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Original poster

So proud of my son!

77 replies

SinkGirl · 18/04/2021 12:01

I’m so excited, I have to share!

My twins are 4, both are autistic and non verbal but DT1 is absolutely obsessed with the alphabet. Until recently neither of them showed any signs of understanding spoken words at all.

This morning he brought over his box of magnetic letters and starting handing me the letters to get me to say words starting with each letter.

When I said a is for alligator, he tried to spell alligator.

Then he went through each letter and spelled ball, cat, dog, elephant (but left out one e) and fish when I said the words.

After that he stopped spelling the words I said and started spelling other words - goat, house, jump and key. He must have gotten these words from books. I thought he was starting to read but still amazed at how much he can spell.

I’m so excited - I went through a long legal battle to get them into the right school and they’re both coming on so well. They both understand so much more and and now DT2 will give me a kiss when I ask for a kiss so he’s understanding more too.

DT1 has shown he can copy words and spell some words from memory like numbers, but this is the first time he’s spelled words from speech.

Here’s his attempt at alligator - I’m actually pleased he makes mistakes in some words as it suggests he’s trying to remember how to spell them and not just regurgitating things he’s remembered.

I have no idea if this is age appropriate and just seems advanced because he is delayed everywhere else but I’m so proud of him - it’s so much harder for him to learn things and he is trying so hard.

We had two years where we just saw no progress at all and now they are both coming along so well. I feel really hopeful that they will be able to learn to communicate which means life will be much easier for them.

So proud of my son!
OP posts:
Mydogisagentleman · 18/04/2021 12:02

Fabulous news. Well done him

Playdoughcaterpillar · 18/04/2021 12:02

That's so lovely. Well done little boy. You are clearly a superstar x

espressoontap · 18/04/2021 12:03

🥳 well done to your son! You must be grinning like a Cheshire Cat!

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Camomila · 18/04/2021 12:05

That's brilliant! I'm so please for you Flowers

My DS1 is 5 and in reception, when he writes he makes quite a few spelling 'mistakes', which is what they are expecting at this age as they are learning to spell phonetically - so for eg, elephant he might spell elefant

Enko · 18/04/2021 12:05

Aww this post made me grin from ear to ear so lovely

Original poster
SinkGirl · 18/04/2021 12:08

I might have had a little cry this morning! It wasn’t very long ago that we realised he could match a letter to a word starting with that letter, then we were amazed he could copy words out, then that he could spell his numbers from memory, but spelling words that are spoken when we weren’t sure he even understands what we are saying is just mind blowing. He must know so much more than we realise and just can’t communicate. He definitely is a little superstar. I would love him to start talking but more important is that he can communicate in whatever way - if it’s through writing or spelling that’s fine with me! I’m starting to think he has some kind of physical or coordination issue that prevents speech as he only makes one sound even though he is definitely understanding more.

OP posts:
Original poster
SinkGirl · 18/04/2021 12:11

@Camomila

That's brilliant! I'm so please for you Flowers

My DS1 is 5 and in reception, when he writes he makes quite a few spelling 'mistakes', which is what they are expecting at this age as they are learning to spell phonetically - so for eg, elephant he might spell elefant

Yes he spelled it elphant which is better than I would have expected! I was also shocked that he could spell eight as it’s so illogical and I thought maybe he has a photographic memory... but spelling mistakes suggest not.

The brain is so fascinating isn’t it? It’s so baffling that a child can spell but not speak.

If anyone reading this has little ones who are very delayed, hang in there. I felt so hopeless the last couple of years as they both just seemed stuck where they were but now quickly seeing lots of changes.

It’s funny as I read and wrote very early - I always thought my nan must have had some genius way of teaching it to me but now wondering if I was similar to him in grasping these things early.

OP posts:
BaseDrops · 18/04/2021 12:17

That’s amazing! Does he have PECS cards? Or some other communication device like an app?

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 18/04/2021 12:17

That's amazing. You should be proud.

And I think you might be right about the speech issue. While he might be spelling some of those words from memory, the mistakes look like he's got some phonics going on there too and they're exactly the mistakes you'd expect at 4.

notaknob · 18/04/2021 12:18

Absolutely amazing! Can't imagine how proud and emotional that must be. Gorgeous!

growinggreyer · 18/04/2021 12:19

Wow, that is so fantastic. He will be able to use a communication device to get his ideas across. There is an app for the Ipad that does this, you can program words that he knows and he can use it to communicate about people and animals he knows, whether he wants a drink etc. His school might be able to provide one or you might just want to get something yourself.

apps.apple.com/us/app/proloquo2go/id308368164

aibutohavethisusername · 18/04/2021 12:20

Fantastic. Love this.

