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SpEDAdmin 08/24/2011 5:16:00 PM
Yes, this is what was thought over 50 yrs ago about autism, that it was the mother's fault. That has been disproven so many times over now, that it amazing to hear someone still spouting this nonsense. Johnny, go do some research if you know how, and keep your foolishness off a website where people are trying to find solutions, not someone to blame.
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K8022@live.co 04/25/2011 7:13:00 AM
I am an iebi therapists. The reason it costs so much is because it involves a group of about 15 therapists working with each kid and a psychologist a senior therapist and a clinical director it involves teaching each skill such as verbal imitation gross motor imitation. labels pictures labels colors. over eight hours the child has 3 sessions with three therapists learning the same 10 programs untill they master each one. it works it is powerful. No one involved in it is concerned about the money they make as much as they are when you spend each day teaching and teaching and the child starts talking looking you in the eye responding to their name requesting items playing with toys. It makes you cry some days from happiness. the therapy can take 2 years to 4 years. also we work on eye contact constantly and social skills.
in my experience the parents are amazing. each and every parent i have worked with is dedicated and more intune with their kid than most because they have to be, they have to read what the child needs through non verbal ways. If you peopple with your comments read temple grandins writtings or about autism you would know how ignorant you sound.
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spedteach 03/06/2011 8:27:00 PM
perhaps you, Johnny, need to read a little more about Autism and respond less to computer sites before you give out advice that you know little about
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Kmd0526 02/16/2011 2:45:00 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn_9f5x0f1Q
Here is a better way of looking at autism - as a unique way of thinking and processing information. rather than some horrible thing that needs fixing.
There was a time when people could grow at their on pace and be eccentric; not so in our increasingly cookie cutter world.
I have two children with aspergers and likely have it myself. Our greatest challenge has been, and continues to be, other misperceptions of us.
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Julie W 02/11/2011 3:57:00 PM
Kamrom: I am the mom of an autistic son, and my husband and I both have sensory processing issues. I feel your pain - I've always been called weird, and the touching especially is hard. I'm sensory-avoiding, my husband and son are sensory-seeking.
I got lucky - my husband actually believes me when I say, 'no, stop, that hurts.' After a couple of years, we were able to work out ways to touch that don't hurt. Since every SPD is different, I don't know if you will also be able to come to that point, but I will hope for you.
What worked for me: gentle steady pressure, absolutely NO gliding over the surface of the skin. It's especially painful on my arms or head, where rubbing makes the hair move. Warm hands are better than cold.
Is there any chance you could work with a physical or massage therapist on touch without pain?
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Julie W 02/11/2011 3:49:00 PM
johnny - you're wrong in blaming autism and delays on parenting.
My son is autistic. We did all the right things, to the point of having a parent at home, no TV, no refined sugar, whole grains only, lots of healthy foods (he loves sweet potatos and mangos, though he's grown out of liking avocados). He went to preschool after we started seeing symptoms, at two, because the socialization was good for him - he really enjoyed the time with other kids.
He's still autistic.
He's wonderful and responding well to behavioral therapy, but he's clearly autistic.
You're wrong. Both from a personal and a scientific perspective, you're just wrong.
You're also hurtful. Thanks.
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02/07/2011 7:44:00 PM
Good comment. I didn't mean to imply that MA was fast, just that it doesn't require a rocket scientist or a lawyer, just a persistent mom. That said, we did have a huge advantage in an extended family that was willing and able to assist us. Going it alone is a huge burden to place on two parents, let alone one. For both advocacy help and legislative lobbying actions, MN is blessed to have PACER Center. All should check it out.
Our son was also 3 and just babbling four years ago. Significant cuts have happened since then, affecting both what therapies get approved and the caseload social workers handle. (Thanks, TPaw!) The medical diagnosis is crucial for receiving MA services, "good luck" is a weird way to wish you well, but that's the best I can do.
Remember autism is a development delay, you son will likely respond to OT and ST, even 10 hours a week. Today our son is writing his name, making better eye contact, not stimming very often and speaking short sentences. Know hope.
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02/07/2011 7:28:00 PM
Blaming refrigerator mothers for autism was disproven 30 years ago. Autism has a genetic cause, not a post-partum surroundings or parenting cause. (Pre-natal environmental factors, like in utero hormone levels, can affect development, but this is a far cry from toddlers watching TV or eating junk food) The only thing damned simple about this issue is you.
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Johnny 02/03/2011 5:37:00 PM
Proper Parenting helps a lot too.
Kids are so impressionable. If you deprive them of human company, stimulation other than technicolor treacle (kids cartoons) and decent food, you'll be able to prevent a decent (significant??) percentage of childhood behavioral and developmental problems.
Keep your kids off the floor, keep them out of the mass-corral creches that pass as child care these days, and live your life WITH your kids instead of treating them as occasionally inconvenient accessories.
Yes, excepting the wishful thinking-guesses of ivory-tower PhD candidates, IT IS THAT DAMNED SIMPLE.
