Surviving Autism

My daughter’s school year began this week and she got a new teacher this time.  I was apprehensive at having a new teacher for her but I was also looking forward to it. I want her expose to many new faces and people as much as I can.  Unexpectedly, she liked her new teacher and she did not cry like she did when she is familiarizing herself with her new environment or new people dealing with her.

The new teacher said she think my daughter liked her, Tasha gave her lots of kisses on the left cheek.  The new teacher also noticed the selective speaking my daughter is having lately.

She now points to things and vocalize some generic call for everything, essssssss (or sister would said etsch)  and ahkin (or her term for ice cream) .  Ice cream or the letter I was her favorite letter and word she learned from the alphabet poster we have on the wall now most of the things she likes or recognize she now calls them ice cream.

Kids with autism have two major difficulties socialization and communication skills.  Communication skills has different aspects the verbal (oral communication/ speech) and non-verbal (gestures other than speech).

My daughter show intent to communicate and would also do so through non-verbal means.  Some degree of volitional movement difficulties or difficulty controlling her mouth/tongue to produce voice or sounds was noted.  This is another factor that was considered that may have hindered her verbal language development.  Signs of oral and verbal apraxia was said to be evident.

Considering her present age, a more functional approach to communicate was recommended to her.  Despite significant deficits in language, she was seen to have strengths in communication in general as seen in her ability to initiate interaction.  These are the skills that can be maximize so as to create  a functional communication system both at home and in other familiar environment.