Comments on: New Study on Preventing Autism in Siblings http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:47:04 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Autism Vox http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/comment-page-1/#comment-550810 Autism Vox Sun, 06 Jan 2008 13:08:05 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/#comment-550810 [...] why is it that parents of autistic children so often remember (as on a recent post) a certain appointment with a doctor, or simply something a doctor said, and how terribly they felt [...] [...] why is it that parents of autistic children so often remember (as on a recent post) a certain appointment with a doctor, or simply something a doctor said, and how terribly they felt [...]

]]> By: This and Last’s Weeks Top Posts http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/comment-page-1/#comment-549153 This and Last’s Weeks Top Posts Sun, 06 Jan 2008 04:47:57 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/#comment-549153 [...] together to protest the Ransom Notes ad campaign; 2008 began with a call for participants in a new study that hopes to identify and treat autism in infants of autistic siblings. Some [...] [...] together to protest the Ransom Notes ad campaign; 2008 began with a call for participants in a new study that hopes to identify and treat autism in infants of autistic siblings. Some [...]

]]> By: Autismville http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/comment-page-1/#comment-542544 Autismville Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:49:41 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/#comment-542544 Regan, You are correct in your point about the 24/7 lifestyle alteration related to PRT. It's different in that you try to capture "teachable moments" in your everyday life as opposed to getting down on the floor 10 hours a day. Dr. Chew has given some great examples of tihs recently talking about how Charlie has helped with cooking and putting away groceries, etc. In their PRT methods, the Koegels really try to take into consideraiton that we all have crazy lives, other children, etc. I highly recommend Dr. Koegel's book Overcoming Autism, which discusses the practicalities of PRT. It's been very helpful for me in dealing with helping Jack here at home while we still function as a happy family... For more info about PRT you can visit their web site at http://education.ucsb.edu/autism/help.html Wow .. I sound like an infomercial for PRT! Regan,

You are correct in your point about the 24/7 lifestyle alteration related to PRT. It’s different in that you try to capture “teachable moments” in your everyday life as opposed to getting down on the floor 10 hours a day. Dr. Chew has given some great examples of tihs recently talking about how Charlie has helped with cooking and putting away groceries, etc. In their PRT methods, the Koegels really try to take into consideraiton that we all have crazy lives, other children, etc. I highly recommend Dr. Koegel’s book Overcoming Autism, which discusses the practicalities of PRT. It’s been very helpful for me in dealing with helping Jack here at home while we still function as a happy family…

For more info about PRT you can visit their web site at http://education.ucsb.edu/autism/help.html

Wow .. I sound like an infomercial for PRT!

]]> By: Regan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/comment-page-1/#comment-542172 Regan Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:14:37 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/#comment-542172 Kristina, Thanks for pointing out the old post. Someone there suggested that folks were unjustifiably defensive...I don't know 'bout that. We have 2 kids who were brought up the same/similarly in infancy, and only one has autism. From what I know, that is not a particularly unique situation. To bring it back to the very early diagnosis and therapy question--to me, until verifiable diagnostic criteria/screening is established for infants/very young toddlers--leveling blame at parents for not being diagnosticians and expert therapists seems to be unreasonable and can only be ad hoc. Kristina,
Thanks for pointing out the old post.
Someone there suggested that folks were unjustifiably defensive…I don’t know ’bout that. We have 2 kids who were brought up the same/similarly in infancy, and only one has autism. From what I know, that is not a particularly unique situation.
To bring it back to the very early diagnosis and therapy question–to me, until verifiable diagnostic criteria/screening is established for infants/very young toddlers–leveling blame at parents for not being diagnosticians and expert therapists seems to be unreasonable and can only be ad hoc.

]]> By: Regan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/comment-page-1/#comment-550777 Regan Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:58:18 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/#comment-550777 Lisa said, "Imagine any other kind of therapist telling his patients “well, if you can’t dedicate 10 hours a day to working with your child on his illness" Actually I can. It was a while back, but I attended a PRT workshop and Rob Koegel said something about 70 hours a week. Our district personnel blanched--they had thought that they could be effective interveners on an hour a day. I think the point was that it was a 24/7=lifestyle alteration. Lisa said,
“Imagine any other kind of therapist telling his patients “well, if you can’t dedicate 10 hours a day to working with your child on his illness”

Actually I can. It was a while back, but I attended a PRT workshop and Rob Koegel said something about 70 hours a week. Our district personnel blanched–they had thought that they could be effective interveners on an hour a day.
I think the point was that it was a 24/7=lifestyle alteration.

