PDD resources

For those of you that arrive here and don't know what PDD-Nos is:
PDD-Nos stands for Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified. Here is a link that elaborates on the condition as well as autism.

This is an excerpt from the Autism Soceity of America defining PDD-Nos:
The essential features of PDD-NOS are: severe and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills; stereotyped behaviors, interests, and activities; and the criteria for Autistic Disorder are not met because of late age onset, atypical and/or sub threshold symptomotology are present. (Page 77-78)

This category should be used when there is a severe and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills, or when stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities are present, but the criteria are not met for a specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizotypical Personality Disorder, or Avoidant Personality Disorder. For example, this category includes "atypical autism"-- presentations that do not meet the criteria for Autistic Disorder because of late age of onset, atypical symptomatology, or sub threshold symptomatology, or all of these.


This is my story...My son was born two days after the tragic day 9/11. He was a big boy weighing in over 9lbs. He was healthy and happy. He was developing at a normal rate and reaching his milestones on time. Then I took him for his shots. He had missed several shots due to different colds and illnesses, probably brought about by the petri dish that is daycare. Due to the delay in his vaccinations, the doctor said it was safe to administer four shots on the same visit. I signed the appropriate paperwork and the vaccinations were administered. The following days my son's knees became swollen and one of his eyes became enlarged to the size of a golf ball. A trip to the doctor's office and several blood tests later, there was no explanation for the symptoms. That's when I noticed the change. He seemed very withdrawn and inattentive. He started ignoring the sound of his name and he stopped trying to talk. At the time, I was working in a preschool program and I was familiar with autism and its signs. I placed a call to my pediatrician and the early intervention program to have my son evaluated. Shortly after, I noticed my son became mezmerized when he spun plates. He looked like he was hypnotized watching the ceiling fan spin. I knew something was wrong. The evaluation was done and because my child looked very happy and was able to follow routines, the evaluators thought he only needed speech and special instruction. I knew better, but sometimes you need to battle with the "professionals" and I did. I became very close with both therapists and they confirmed what I was aware of all along. They helped me have him evaluated for occupational therapy, where he almost knocked himself unconscious by running into the WALL!! Yup, she agreed with me. He needed occupational therapy. But I also realized he didn't walk right. He favored one side and although others didn't see it, I did. I started the CPSE process and took him to a whirlwind of examinations and specialists. First, I took him to an audiological exam and he passed. Then I took him to a pediatric opthalmologist, to see if he kept walking into walls and furniture because he had vision problems. Nope, he was fine. Then he had an EEG, an open MRI and then the pediatirc neurologist. At the same time, I was going through the evaluation process for the CPSE. Finally, I was given the diagnosis, by the pediatric neurologist. She saw him and after two hours of testing and observations, she stated he had PDD-Nos. Well, my suspicions were confirmed. This was not my first child and I needed a diagnosis to start my journey on educating myself and my family to help him overcome. At the CPSE, I was joined by my son's therapists and they all agreed to the findings of the evaluation and the neurologist. Finally, my son was going to start all the therapy he needed and was entitled to. We would soon start the road to his recovery. He was going to go to a full day program where he would receive speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, special instruction and a sensory diet.

It has been a year that he has been receiving all these services. Little One can sign and his vocabulary is growing everyday. He can write his alphabet. He identifies first sight words, numbers, colors and shapes. Early diagnosis and therapy is key to help your child develop. Although it is difficlut to believe that your child is nothing less than perfect, you must overcome the denial and be proactive. Denial is detrimental to a child with any disability and/or illness. You are your child's advocate. I urge anyone that may think their child is not developing normally, to pursue the proper channels and fight for your child. As you can see, professionals don't always see what you see. The small time that they spend is just a glimpse into your child's life and you need to get the process moving as soon as posible. Time is not a luxury that you have. Early intervention is available for children up to the age of three years. The sooner you start the process, the more therapy your child will get and the more progress they can achieve.

There are many organizations that have alot of information. There are some that have seen improvement through a drastic change in diet and others that have used multi-vitamins as treatment and have achieved some success in areas pertaining to language. Here is a link to The Center for the Study of Autism that covers some of those areas. I personally cannot tell you about these methods. I can tell you that by purchasing a large trampoline with a safety net (for use in the occupational therapy issues), as well as the entire series of signingtime and babybumblebee (for sign language and speech), I have seen an explosion of sign language as well as speech (and so has his teachers and therapists)and he has for the most part, stopped running into the walls and sofas.

The journey of a child with autism is long and hard, but the internet has made it a little bit easier by bringing families that have similar issues together. Through this blog, I have met others like my children and I, that are celebrating all the child's accomplishments no matter how small they may seem to others. Be diligant and continue forward. There is help for you, your child and your family, but most of all there is HOPE...

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