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02/02/2011 1:31:00 PM
I do not like this article's claims. A "cure" is absolutely absurd. "Mitigation" or "Reduction of Social Symptoms" would be better.
I have an autism spectrum disorder. Aside from the very difficult social situations, most people with such disorders manifest a secondary effect, of their sensory processing abilities. In my case, I cannot stand to be around ANY high pitched noise (Minor), and any amount of touchign me causes extreme pain.
"curing" the social aspects will simply go toward making the lifelong physical neurological changes even scarier, as they wont have an obvious source like they do today. I spent years trying to get a diagnosis for my nonstop full body ultrasensitivity, and nothing. Not one person could come up with a reason this had been present for my entire life. (Theyd often, apparently, not even hear that, asking when it started after i told them its never not been there.) Then the moment I mentioned that I had aspergers? The answers became obvious, and i got multiple diagnosis (one is true, the others are more well defined but not currently DSM'd versions of the same thing.)
Had I not known about my aspergers, i would to this day be confused to the point of horrific anger and depression. Not being able to be touched, anywhere, ever, has obvious ramnifications. And the years when I didnt know the cause were so much worse. This treatment fixes social problems. It does nothing for the rest of it. Its a bad thing, therefore: It will reduce the urgency to find a solution to autism, and I believe will actually increase depression and suicide rates. If you don't know what its like to know that you cant be touched and it wont go away, you're very lucky. Im sure its easy to think of all the many thingsi n your life you couldnt do if you were in this situation.
Now imagine having absolutely no idea of its cause and minimal research into that cause in any case. This is "Why Does The Universe Hate Me?" levels of confusion pain and depression. And it wont be solved by this 'treatment.'
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HEMW 01/31/2011 12:42:00 AM
@ Spedteacher,
school districts around here keep getting funding cut. They don't do home visits anymore and those were only once a month! It sounds great in theory, but I would hope the funding would be there then!
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HEMW 01/31/2011 12:39:00 AM
FOr what americans pay for insurance it should be covered. IDEA shows that therapy should be 35 to 40 hours a week. Through the ISD we get 10 hours a week for our son, that does not compute. I'm glad to see that Blue Cross Blue shield is covering these therapies. BY the way MA is not as easy to get as one may think. I've been waiting since July and still haven't heard anything even though I keep calling to check the status and now the hospital keeps calling them too so the current OT our son receives can be paid for. Also just getting a medical diagnosis is a long and fustrating process, most places have a 1 year wait for an evaluation and some places turn you away. I'm still waiting and it will be this spring or early summer for a medical evaluation to get a medical diagnosis which will make a huge difference in services the county offers (we currently have a educational diagnosis). Its overwhelming to find out that your child has autism in the first place let alone all the drama you go through to try and help your child anyway you can. My son is 3 and doesn't talk, just babble..luckily we have him in school through ECES and he uses the PECS or we would be lost!
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SPEDteacher 01/30/2011 10:56:00 PM
I think having insurance pay for this is the wrong approach. IDEA mandates early intervention services. Wouldn't it be advantageous for the ISD, BOCES, RESA, CESA or whatever your state calls it to provide IEIBT so they do not have to provide 21 years of special education services?
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01/28/2011 7:22:00 PM
MNlifer, I am white and middle class. Your accusations of active resistance from county social workers towards poor and minorities is baseless. Do you also think the media is conspiring to keep information about this accusation under wraps?
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MNlifer 01/28/2011 1:07:00 AM
First off shame on Nick Pinto for this text:
"Captured against a photography studio backdrop, the shot shows Max lunging at his mother in a bizarre, open-mouthed embrace."
Every child under the age of 13-24 months has difficulty managing to close their mouths and pucker up to kiss. Its not an autism quirk, its the age of the child.
If Tracy Reid feels horrified by this quirk of the age, she needs to relax. If Max wasn't Autistic he'd only want to kiss when he has massive snot coming out of his nose and a half of a mouth filled with chettos debris. Its the way small children are, goes along with all those great photos you can upload to your blog and facebook.
Norwegian Shooter:
"Getting on MA requires no legal savvy and has no brick wall. Sure there's paperwork, but just call your county social service agency to get started."
Possibly because you are white and more than likely middle class, but if you are economically disadvantaged, not college educated and non-white; the process of applying for MA is usually wrought with resistance from county and human service workers.
County and human service workers are there avert the needy from feeling comfortable and welcome in Minnesota. So eventually they will move away and that allows tax dollars funneled to public needs that matter to folks like you!
See everyone wins!
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MNLifer 01/28/2011 1:06:00 AM
First off shame on Nick Pinto for this text:
"Captured against a photography studio backdrop, the shot shows Max lunging at his mother in a bizarre, open-mouthed embrace."
Every child under the age of 13-24 months has difficulty managing to close their mouths and pucker up to kiss. Its not an autism quirk, its the age of the child.
