UPDATE!!

Deary me I don't seem to be managing to keep this blog updated much do I??!!

Anyway, since my last post about Haydie getting his diagnosis, the LEA gave us funding for him to attend a private nursery for 3 mornings a week for a little bit of early intervention.  He turned 3 in July so now he gets these mornings free anyway. He wasn't doing too well in the toddler room... it was too cramped for him and other kids were getting too close.  He was ok outside but spent most of his time stimming so they made him a little place of his own in a cupboard in the corner.  He had his numbers and some sensory toys in there and could go in there whenever he felt overwhelmed.  Now he is in the pre school room he is much more settled!  The room is huge and not as cramped.  He has 1 to 1 support in there too and they are preparing a report for when he (hopefully) gets to go to the same special school his older brother went to!! Amazing school by the way!

So today my gorgeous little Haydie can repeat some words we say... he has immediate and delayed echolalia.  He doesn't know what the words he is saying mean though. He still cannot communicate his needs to us but I think we are coming along with the PECS, albeit slowly. He isn't sleeping well so we have started sleep clinic.... hopefully we can train him before they start talking about meds.  I think his lack of sleep is what is causing him to self harm... he gets so frustrated with not being able to talk and coupled with being over tired he just lashes out at himself.  It is hard to see him bashing his head on the floor, hitting himself and pulling his own hair out.

Tyler, who is less severely autistic than Haydie, has just started his new special school this September.  So far he loves it! They are very impressed with his maths skills and his artistic ability. May have a savant here lol.  The only problem I have so far is trying to get Tyler to understand that Haydie is autistic too and he can't talk to him the way he does.  He doesn't understand that he can't shout at Haydie for getting in his way or touching something he shouldn't.  I think I will have to get some social stories ready for him and see how we go...

Thats it for now....