Hari at 6

Its been a while since my last update on Hari. 

Ayurveda:

Most of you know we tried on Georgia based  DAN doctor, and most vitamin based treatment, B12 shots, probiotics and few more medicines.We did not see any improvements with respect to all of above.

Still time after time research emphasises on gutt/gastro intestinal lining getting affected, food sensitivity and intolerance to milk/wheat on most kids with Autism spectrum. So we don't want to give up on diet or alternative medicine approach. But this time we want to try on Indian traditional medicine just to keep it safe and minimize any bad side effects.

From January 2016 we are giving Ayurveda based internal medicine, 6 times a day.On a long run they said it will  help him heal inside out.

Improvements : 

1)Hari was a very picky eater before, now he is trying new food little more comfortable.

2) Speech: Last December, we took Hari for re evaluation with Coleman therapy center as Hari's speech did not improve as much as his receptive language or learning in other areas .We started on motor based approach to help his speech and language.

First few sessions in new speech place - Hari can produce most sounds m,n,b,p,g,f,even he tries L,S which are considered as tough sound. She is keep on motivating him and push in a playful way to try producing words/sentences through IPad app. Hari enjoys her session, giggles and even fights with her.

One big change she brought into our family to take with us is Attitude. I was surprised how she treats him so so normal .He can repeat most words/sentences. He is still working on making it more audible/clear  and more independent.

Hari is using with minimal help to say 

1) I want ...2)Give me more 3)pick me up 4)my turn 5) I don't want it 6) Yes/No 7) open/close the door 8)lets go home/out/up/back yard 9) push me fast(swing) 10) take off helmet 11) trot/walk on 12)play with me. 

WE are working to improve more functional speech,independent and more initiative with other kids/adults outside his therapist.

He gets little scared around other kids as they come close so quick .

Also she added one day after speech that she wanted to try RPM on Hari. She thinks Hari is speaking less but he thinks and knows more in his mind than what I and ABA therapists give credit for. So recommended to read about RPM AND START TO DO little at home. I was little reluctant initially thinking she is too positive, but she insisted after every session and told me to read and know about RPM.

4)RPM:This is a method developed by Indian woman named Soma to help her boy 20 years back.Its as simple as children spelling their thought /answer on an alphabet stencil board. Mostly used to teach academics, eventually many children use to communicate their voice through spelling. After lot of confusion, thinking how many new method/approach/intervention can I try or adopt to help Hari, started reading books about RPM. I started to learn and do small session to Hari weekly 2-3 times. He is doing good but struggling to sit, gets super hyper whenever I do.Almost I want to give up or frustrated/upset/sad  even now, but something in me is still trying.

1) Teach and Ask method - ex: Penguins live in antartica

Asking Hari : Did I say Penguins live in     

   antartica or cardboard 

  writing on piece of paper, giving choices, spelling the word and offering pencil to initiate Hari to point to answer he think right.

   

He is doing good.He is picking right choices 95% of time.Now I am helping him to spell his choice.

2)He is learning to spell in a big 3 piece board, A-I,J-R,S-Z, with help to point at right alphabet.

ex: Good  lets spell on this alphabet board -a n t a r t i c a 

He is now in this stage.

He also had an eval with one of speech therapist last month and got positive feed back from her side to continue RPM.

5)Summer : Harshitha had many joint session with Hari in floor time center and with social session with another speech therapist, now Harshitha is behaving like therapist half the time and loving sister half the time , both are coming along well in this summer.

With speech slowly improving,playing with me like a lion cub all the time.He is demanding Prashanth to play with him,carry him,take him to bed. 

6)Next step to help Hari to play with peer/his age kids.We thought we will put him in county school to address this.Due to so many complications ,I decided to keep him on home based kindergarden this year.

Kinder garden Enrichment :Still want to give him opportunity to be with other kids.So this fall he is going to start on Church based preschool  mon/we/fri -1:30-4:30 pm ,willing to give Hari a place in their after school Kinder garden class.

This fall is huge to see how Hari is going to accomodate in with lots of  kids , in a school like set up.

Will update in a while if I see any positive from our side.