Autism / PDD
Research now suggests that children as young as 1 year old can show signs of autism. The most important thing you can do as a parent or caregiver is to learn the early signs of autism and understand the typical developmental milestones your child should be reaching at different ages. Please look over the following list. If you have any concerns about your child's development, don't wait.
Speak to your doctor about screening your child for autism. While validated screening for autism starts only as young as 16 months, the best bet for younger children is to have their development screened at every well visit with a highly validated developmental screening tool. If your child does have autism, early intervention may be his or her best hope.
Watch For The Red Flags Of Autism
In clinical terms, there are a few “absolute indicators,” often referred to as “red flags,” that indicate that a child should be evaluated. For a parent, these are the “red flags” that your child should be screened to ensure that he/she is on the right developmental path. If your baby shows any of these signs, please ask your pediatrician or family practitioner for an immediate evaluation:
- No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter
- No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or thereafter
- No babbling by 12 months
- No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving by 12 months
- No words by 16 months
- No two-word meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months
- Any loss of speech or babbling or social skills at any age
Diagnosis And Treatment
When navigating the referral process, parents and pediatric professionals must work together to pursue the healthiest developmental outcome for a child at risk of a developmental disorder. This includes referrals to, and follow up for, the following: Early Intervention, the local school district, specialists, insurance, diagnostic testing, and working towards “what’s next?”
For Parents
Make an appointment with your child's doctor. After your physician confirms the presence of a developmental delay or disorder, parents have to contend with a range of emotions: grief, disbelief, anger, hope and fear. Coming to terms with your child’s developmental delay or disorder can be a lengthy process. While each parent responds differently, many parents recall that the first steps towards self-education and action proved crucial not only for the child’s well-being, but for their own.
Read about Using The Listening Program® in the Treatment of Autism and Unlocking Potential - TLP for Autism Spectrum Disorders
The only magical formula for your child’s best outcome is an active and involved parent. Spend time with your child. You don’t need a degree in psychology to help your child. Don’t hesitate to ask your child’s physician for help. And don’t be afraid to lean on your family and friends. Beyond love and acceptance, you will find that creativity and persistence are invaluable tools.
Speaking to parents of children diagnosed with disabilities, one theme is clear: act now.
“I had to start moving forward before I even accepted the diagnosis. I thought, “my son will prove you wrong’ and I made the appointments with that intent.”
“I didn’t realize that everything took so long: specialists had waiting lists, it took a while to even schedule an evaluation. I wish I’d started earlier.”
“The best advice I have: talk to another parent who has a child with developmental issues. They can help you navigate the maze, and can give you the encouragement you need to move forward.”
Once a parent is ready to move forward, it may be helpful to start a small notebook where everything can be recorded: a schedule of upcoming appointments; names of specialists; contact numbers for community resources; detailed notes from conversations with clinicians; questions to ask at the next appointment; notes on your child’s progress.
One of the first lists for your notebook might be the following “to do” list, which includes six crucial steps to take after a child has been identified as having developmental delays:
- Follow up with initial contacts from Early Intervention
- If your child is 30 months or older, contact your local school district
- Request a referral, and/or research and contact specialists
- Begin the process of understanding your insurance plan
- Make appointments for further diagnostic testing
- Start to consider “What’s Next?” -- what else do I need to know?
Read about Using The Listening Program® in the Treatment of Autism and Unlocking Potential - TLP for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Much of this information has been provided by First Signs, Inc.
The Listening Program Level 1 Kit iListen iPod
We are thrilled to be one of the first Certified TLP Providers in the nation to introduce The Listening Program Level 1 Kit iListen iPod!!
Developed by Advanced Brain Technologies, iListen includes the same high quality, psycho acoustically based music programs that our listeners are accustomed to. The iListen is produced with un-compressed, copy protected audio specifically for the iPod.
No need to worry about lost or damaged CDs. You will love the portability and convenience of iListen.
iListen is available with The Listening Program Level 1 Kit in different system configurations. Each includes a library of music from the Sound Health Series collection.
Your iListen program will include:
- The 10 hour TLP Level One Library
- An additional 4 hour Sound Health Library
- An 8GB iPod nano
- The Level One Guidebook
- A Quick Start Guide
- An AC Charger
- An iPod nano Carry Case
Headphones not included.
Don Harris is a Certified TLP Provider and Licensed Speech Language Pathologist. Contact Don Online to further discuss the many ways The Listening Programs and the TLP Specialized CDs will benefit you and your family.
The Listening Program iListen iPod Bone Conduction Level One Kit
The Listening Program with bone conduction technology blasts Music-Based Auditory Stimulation™ to the next level. It combines the experience of listening to music through specialized headphones while incorporating subtle vibrations of the skin and skeletal system, engaging the whole body and brain in the listening process.
This multi-sensory approach accelerates and expands the benefits of The Listening Program. Portable and affordable, iListen with bone conduction technology offers the convenience of home or school based listening.
The Listening Program with bone conduction provides an added form of stimulation to the cochlea and vestibular system and is more intensive than air conduction alone. The increased input is observed to accelerate change.
As we speak our entire body resonates due in part to the speed in which sound travels through bone. Our self perception of speech is primarily through the influence of the bone conduction pathway. This is quite different from how we listen to others whose voices are transmitted through the air.
Further evidence to the significance of bone conduction is demonstrated through its role in hearing and listening assessments. Audiologists test bone conduction perception in relation to air conduction as an important diagnostic tool for certain hearing problems.
The Listening Program iListen Bone Conduction Level One Kit will include:
- The 10 hour TLP Level One Library With Nature Sounds
- An additional 4 hours from the Sound Health Library
- An 8GB iPod nano
- Reference BC Digital Amplifier
- EH 350 BC Headphones
- The Level One Guidebook
- A Quick Start Guide
- An AC Charger
- An iPod nano Carry Case
- Connection Cable
- 1 Year Limited Warranty on BC Equipment
Don Harris is a Certified TLP Provider and Licensed Speech Language Pathologist. Contact Don Online to further discuss the many ways The Listening Programs and the TLP Specialized CDs will benefit you and your family.
