Hi all, I hope you can help.
My DD was Dx as high functioning ASD at the start of the year (at age 3). Her main characteristic behaviours at that time were language/communication being behind peers, echolalia (e.g. repeating whole books, peppa pig episodes), lack of social interaction with peers, some repetitive/obsessive behaviours e.g. puzzles being done in the same order, lack of imaginative play. She is very good with numbers and letters and has hyperlexic traits (counting to over 100 at age 2, spotting letters & numbers in the natural environment).
We were living abroad and had a therapist spend 4 hours a week doing ABA/VB natural environment therapy with DD. In addition the psychologist who did the Dx went in to pre-school and gave the staff advice on how best to support DD - making sure that she was pushed a bit more and not allowed to just do her own thing. The psychologist did a follow up in July and said the progress in DD had been amazing and that if she continues on this trajectory she will no longer meet Dx. Language has developed massively (tacts v strong, mands pretty good, w questions starting) but only stilted conversation as yet. DD is keen to interact with other kids but doesn't always have the words, she's much better with adults (who are more patient). Repetitive behaviours have disappeared, imaginative play has come on massively - DD spends lots of time voicing inanimate objects e.g. fridge magnets, toy cars etc.
We returned to the UK recently and have been trying to continue DD's therapy to ensure she stays on track. She is at pre-school 15 hours a week (she was asking everyday to go to school) and doing well. We are going through referral to the LA to try to make sure she is captured by the system and gets any assistance available to her.
DD is ahead in some areas (reading, numbers) but behind in others (writing, colouring she pretty much refuses to do but doesn't mind painting, conversation). However she is intelligent and keen to interact with others. I've seen her saying hello and goodbye spontaneously to other kids at preschool, and to random people when we're out and about.
Privately we have been working with an ABA specialist, but this is not going well. She wants DD to sit at the table, but DD is reluctant and has been really acting up, although she is fairly compliant normally. I don't feel like the therapist has done much teaching in the 4 or 5 sessions we've had, whereas our previous therapist really hit the ground running and was teaching immediately. The therapist has now said DD should be doing ABA at least 10 hours a week or it won't work. We know from our experience that DD picks things up very quickly and I am reluctant to tie her into more therapy, which reduces her opportunities to spend time with other kids. I feel like the therapist just doesn't really engage DD, although DD is happy to play with her.
I just don't know what to do. DH is away until the weekend and I don't want to upset him while he's away working and we can't talk about it properly. I don't have any friends nearby and my parents are currently away so I don't have anyone to discuss this with.
Do we try to find another therapist (this one was very hard to find), give up on external therapists, me try to do more therapy with her? I'm not sure whether we should expect any support from the LA - I'm assuming they would target scarce funds on kids more needy.
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How to proceed for HFA DD age nearly 4?
16 replies
FlossieFrog · 27/10/2016 09:58
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27/10/2016 13:41
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27/10/2016 13:42
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27/10/2016 17:29
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