Testing for Autism (Slight)

M.,

While you are getting your daughter evaluated, you may want to go ahead and try making adjustments to her diet, your cleaning products, and her body care. The part I know about is the diet and I have some information that Dr. Billy Johnson has written about antioxidants, phytonutrients and autism. Both he and Jenny McCarthy (sp) recommend MonaVie as a helpful product. I also have a girlfriend with a son with Asbergers (again, spelling help?!) and she found that when she added MonaVie to his diet, he became more social. It may not sound like much, but she noticed that instead of being perfectly happy playing alone all day, he started asking to play with friends. Even for children that are not autism spectrum, it is simply a great thing to add to their day because it provides so many antioxidants and phytonutrients - the equivalent of eating 13 common fruits and vegetables a day. As we all look for convenient ways to get more fruits and vegetables into our kids, this tops the list.

E. - shoot me a note if you want a copy of what Dr. Johnson has written. He also has a book called New Prescription for Childhood obesity in which he focuses on the great need for antioxidants and phytonutrients.

Talk to her pediatrician. Early Childhood Intervention (I think that's the name) can also do evaluations and referrals. If you need to, write down everything that concerns you before you talk to someone. I taught in a daycare, and someone from ECI came in and spoke with us about what we could do as childcare providers if we suspected any kind of learning or developmental delays. I think they do at home evaluations, but I'm not sure on that (I know they can go to the daycare). You should also be able to find a lot of information on the web, and support groups.

I would love to talk to you more about this. i have a 2 1/2 year old who we also feel is on the spectrum...we feel she has PDD/NOS.

Here is a site that has a questionere that might help you figure out where she is at.

http://www.childbrain.com/pddassess.html

My DD does not answer to her name, has speech delays, physical delays, seems at times in her own world, sensory intergration dysfunction. Cry's to laughter and prefers to play by herself than with others, afraid of new people and new suroundings. Etc.

I can help with info on help. My DD has an apt with The Child Study Center. It takes MONTHS to get in...we started paperwork in July and our apt is in Dec.

M.,
We took our littly guy to Dr. Hitzfelder at The Child Study Center in Fort Worth. Dr. Hitzfelder was previously with Easter Seals, I believe. It may take a while to get an appointment but you should get a thorough evaluation.

Good Luck!

You can try the school district (ECI doesn't apply after 3), but don't expect much. I have a son that sounds just like your daughter (he's 6 now) and the only place we got real help was through Our Children's House Baylor. You have to get a referral from your ped., but they will do a full work up on her and help give you a direction.

Whatever you do, don't give up!! If you are sensing that there's a problem, then there most likely is. We went to the school district, a neurologist, a developmental pediatrician and OCH to help us with my son's issues. Honestly, we never got a "diagnosis", but did get therapy through OCH which helped him tremendously. We've also got him in a small private school b/c a lot of noise and crowds really throw him off, so the small school is good for him.

Just to give you an idea of some of my son's symptoms he: didn't answer questions until he was 4 (with therapy), he would become obsessed with certain things (doors, light switches, now computers and any electrical device), very sensitive to sounds, likes to be around other kids but has a difficult time socially (that is getting much better). We've been told he might be mild Aspergers or ADD or both, he just doesn't fit in any of the labels.

Good luck!!

The earlier you get her tested the better. My son was test in Feb 2007 at Children's Medical Center and did a extensive evaluation and he is on the spectrum. I would definetly get her tested.
You might be able to go to Easter Seals as well.
I wasn't very happy w/ECI.
I hope this helps.
M.

M.,
I was just at an autism conference and the optimal age for working on improving symptoms is age 5, and it must be intensive intervention... studies show that 30 hours a week works but fewer hours does not.

Easter Seals of North Texas offers a program for 3 to 8 year olds. Contact them to have her evaluated, get on the waiting list and keep pursuing all help. This age is critical.

Since she's slight, you might not be offered alot of help, but you can do your own intervention to some degree. It's all about training her brain to recognize certain things.

I should have notes from the conference soon, and you can pm me if you want a copy.

Yes, check out ECI, get whatever therapy they'll give you. But also call Easter Seals and get info on early intervention techniques you can do at home with her.

I so wish this info had been out there for me..... you are very lucky.

http://ntx.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=TXNW_...