Session 11 Neurofeedback - WE ARE WRITING

And still we are amazed by King Khalil's progress with Neurofeedback, no matter how small, incremental or accidental it may seem.  As you may know, King is 6 yrs old, in a mild Special Ed First Grade class, on track to get a diploma.  He has specific language delays which have hindered his reading comprehension, in that, LETTER RECOGNITION and PHONEMIC awareness as to how each letter sounds is distorted for King Khalil.  He consistently mixes up the letters b, d, p, q and their sounds.  I've questioned educators as to how can a child learn to read and "sound out" words if they don't master each letter sound first.  Basics, right?  Many many times, I've been told, "it'll come along" but in the meantime, we work like hell at home to make sure Khalil doesn't fall behind his classmates, who seem to cruise along.

Coinciding with his 11th NT session, we were at dinner and King decided to draw a picture and write a few letters at the top.  I thought it was random letters or (by my own instinct) figured he wrote his name or a few simple sight words that he knows by heart.  To my surprise, my son spontaneously and without prompting wrote:  ILOVEMOM. 

It took me a few seconds, but I deciphered I Love Mom... with a beautiful heart.  Somehow, someway, EVERYTHING we teach him is in his brain, looking for an easier way out.  I hope that Neurofeedback, diet and supplements are providing a clear path for the data to get out.  I'm just glad it's all in there!

For more research on Neurofeedback, please review The Drake Institute website.  Good luck

Christmas Without a Hitch, Today ~ Not so much!

Happy Holidays and Post Merry Christmas to my Autism Family!  Today, December 26 2011 has been an interesting beast.  Let's take a look back:

Christmas Eve and Day were almost perfect to say the least.  With all the hustle, bustle, blinking lights, bad traffic & long car rides for King Khalil and the gang - at least there weren't any melt downs from overstimulation.  We in fact, had to drive around the block a few times looking at beautifully decorated homes and lights to stall for time while gifts were being wrapped at the last minute at home.  Still... no incident.  In fact, an excited King loved all that we were doing and was using more sentences and descriptive words than usual (thanks to Neurofeedback).   "Oh Mommy, look it!"  "Oh My Gosh, I love how pretty that house is" "Mommy I so excited, Santa Claus is coming".  All favorite lines that now register in my mind.  After tracking Santa on Norad, the kids all hopped into bed and effortlessly went to sleep... even my lil ASD King Khalil. 

Christmas day was amazing.  As usual, it took King Khalil a few minutes to process that Santa mysteriously had come, placed TONS of colorful packages under the treee and disappeared as quickly as he came.  But once he saw his sister & cousin ravage open their gifts, King Khalil followed suit. More and more language emerged with each exciting toy.  He recognized almost EVERY gift he put on his Christmas list:  Mommy I got Lego Star Wars on Wii; Mommy look a puzzle; Oh my God play dough!  As my dad watched on SKYPE from Boston, my sister and I couldn't help but crack up over King's display of overt language and excitement.  And so the rest of the day went.  Without a hitch.

December 26, 2011 proved to be the opposite with the return of Grumpy Smurf (King's name when he's fussy). Everything was a problem, he fussed at his sister, cousin and me relentlessly for hours.  Wouldn't brush teeth, didn't want to eat, his tummy hurt, on and on.  All my ABA, PBA skills were ineffective and there was no redirecting him.  Even my usual tricks of "Mommy Time" where I rub his head and give deep compressions to his joints failed.  Grumpy Smurf was with us most of the day right up into an unexpected late nap at 3pm, something King never does.  Alas, he was probably overstimulated from the previous day's events and tired himself out, but unable to express his exhaustion like Neurotypical kids.  One thing we have found with King, it takes him longer to process stimuli, good bad or indifferent.  But once he get's it, he get's it (whether learning a new skill or falling out from sheer exhaustion).  Suffice to say, a well rested King Khalil gets rid of Grumpy Smurf, hopefully not to return again for a few months (so says the delusional Warrior Mom of Autismland)!

Happy Holidays Autism Family!

The Adventures of King Khalil in Autismland: A Whole New World

The Adventures of King Khalil in Autismland: A Whole New World: Today is my first blog post in The Adventures of King Khalil in Autismland. Here you will have direct access to the on-going saga, mileston...

A Whole New World

Today is my first blog post in The Adventures of King Khalil in Autismland.  Here you will have direct access to the on-going saga, milestones, discoveries and adventures of me and my amazing son Khalil Jaden's world of Autism.  Khalil is 6 years old and was diagnosed at age 2 with PDD-NOS, then by age 3 officially on the Autism Spectrum by our Regional Center.  He is the most high spirited, happy lil guy -- and he was destined to impact this world.  As his mom, I believe it is as much my responsibility to prepare him for the world as it is to prepare the world for him!  I'm proud to say I am a hard-working Autism Advocate on a mission to enlighten as many people about the condition and change laws to accommodate our beautiful babies!  Thanks for following, subscribing to and commenting on this blog. Enjoy my constantly swirling, ever evolving inner thoughts on all things AUTISM.