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/comment-page-1/#comment-550776 Kristina Chew, PhD Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:56:21 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/#comment-550776 I've never met Dr. Greenspan or seen him in person, just read the books---I really did not know what to make of a lot of his comments about parents. In <i>Engaging Autism</i> he was often rather specific about "<a href="http://www.autismvox.com/engaging-floortime-3-floortime-for-parents/">floortime for parents</a>----as noted <a href="http://www.autismvox.com/engaging-floortime-3-floortime-for-parents/">here</a>. I’ve never met Dr. Greenspan or seen him in person, just read the books—I really did not know what to make of a lot of his comments about parents. In Engaging Autism he was often rather specific about “floortime for parents—-as noted here.

]]> By: Lisa Rudy http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/comment-page-1/#comment-550775 Lisa Rudy Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:48:56 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/#comment-550775 I got a similar sense from Greenspan. In essence - "well, if you choose not to dedicate 10 hours a day to floortime - I guess that's your choice... But don't be surprised if your child doesn't thrive!" Imagine any other kind of therapist telling his patients "well, if you can't dedicate 10 hours a day to working with your child on his illness, I guess that's your choice..." It's absolutely insane: the assumption is that mom can and should suddenly - with no training or particular talent - become a more-than-fulltime therapist to her child! Oh yeah - and of course she should quit her career, dump her home (no money), ignore her husband and other kids, forget about her home, nutrition for the family... because Dr. G. said so! Burns me up. You can pretty much guess that Dr. G's wife is a fulltime homemaker without any other "therapy" obligations!! (NB - one of his sons, I forget his name, works with him - a real cutie pie, too!) Oh yea - and I also LOVE floortime, did it for years, attended two conferences, read all the books... guess you really have to separate out the man from the product! Lisa autism.about.com I got a similar sense from Greenspan. In essence – “well, if you choose not to dedicate 10 hours a day to floortime – I guess that’s your choice… But don’t be surprised if your child doesn’t thrive!”

Imagine any other kind of therapist telling his patients “well, if you can’t dedicate 10 hours a day to working with your child on his illness, I guess that’s your choice…” It’s absolutely insane: the assumption is that mom can and should suddenly – with no training or particular talent – become a more-than-fulltime therapist to her child!

Oh yeah – and of course she should quit her career, dump her home (no money), ignore her husband and other kids, forget about her home, nutrition for the family… because Dr. G. said so!

Burns me up. You can pretty much guess that Dr. G’s wife is a fulltime homemaker without any other “therapy” obligations!! (NB – one of his sons, I forget his name, works with him – a real cutie pie, too!)

Oh yea – and I also LOVE floortime, did it for years, attended two conferences, read all the books… guess you really have to separate out the man from the product!

Lisa
autism.about.com

]]> By: Norah http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/comment-page-1/#comment-542156 Norah Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:41:36 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/#comment-542156 My youngest brother got just about as much eye-contact and people speaking to him intensively and older siblings mimicking all and sundry all day long, as any baby could stand, yet ironically he was the only one of us 3 (2 diagnosed, one suspected autistic) with a speech delay. He did indeed learn to do all kinds of things faster than us (eating with knife and fork, for instance) because he had older siblings and my mom did indeed do all kinds of things differently with him since he was her third child and you learn some things from raising the fist two. But it was not the things they seem to want children to learn early on (and call it preventing autism). My youngest brother got just about as much eye-contact and people speaking to him intensively and older siblings mimicking all and sundry all day long, as any baby could stand, yet ironically he was the only one of us 3 (2 diagnosed, one suspected autistic) with a speech delay.

He did indeed learn to do all kinds of things faster than us (eating with knife and fork, for instance) because he had older siblings and my mom did indeed do all kinds of things differently with him since he was her third child and you learn some things from raising the fist two. But it was not the things they seem to want children to learn early on (and call it preventing autism).

]]> By: Regan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/comment-page-1/#comment-542153 Regan Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:58:58 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/#comment-542153 grenouille said: "...It was heartbreaking for me when he" (Dr. Greenspan) "said that our older child, who is extremely verbal and socially sparkling, had turned out that way “despite her parents...” Ouch and yikes. Insensitive with some assumptions of omnipotence. I can understand wanting to have stayed with the books. grenouille said:
“…It was heartbreaking for me when he” (Dr. Greenspan) “said that our older child, who is extremely verbal and socially sparkling, had turned out that way “despite her parents…”

Ouch and yikes. Insensitive with some assumptions of omnipotence. I can understand wanting to have stayed with the books.

]]> By: Emily http://www.blisstree.com/articles/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/comment-page-1/#comment-542119 Emily Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:39:27 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/new-study-on-preventing-autism-in-siblings/#comment-542119 Sounds like Greenspan himself might suffer from some deficits in intraspecies bonding and interaction. Sounds like Greenspan himself might suffer from some deficits in intraspecies bonding and interaction.

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