If Tracy Reid feels horrified by this quirk of the age, she needs to relax. If Max wasn't Autistic he'd only want to kiss when he has massive snot coming out of his nose and a half of a mouth filled with chettos debris. Its the way small children are, goes along with all those great photos you can upload to your blog and facebook.
Norwegian Shooter:
"Getting on MA requires no legal savvy and has no brick wall. Sure there's paperwork, but just call your county social service agency to get started."
Possibly because you are white and more than likely middle class, but if you are economically disadvantaged, not college educated and non-white; the process of applying for MA is usually wrought with resistance from county and human service workers.
County and human service workers are there avert the needy from feeling comfortable and welcome in Minnesota. So eventually they will move away and that allows tax dollars funneled to public needs that matter to folks like you!
See everyone wins!
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pjwhite08 01/27/2011 6:43:00 PM
The erroneous description of "negative reinforcement" would have lovaas and skinner rolling in their graves. As a behavior therapist, it makes me cringe.
Negative Reinforcement = the removal of an aversive stimulus (negative) increases the probability of future behavior (reinforcement). A few examples:
1. I jump out of the shower because the water is too hot. "Jumping" = behavior that will increase (reinforcement), "hot water" = the aversive stimulus that was removed (negative). In the future, when I feel water that is too hot, I will jump again.
2. A child with autism hits his peer because he will be removed from the unwanted social situation. "Hitting" = behavior that will increase (reinforcement) "social situation" = aversive stimulus that was removed (negative). In the future, when confronted with uncomfortable social situations, the child will hit again.
3. You click on the facebook tab so you can stop reading my rambling post. "Clicking" = the behavior that will increase (reinforcement). "my rambling post" = aversive stimulus that was removed (negative). In the future, when you see my name on a post, you will click again.
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Guest 01/27/2011 4:24:00 AM
Want to know about evidence-based (peer-reviewed, researched) therapies?
http://www.nationalautismcenter.org/
...seems there is substantial research...not just Max-like-case-studies.
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Gail F. 01/27/2011 4:20:00 AM
Way to go Tracy & Max!
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01/26/2011 6:55:00 PM
I realize that criticizing misleading heds is easier than netting fish in a barrel, but in this case it is too important to let go. I'm an autism parent, btw. Autism is a developmental delay, not a disease, and therefore can't be "cured". That said, early intervention is incredibly important to improve lifelong outcomes. But this is not judged on a binary scale: cured vs. still suffering, normal vs. impaired, "best outcome" vs. marginal.
Getting on MA requires no legal savvy and has no brick wall. Sure there's paperwork, but just call your county social service agency to get started.
"A substantial body of research shows that IEIBT therapy can be incredibly effective in treating childhood autism" This is a serious request, I would like to be pointed to a few of these studies. It is almost impossible to find them through Google or PubMed.
"A 2007 study in the Journal of Child Family Studies found that while IEIBT can be hugely expensive in the short run, it's far cheaper than 18 years of special education. Factoring in IEIBT's success rate, the study calculated that Texas would save $2.09 billion by treating its autistic children with IEIBT." You can find this study through publicly available databases (through your library) such as Academic Search Premiere. The title is Cost Comparison of EIBI and SE for Children with Autism; Chasson, Harris and Neely, authors.
This claim is ridiculous on its face. But the specifics are this: It counts all special education costs of Texas for all children provided special education services. They conservatively estimate 10,000 children with autism in the state, while there are almost 450,000 students with disabilities in Texas. The study assumes that all autistic children cost the same as an average cost of all special education. It assumes the yearly cost of EIBI is $22,500. This article says that cost is a minimum and can easily be higher. The worse offense however, is that it assumes that children with autism who don't receive EIBI don't improve. It actually approvingly cites a study that claims " 'eclectic' interventions have a negative effect (Howard, et al., 2005)." It heavily relies on Lovaas' original 1987 paper and an equation put forward in 1998 (Jacobson et al.).
The bottom line on this type of research is quoted in the paper: "Marcus et al. (2000) criticized the Jacobson et al. (1998) article because other intervention approaches were not considered in the model. They stated, “There has not been (and may never be) a comprehensive comparison study of different intervention approaches” (p.595), suggesting that other approaches may be equally effective for maximizing cost savings and treatment gains." That may or may not be so, but we won't know until someone attempts this type of study.
Max's story is wonderful and compelling. But there is no way to know how he would have developed absent IEIBT.
On a more personal note, as a parent of an autistic child that has a speech delay and is in speech therapy, I know that no one claims IEIBT can teach a child to talk.
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Guest 01/26/2011 4:00:00 AM
Health Partners was one of the companies that wants to cut services to disabled people and seniors in the policy paper to the state legislature. Health Partners does not pay for this beneficial therapy for children. It seems as though Health Partners is primarily concerned about themselves, not their patients.
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01/26/2011 3:37:00 AM
Tracy Reid and her son in the news at City Pages.
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No 01/25/2011 10:09:00 PM
Bullshit.
