Baby steps

Lachlan had his first Occupational therapy appointment and I was totally amazed with how well he coped and that he managed to stay focused and concentrate for the best part of an hour. I was not the only one in awe, the therapist had only seen him 4 weeks prior for the assessment and she was just amazed, in a good way of course.

I've since learnt he works better with visual aids for his tasks and daily routine. I've also come out of the session with more strategies on what I can work on with Lachlan especially in regards to the Sensory Processing Disorder. As an example I purchased an electric toothbrush, now I had done this in the past but only now does the teeth brushing seem to be working. We also got him a bean bag which we've found he finds this to be calming.

I have a few visual aids I can work with but plan on getting some more. I'm also still debating on whether or not to get a tablet that I can work with, with Lachlan on his speech, as his private speechy is now doing.

But that can wait for now, I'll look into a tablet down the track. There's already more money going out than what's coming in. Now I can see why so many families have financial strain with children whom have special needs. We do the best we can for them at any cost. Anything that'll help our children out in general society, if only there were more people aware and more funding.

So anyway I'm pleased to see improvements in my son and I'll endeavour to keep working with him.

Jade

Never ending..

So as the title suggests I feel as though my sons therapy is never ending. He's had 3 full days this week at AEIOU and he is just so exhausted, and to be honest so am I.. We had initially looked at having Lachlan do the early intervention program full time, glad I changed my mind. It must be so tiring for the children, I know it's beneficial to their future, but when do our kids get a break?! I'm also having a guilt moment because Lachlan has his first Occupational Therapy appointment tomorrow morning since his assessment, which came back with SPD or Sensory Processing Disorder. Yes another disorder to add to the list, which makes 3 in total now. So my point is I really think I need to pull back on some of his therapy he has privately outside of AEIOU because I think it's getting to be too much for him, and he's still a kid and I need to just let him be a kid, relax and just play. If only society wasn't so harsh on those with ASD or if society were more aware and accepting perhaps we wouldn't have to push our children so hard in the early intervention programs just so they can conform and 'mainstream'.

Anyway I've answered my own question and I am going to pull back on the private therapy for the time being and I'll keep working with him at home the days he's not at AEIOU. Plus I think I'll benefit from this too, my head is jam packed full of information and any more to add to it right now just might cause it to explode haha.

Jade

Just a little about my family and Lachlan's journey so far..

My name is Jade and I'm married to Rick and we have 2 amazing little boys, Lachlan and Zachary.

I was a young naieve mum at 23. I never knew the journey I would have ahead raising 2 boys 19 months apart. Life has been hectic and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Lachlan is my eldest at 3, he is my little outdoors adventurer and loves to climb.
Zachary almost 2, is quite outgoing and very cheeky. They are both completely different in almost everything which I love.

Life has sent us on an up and down hill journey, but that is just life. Life will always be unpredictable.

Here is just a little about Lachlan's journey so far.
Lachlan my eldest has had a recent diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, or as most people know it as ASD.
I had always known my little boy was 'different' in some ways to his peers. I had a feeling since he was about 15 months old. I saw signs then but at the time was unware of the 'red flag signs'.
Developmentally he reached all the milestones required in the first 12 months, including limited speech. It was around 13 months that he began to show an aversion to many foods, I was then told it would just be a phase. Around 15 months I noticed another a change, in which he began to speak less and less of the few words he could already say. It was then I decided to enrol him into daycare thinking he needed that social interaction. Lachlan's GP at the time had again ensured me his speech and hearing were ok for his age group.
After some time I began to really become concerned with the amount of hearing infections he had, they seemed to be too frequent. We worked it out to be 17 in total until the age of 34 months. After seeing and Ears, Nose and Throat specialist we soon learnt Lachlan had a 'glue ear' along with narrow Eustachian Tubes. He required day surgery where he had a grommet inserted into each ear. Since then his hearing is now just below the normal category, which is really great.
After 6 months of the grommets we had noticed no improvement in his speech, so I then sourced out a Speech Therapist for an assessment. He was diagnosed with Mixed Receptive Expressive Language Disorder or MRELD. Lachlan began speech therapy in November 2011, and with no improvement by February 2012 I stopped the therapy sessions.
The daycare Lachlan attends had some concerns, they came to me in early February 2012 and wrote up a report on his behaviour. It was then I realised again his 'differences' were clearly something else. I then made an appointment for Lachlan to see a psychologist whom was qualified in doing a developmental assessment. In late March 2012 we received the psycholgist's diagnosis of ASD and MRELD.
Then in early May 2012 Lachlan saw a Paediatrician. It was then confirmed the ASD diagnosis.
Rick and I have since helped Lachlan come a long way because we now have a better understanding of him. I have had to change many things including my parenting techniques and so on. I am now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
As for therapies Lachlan is now attending part time at a daycare type setting that has an early intervention program. He also sees a Speech Therapist fortnightly and about to begin with an Occupational Therapist, which he only recently has been assessed with.
In the short amount of time since his diagnosis the changes in Lachlan that I have seen are phenominal. I am most proud of his effort with his speech, the speech has improved so much. I also work with him at home on the speech for as long as he will let me, which is maybe only about 20 minutes a day, but it's better than nothing.
Lachlan still has a long road ahead of him, but for the time being his small accomplishments are enough, or as the saying goes 'baby steps'.
I will keep you all updated on Lachlan's progress.

Just like to add that I'm a very proud mum to both of my boys. They are my everything and I wouldn't change them for anything.