image via: http://www.familyachievement.com/Services/spec_therapy/ait.htm |
I haven't thought about Sensi's AIT in a couple of months. She has been making progress, but as I said in 4 month post AIT, it is harder to tell what is part of her regular developmental progress and what is from the AIT.
There is a study that proposes that it doesn't really matter which therapy you do for your ASD child, as long as you are actively putting in the hours of having them participate in therapy. At least that is what I take from reading it. It says specifically " Of those four variables [age, number of hours per week, number of months of treatment, and total hours of treatment,] only the number of months of treatment was significantly related to amount of gain in language, cognitive, and social–emotional functioning across the treatment period." We have put in the hours each month with her various therapies, and we are seeing results.
image via: http://www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/sen/research/goodpractice/casestudies/progression_guidance.shtml |
image via: http://www.activity-mom.com/2012/10/sequencing-cards-printable.html |
She is still a jumper and a figeter, but she is less likely to have a melt down as she was last year. She listens to directions and follows them more readily. Just this last weekend she was playing with the garlic cloves I had out for a recipe. She started to peel the garlic and I said" Oh, you are peeling the garlic for me, make sure to put the peels in the bowl on the counter." It helped to point to the bowl while I was saying it, but she did a great job of peeling the garlic and keeping the skins off the counter and the floor. I don't know if she would have checked in to the directions or stayed with the task if I would have given directions before.
image via: http://www.pdd.co.uk/blog/2011/11/consumer-electronics-and-the-future-of-engaging-the-senses-an-ergonomists-perspective/ |
image via: http://www.theplaydoctors.co.uk/Pages/January13Newsletter.aspx |
Resources:
Luiselli JK, Cannon BM, Ellis JT, Sisson RW. Home-based behavioral intervention for young children with autism/pervasive developmental disorder. Autism. 2000;4:426–438. [Ref list]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2943764/
I wish they could just tell us what helps them cope better. I completely understand what you are saying about the better they are able to handle the environmental stimulation, the less anxious they are and the more they can handle, the more productive language and communication comes forth. I find this to be very much the same for my son as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that Sensi is being further integrated in the mainstream classroom! It's wonderful as long as everyone is sure it is the right move. My son could not do the garlic peeling at all - I'm totally impressed with her helping skills! She is growing. It sure makes you wonder doesn't it, what the future will bring? I hope it's just a continual progression. I don't care if it's behind their peers - as long as they continue forward - that's all that counts. :)
I've been doing some research on special education advocates and came across your blog. Thanks so much for the insights, I look forward to reading more in the future.
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