Topic : 01/17 Extreme Disorders

Quote From: elna1234

I haven't seen much talk about ABA or Applied Behavior Analysis. Although it is geared to young children (i.e. early intervention), it does wonders for those who are older.  Managing emotions, recognizing emotions and triggers, handling non-verbal gesutres, conversation and knowing what to do in social situations. 

ABA for older children is much like tutoring, but not only do we tutor these children in academics, we tutor them in social skills.  It's very rewarding when progress is made!  

I also know that medication helps much for older kids.  WIth the combination of a well run ABA program, school support and meds, many many many children with autism (all forms of autism) do fantasitic! 

Elna 

ABA lead therapist 

Quote From: l_mancine

I have 2 kids ages 16&13... the 16 year old has aspergers and the 13 year old has Tourettes...Its very hard and demanding rasing 2 kids with special needs... I would love to come talk to Dr.Phil and get some more help as my kids were diagnosed late and I feel that had we known sooner we could have done more to help them in life...Lynne in Michigan

Quote From: gabesmom

I saw the show with Alex and Asperger's. Where in OHIO can i get some HELP for my teen's AS? I'm pretty sure we live only an hr from Alex, as i heard on a local station where he's from- a local boy on Dr. Phil. So can Karen give me some direction? When watching Alex on Dr. Phil today, several times i just about cried as i saw clips of Alex and it was like seeing my son! My son's anger outbursts were much the same, but when i saw the few seconds of Alex as a toddler on the floor rocking and banging his head... it was my son Gabe! Gabe did it sitting up too, including banging against the crib or wall. But the pediatrician dismissed it! along with all the upsets and crying- all dismissed as normal. Now i know it's the sensory integration problems. At least he'll wear sox now! We've lived for 16 yrs with the autistic symptoms and my futile attempts at getting help, only ot be met with responses like i'm a crazy or worried anxious Mother. (ok, so i'm anxious and depressed... now what about my son's autistic spectrum symptoms!? Ha!) Until last yr when, our highly intelligent 15 yr old Gabe shut down, not functioning. The Zoloft triggered even worse violence, which i had to "fight" to get the med changed to a mood stabilizer. And it worked! Lamictal has helped his emotional mood swings. I had recognized the symptom of a anti-depressant indication Bi-Polar. So he was diagnosed with Mood Disorder NOS, b/c he didn't neatly fit into Bi-polar. Then at OSU Medical Center the p-doc first diagnosed him with PDD-NOS, Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified. That's one of the 5 Dx's in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I know Gabe meets the criteria for Asperger's, although he hasn't been formally evaluated; i'm working on that. But finally i just got his P-doc at OSU Medical Center to acknowledge Asperger problems. The Dr explained that AS was really the foundational problem and the mood symtpoms are really a result of the AS. So Gabe has dual diagnosises of PDD and Mood Disorder. Still, our main problem is getting help at School, where they don't see any problem. He's getting mostly A's again, so what's the problem? They don't see the inner turmoil Gabe has, the social problems and all the effort, anxiety and exhaustion that results. Then, because he's not getting treatment to learn social skills, to learn how to process and deal with the emotions, we see the behavior symptoms at home. It's a big mess with the school system b/c he is in private school. We spent all last yr getting the MFE and then IEP. But the private school needs a separate Service Plan. Not to mention they just put Other Health Impaired for his problem needing services. The services he has in his IEP is basically a joke- it's nothing. So we are trying to get it changed to Autism. It's taking forever... He is in 10th grade and is so intelligent he plans to go to college. I feel like time is running out, if he doesn't get the social and living skill problems addressed so he could live better on his own. I wonder, is there any of these treatments for AS available in OH for my son? And how do i pursue them when finances are crashing. Having him in private school IS basically part of his medical treatment plan to keep him functioning better. Where do i put most effort to get him help?

Quote From: joyceymay

On the show, Dr. Phil refers to Asperger's (AS) several times as a "disease".  I can tell you right now, a lot of parents and individuals with Asperger's are going to be writing to object to this characterization.  There are people with Asperger's who are happy with themselves as they are and will take offense to being referred to as diseased or damaged. 

  

I am a mom of a 16 year old, who was diagnosed with AS over 11 years ago, but who is doing quite well today.  We have always referred to him as "differently abled" rather than "disabled."  It was not mentioned on the show that most  Aspies are highly intelligent and many have extraordinary abilities.   

  

I do agree that AS is neurologically, biochemically based.  Some people have gotten help from taking medication.  Many families (including mine), who can and are willing to invest the time and money, have found natural ways (i.e., special diet and nutrition) to deal with the biochemical imbalance.  There are a ton of resources out there for people who opt for this approach. 

  

Like others with Austism Spectrum Disorders, many Aspies also have sensory processing dysfunctions.  Depending on the nature of the sensory processing problems, there are a different forms of therapy to address those problems.  (Vision therapy, sound therapy, sensory integration therapy).   

  

Finally, the biggest challenge that Aspies face is with understanding and functioning appropriately in social interactions.  The most effective way that I've found to remediate deficits in social functioning is Relationship Development Intervention. 

  

So I would say that the most effective way to deal with AS is a multifaceted approach that will vary from individual to individual.  Unfortunately, the only treatment mentioned by Dr. Phil is medication.  He really missed the boat on that one. 

Quote From: dylansdad

 Hi my name is Jason, and on today's show it really caught my attention, in fact could not take my eyes off of the boob tube....lol..  When i was younger i would say about 6 yrs old or maybe 7 i was diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficet Disorder) and was put on the medication Ritalin, as i started to notice, all the Ritalin did was calm me down, now that i am older at the age of 25 i started wandering whether or not i have Aspergers, not totally diagnosed with it, i need to find out some information about it, now some of the problems with this is Lying which i don't understand why i do it at all but i want to know, and not being able to have friends or anything of the sort Please give me some kind of Information

Quote From: joyceymay

On the show, Dr. Phil refers to Asperger's (AS) several times as a "disease".  I can tell you right now, a lot of parents and individuals with Asperger's are going to be writing to object to this characterization.  There are people with Asperger's who are happy with themselves as they are and will take offense to being referred to as diseased or damaged. 

  

I am a mom of a 16 year old, who was diagnosed with AS over 11 years ago, but who is doing quite well today.  We have always referred to him as "differently abled" rather than "disabled."  It was not mentioned on the show that most  Aspies are highly intelligent and many have extraordinary abilities.   

  

I do agree that AS is neurologically, biochemically based.  Some people have gotten help from taking medication.  Many families (including mine), who can and are willing to invest the time and money, have found natural ways (i.e., special diet and nutrition) to deal with the biochemical imbalance.  There are a ton of resources out there for people who opt for this approach. 

  

Like others with Austism Spectrum Disorders, many Aspies also have sensory processing dysfunctions.  Depending on the nature of the sensory processing problems, there are a different forms of therapy to address those problems.  (Vision therapy, sound therapy, sensory integration therapy).   

  

Finally, the biggest challenge that Aspies face is with understanding and functioning appropriately in social interactions.  The most effective way that I've found to remediate deficits in social functioning is Relationship Development Intervention. 

  

So I would say that the most effective way to deal with AS is a multifaceted approach that will vary from individual to individual.  Unfortunately, the only treatment mentioned by Dr. Phil is medication.  He really missed the boat on that one.