Original poster
SinkGirl · 18/04/2021 12:22

He has PECS but only uses it for tangible single words (eg a food item, or bubbles). Supposed to have an AAC device as part of his EHCP but the LA are messing the school about.

Exactly - it’s funny to be reassured by errors but it definitely seems to be like he’s trying to spell things out.

He’s such a brilliant little thing - very hard to actively teach him things as he doesn’t mimic others or anything, so everything he knows he has figured out on his own, whether it’s spelling or head stands. So all credit goes to him, but also the staff at his school who are clearly doing an amazing job based on how much progress he’s made since he started. Same for DT2 although he’s more complex but he’s still doing so well.

OP posts:
Thecrisplover · 18/04/2021 12:23

This is so lovely OP! Well done to all of you!

Original poster
SinkGirl · 18/04/2021 12:25

[quote growinggreyer]Wow, that is so fantastic. He will be able to use a communication device to get his ideas across. There is an app for the Ipad that does this, you can program words that he knows and he can use it to communicate about people and animals he knows, whether he wants a drink etc. His school might be able to provide one or you might just want to get something yourself.

apps.apple.com/us/app/proloquo2go/id308368164[/quote]
Yes he’s supposed to have one already - bloody LA messing us about. We borrowed one for a few months last year and he could use it well, but still only for single words. He’s just started the stage of PECS where he’s adding in “I want” before an item.

Difficulty with PECS and AAC is neither of them understand if they can’t have something (eg there are no more biscuits or we can’t go to school on a Sunday afternoon) which has caused distress because you can’t explain to them why that’s not possible. But hopefully now they understand more we can do explain more.

OP posts:
Cocolapew · 18/04/2021 12:26

That's lovely Star

spongedog · 18/04/2021 12:27

I am so pleased for you - that is lovely.

And the spelling you showed above for alligator is so phonetic - it shows he must be hearing the sounds.

My DC is much older than yours (mid-teens) but very dyslexic - they would write alligator like that today. It took me a while but I can now understand what they write in texts and emails. I encouraged my DC to text - it avoids a lot of the formal structure in school-based communication and they can add their personality with emojis, emoticons, videos, gifs etc.

BaseDrops · 18/04/2021 12:28

Have you got a pictorial/word timetable up? One that shows the week and what day it is? Showing where you are in the day is good as well.

Maggiesfarm · 18/04/2021 12:30

That is great! Well done to your son.

growinggreyer · 18/04/2021 12:35

That is really depressing. He needs the communicator just like a child with CP might need a walker etc.

With the not understanding if they can't have something, do you use Makaton? The sign for 'finished' is usually used in SEND schools quite regularly, so you signing and saying "biscuits are finished" in a very matter of fact voice might work as that is what the staff do to signify endings of activities etc.

Original poster
SinkGirl · 18/04/2021 12:39

Exactly. It was agreed during the build up to our tribunal and the amended plan was issued nearly 5 months ago. They were out of school most of Jan and Feb self isolating but they’re back now and it needs sorting. It’s all very frustrating - if they’d started at this school this time last year when they had a space rather than fighting through 2020 I think they’d be so much further along now too. Such a waste.

We do use signing but they haven’t really shown any awareness of it - they did learn to sign more with a lot of hand over hand but that’s as far as it goes. Hopefully their understanding will keep increasing and it will get easier.

OP posts:
Original poster
SinkGirl · 18/04/2021 12:40

Yes I think texting is a really good idea - will focus on spelling the words we use most and see if he can learn to send messages (don’t see why not, he’s better with an iPad than I am!)

OP posts:
Joeblack066 · 18/04/2021 12:42

How fabulous!

Iwantcauliflowercheese · 18/04/2021 12:54

My classically autistic GS messages me. To my amazement, his grammar, spelling and punctuation are perfect. In fact, he uses semi colons correctly. He wouldn't be able to write any of this by hand as his writing is like a young child's. He's a teenager. Getting your twin to use messaging is a great idea. They actually know far more than you think.

Original poster
SinkGirl · 18/04/2021 12:57

I am sure he does - every time we think to try something he can do it, it’s just finding ways to apply what he knows. Will definitely try messaging. I had started writing instructions on a white board but it’s very hard to know what he understands from context and what’s from understanding the words - also he may understand things but not react as an NT child would so it’s hard to know. Really wish I could live with his brain for a day so I could know what he understands and what he doesn’t.

OP posts:
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