivation, difficulty working under a time pressure, and motor coordination too. Cultural factors seem to have little impact on it. It is related to reading performance and development too. It is related to Working Memory in that increased processing speed can decrease the load placed on working memory, while decreased processing speed can impair the effectiveness of working memory."

My goals for Austin are to learn as much as I can about his processing speed and how I can help him. 

The evaluations were fascinating for me to read through.  I want to learn as much as I can so that I can  help him. 

 Isn't that what any mother would want to do. 

I am mother and this is what I do. :)

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Jul. 13, 2008 - We have the diagnosis . . .

Austin.

This post was originally about his new glasses but there is a bigger burden on my heart. 

 Austin has been formally diagnosed with High Functioning Autism.  It is something we have suspected for years but we didn't know it had a name.  We have always said that Austin had behaviors that he would outgrow or that he was just a  boy and he would grow up soon enough.  We can see now that Austin's life is like a puzzle and we just got the piece that helps us place a few of the pieces we have had laying off to the side.  It is beginning to make sense.  He is still a work of art and a child of God, fearfully and wonderfully made.

I debated ever talking about it on this blog but we are not ashamed of him nor afraid.  I know that reading other families blogs about their special needs kids has encouraged me and given me new ways to appraoch Austin.

A few months ago, as we began the full evaluation for him, I had my gief moment.  I couldn't explain how I felt.  I felt so many emotions coursing through me all at once and I didn't recognize the feeling.  Then it hit me, it was grief.  I have never experienced such grief or a feeling of loss such as this.  I know he will be fine and he is not going to die and he will likely go on to have an independent produtive life, but it is the knowledge that my child has to suffer. 

I don't mean that to say that people with Autism lead a life of suffering, only that my son has had a difficult time in his 9 years and he deals with the anxiety and depression that comes from that.  I hope that the further we go on this journey with Austin that he can begin to enjoy all that life has to offer and experience joy without trepidation.

Please understand me,  we have now come to terms with Austin's issues and are now trying to find ways to teach him and help him live in this world.  We love him just the way he is.  He is my artist, my deep thinker, my cat lover, my lego designing little boy.  I love him with all my heart and soul. 

Our biggest prayer need right now is teaching him.  If anyone has any suggestions we love to hear them.  Just leave a comment.  He has an incredibly low  processing speed and it is affecting every aspect of his life, including learning. 

(Just in case you were wondering, this picture is one in a million. To have Austin looking at me and not frowning while taking a picture is so much more that I could have hoped. :))

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