Feuerstein’s Mediated Learning Experience (MLE)

[cyberseraphim]

Has anyone used this with a child with learning difficulties such as autism? Has anyone even heard of it? A prospective new nanny for DS1 uses this technique but I'm not sure. I have done some internet research (no surprise there) but I'm still not clear on how it would help an autistic child. DS1 is only minimally verbal and has a short attention span - though he is getting better at jigsaws.

I have never even heard of it but will google it too, though must admit that ABA has been best thing for my DS - who was also minimally verbal and with attention span of a gnat!

bloody hell, I've just googled it and if this nanny is an expert in MLE then she must be some kind of genius as it is almost a philosophical approach to learning. I'm sure there might be something in it, as it seems to be saying that intelligence can be moulded and changed and a diagnosis of autism doesn't mean the child can't learn loads of stuff. Did this nanny do a proper course or study it as part of a psychology degree, as it sounds like you'd have to be some kind of expert to use it properly (ie, if she has just read one article about it, I don't think she'd be really doing it.)

Thanks for taking the time to investigate it. I really appreciate your views. Yes, it does seem a very complex system and has that American ring of 'But every child can achieve everything' to it. She did study the program as part of a postgraduate degree and has used it with other children. What she showed me when she came to the house seemed to involve joining dots. I think a more practical down to earth approach would suit us. The current nanny uses Hanen style methods to promote speech and that has worked very well. He can even say a version of the Green Cross Code now ' Wait, Cars, Cross'

Yes, I have heard of it as their centre is not too far away from us. I also know someone who is/was a Trustee. Even she thought it was a nice add-on for her son who is disabled but does not have ASD. She was very clear though that it is not a substitute for ABA which she is very committed to. I could never quite work out what it was all about.........

oooh it looks interesting I am going to read more.

These are my sources

www.icelp.org/asp/main.asp . The official website of Feuerstein?s centre in Jerusalem.

starfsfolk.khi.is/solrunb/feuerst.htm

www.iriinc.us/index.htm

I'm not completely skeptical but I think I agree with Davros - I'd want it as an add on rather than the main therapy. I don't know how she would feel if I suggested a once a week slot rather than the job. I am hopeless at negotiating these things and I would hate to hurt anyone's feelings.

Oh yes add on definitely. But I think everything is add on to ABA (think once you have that sussed you can add on almost anything - but some children need a huge dose of that first of all to establish basic learning skill ).

I was interested in the idea of being able to teach intelligence. And I was drawn by the positive view of LD's. Am definitely going to look into it more. Also have a paper to read tonight about 'how children with autism learn' which seems a good thing to read in conjunction.

Do you have ABA as well? I am so sceptical about the whole of the rest of the so-called education methods for autism (particularly TEACCH). If I have ONE MORE PERSON ASK ME IF I'VE TRIED A VISUAL TIMETABLE with my DS I think I am going to SCREAM. Answer: yes, I have, and paid out thousands of pounds worth of remortgage on my house for the privilege, only to find that it made not one single bit of difference. Maybe you should just tell her no, rather than try and compromise to keep her sweet when you're not really sure you want this therapy. Or ask her to tell you more, in plain English, about how it relates to autism in particular where speech and hyperactivity are inhibiting learning?? It seems to relate quite a lot to cultural learning, and I'm wondering if autism isn't an add-on rather its main original purpose??

The wiki stuff I read earlier seemed to suggest it was developed for use with LD's. Although mainly for older children I think? Perhaps ask her how she would plan to use it - some of these add ons can be great.

We have lots of other candidates to see so it's early days but probably it's not for us but it was interesting to hear about it anyway. DS1 is not a visual learner either, I wish SALTS would consider the individual child rather than generalised theories. It is supposed to be ABA that he gets at nursery but what they are doing with him is PECS - I've posted on this before so I won't go over old ground. I've decided to put in a freedom of information request to get figures on the funding the nursery get for their program as I don't think it adds up.

