My son Taz was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) when he was three years old. Before he was even diagnosed, I was bombarded by mothers and other know-it-alls about crazy misconceived ideas that certain diets and/or treatments (ie: hyperbaric chamber treatments) would cure autism. Of course as soon as word got out of his diagnosis, I also received lots of questions like "do you think its immunizations that caused it?" or "I swear my friends little boy was cured by such and such treatment...." or diet, or some other concoction. Sure, some of these things may have really helped some individuals in one way or another. However, I have read over and over and over again that THERE IS NO CURE for autism.
Bottom line.
I am a very very busy mother who believes in focusing on things that have been scientifically proven to be beneficial to children with Autism. What is the most important thing I can do for my children?
EARLY DIAGNOSIS and INTERVENTION is Most Important
When I was worried about Taz, I should have pushed for an earlier diagnosis. For whatever reason, I was concerned about labels and people and their reactions. I didn't know I wasn't doing Taz a favor, and the professionals in my son's life were not honest enough with me to help guide me in that direction. Taz did not receive one-on-one behavioral therapy (ABA / discreet trial/ with a naturalistic spin) until he was 4 1/2. The 2 years of therapy he did receive was wonderful and helpful, he just could have benefited much more from it at an earlier age, as younger children's brains are more pliable.
About the time that we started aggressively helping Taz, Gizmo was starting to show some delays. He was about 15 months old when I learned about the UC DAVIS MIND INSTITUTE in Sacramento, CA. Thankfully some of Taz's preschool teachers made me aware and I made a call that changed our lives. Gizmo was diagnosed at 15 mos old with a provisional diagnosis of Autism, which made him eligible to participate in the Early Steps Study. He was blindly selected to be part of the group that received therapy from the ITs at the MIND Institute, who implemented the Early Start Denver Model. As part of this model, I was trained during the PTP (Parent Training Portion). I went up to the MIND institute once a week for 12 weeks and received instruction and evaluation with Gizmo from Dr. Sally Rogers and Dr. Laurie Vismara. When the PTP ended, Gizmo began Phase II, which was 20 hours per week of in-home one-on-one therapy. He was 18 months old when this therapy began and it lasted two years. Gizmo and Taz began their treatment around the same time.
Gizmo is now 4 1/2. He attended a private community preschool last year without an aide and was very successful. He still struggles with extreme non-compliance at times, and some attention getting behaviors. However, he is doing phenomenal. We feel his success can be attributed to the intensive therapy he received from the therapists at the MIND institute.
Taz is now 7 years old. He is doing well also, however, he struggles more than Gizmo.
Its really hard to know whether Taz simply has been more affected by Autism than Gizmo. Or if he would be doing as well as Gizmo if he had received the earlier intensive Intervention that Gizmo received. Or is it a little of both?
In conclusion. I am not looking to "cure" my boys. They are not dying, and I feel blessed to have healthy children. I want to help them be successful in world of human beings that are for the most part-- hard-wired differently. And I hope that those that interact with Taz and Gizmo get to experience the joy of being a part each of their individual journies, as I have.
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