Hi I am new here and could use some advice desperately

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Sounds like he could have CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Disorder). Some Aspies, Auties and kids with PDD have CAPD. It basically is being able to hear a sound, but there being a delayed response or complete inability to translate the sound into a meaning. Seems like an audiologist should be able to help, but have yet to find one myself that knew about CAPD. Try networking locally with parents of autistics and see what professionals they recommend for your area.

Hello ,

My son was diagnosed with Appraxia of speech. I am very familiar with it. I had to do both private speech thearopy and also through the school. I was going 2 times a week for private and 5 days a week in the school system. Basically it boils down to this. The muscle tissue around the upper and lower jaw are not fully developed yet and the child needs to be tought how to pronounce the sounds gradually and over time. A child with Appraxia of speech should use a straw as often as possible and start biting down on what looks like an adult teething device. It's a rubber device made just for that prupose. We had our son do it for about a year for 40 seconds every night when he brushed his teeth. Also, there is a communication issue between the brain and the muscles around the mouth. For some unknown reason, they don't communicate normally yet; however, over time and with intervention, they mostly do come around. My son now talks and sings; he actaully sings with me on stage when I am playing out in my band. Anyways, the key here is early intervention and a lot of repetition on pronouncing the sounds of letters and getting the articulation of the mouth pronouncing the sounds. Start with sounds, move to one word, 2 words etc... you get the idea. All of this info is basically how it was described to me by my sons speech therapist and some of my own homework. There is a light at the end of the tunnel ! !!

Hi Pam - I would suggest that you find a pediatric occupational therapist who specializes in treating children with sensory processing disorder (also called sensory integration disorder). This type of therapy can provide excellent help for many of your son's sensory struggles. Good Luck

I agree with ticker, on the CAP-D. Central auditory processing disorder, you can go to a speech and hearing clinic. Alot of autistics suffer from it, myself included. They first do a hearing test, and they find that ones hearing is "perfect". Then they forward you to a specialist to be evaluated. Does your son say "what" and "huh?" a lot? There are about 6 different subtypes of CAP-D, affecting different areas. Does he have really sloppy writing? That is one sign of one subtype. Do a search on learning disabilities, or CAP-D. For me, I can hear what people are saying in a school setting, but I actually have to write the words down, and then read them again, to process the info in my brain. Oral exams are difficult, and I don't often score well, but teachers will normally provide me with a printout of the questions, and that makes life easier. Speach delay and/or break in speach could occur for a fraction of time, and may not be noticable. Ask yourself if your son ever had a day when he was spacey, quiet, even for a couple of minutes? Plus, if the teachers in your area aren't specialists in the field of autism, or they don't know anyone with autism, they probebly believe just as you did before you started researching. Good luck to you!

yes my son says "huh" and "what" alot, even when he is standing in front of me. his writing is sometimes sloppy, he writes big too. he is spacey and quiet as well. but i thought that is just how he is. he did have a teacher when he was in day care who told me that it seems to her that he can't process information well. she said he seems like he is in his own world. i'm trying to find some doctors today.

This is the website for the Autism Society of America. You can go here to find your local chapter:
http://209.200.89.252/search_site/chapter_map.cfm

If you contact them, they will be able to get you in touch with the best diagnosticians in your area. They also will have "support" meetings for parents of autistic kids. Check them out, they're the best way to find a qualified person.