By the way, Cyber, it is interesting what you say about your son getting good at jigsaws as my DS sounds very similar. I had no good news on him ever , people were just writing him off, and then a behavioural expert saw him doing a number of jigsaws and said he had a 6 year old's ability at them, when he was only 4. Our children sound quite similar. I think my DS's inability to sit still or concentrate is one of the main barriers to his learning, but I have managed to teach him pretty much to read, even before he can speak properly, which the same behavioural woman told me might happen. I used the jolly phonics DVD and he can now say and recognise all the letters and read quite a lot of 3 letter words. It has also helped make his speech clearer, as he knows why C A T is said how it is , because he is spelling out the sounds if you see what I mean. I wish sometimes there were a safe drug that would make him 30% less hyper, as I think he'd learn so much more.

look these people are combining ABA/VB and MLE

wow, you are good to find this. It does sound impressive but I wonder if they are only this advanced in the US and not here?

just to say hurray for someone else who is ma about visual timetables. I get this all the time and like you amam it makes not the slightest bit of difference with dd (ASD - probably aspergers with adhd and ODD) A lot of people mention ABA but is this mainly for non verbal as dd isn't? Has problems processing language at times (more receptive problems than spoken).

I would love it if someone could give me a potted explanation of what ABA is and who it can benefit as i think it is one of those areas that I think I know about but probably don't know as much as I think i know, IYSWIM. I have read a bit about RDI but not much about ABA. I agree about visual timetables, they don't seem to help DS2 much, they can only work if you remember to refer to them, in fact I have the same problem with diaries and calendars!

Just to show how different they all are - I have to say my ds does great with PECS & TEACCH - I am off now to read up on ABA tho as it sounds like a lot of folks are getting a lot out of it.

PECS is an ABA technique Seuss. So you know how when you teach the exchange your child does the exchange then gets reinforced?That's the basic principal.

Sorry - I get confused with all the letters - I used to be far more intelligent, I could spell and everything, memories gone to hell as well...What do the visual timetables come under then - ds uses those as well? I know what ds does at school and I know all the names of things but what is what is a bit of a mystery to me Actually just ignore me - think I'd better go and do some research - I do have a tendency to freak myself out when I google tho and I suspect I am one of those people susceptible to the whacky 'cures'.again.

yurt that was a good link, cheers.

People often have the misconception that ABA is for only children with ASD and only those at the severe/non-verbal end. I have known many hf children who simply start further on than others and get through things quicker but have still benefited. Also one or two who have done ABA who do not have ASD.

Seuss - ABA is basically about teaching the kid in very small steps how to talk, behave, use money, count, read - you name it, ABA can apply. They use the same principles each time of motivating the kid - eg he gets to play with a fave toy only after doing work (could be just a few seconds' work when program first starts). They are also very good at teaching imitation , and also at analysing behaviour and applying solutions accordingly - eg if a behaviour is attention-seeking, you must not give it attention and must ignore it as if you fuel the fire it gets worse. If a behaviour is avoidance, you must distract the kid and then get them back to work. If a behaviour is aggressive, there are some aversive therapies (eg naughty step). I don't think it is only for non verbal kids as a few pals of mine have very verbal kids but their behaviour needs work and that's where ABA helps. To me, ABA is good old-fashioned common sense with firm boundaries around behaviour and (sorry for those who disagree) I find TEACCH methods far too mealy-mouthed and hit and miss.

Can any one recommend a suitable manual/book/affordable course to introduce aba/vb techniques to me? Suitable for starting further along perhaps?
I realise now that the private salt (and whose techniques I copied in my amateurish way) was most likely using ABA principals.
I really must organise myself!! Ds is very reward driven!

Magso, I do not know of a book but I do find the ABA/VB community website quite good and there might be some stuff on there. The supervisor I use will offer parents a workshop - which is a morning where you basically learn all about VB. You might be able to find someone similar on the ABA/VB site? It does cost, but it is worth it!

Thanks AMA, will search! I think I made ds reward driven as there was no other way that worked!

ancient - thanks that's cleared it up a bit - like Magso I think we've been working with people using ABA principles and we use the 'working for...' motivators at home and school - I just didn't really know what 'ABA' was before. Now ds is settled in school I can research a bit more.