Autism treatment in twins

Anna and Alexander, Kyiv, Ukraine

Autism treatment review. There are two wonderful twin guys growing up in our family. The boys were 5 years old when we were diagnosed with autism (hyperactive form), and we were diagnosed with GDD global developmental delay with autistic features ASD. A small historical excursion: born full-term, on the Apgar scale of 9 points. Until the age of 2, they developed normally, went, and speech began to form. At 2 years of age (both) underwent surgery with prolonged anesthesia. After that, they did not speak for a week, they even cried without a sound. Of course, it’s hard to say whether this is the effect of the anesthesia itself, fear, or all together. But the fact remains that the children were silent for a year. Sounds gradually began to return, but the speech did not appear. At the age of 3, they began to actively visit speech therapists, psychologists, and speech therapists. At 4 they went to a psychiatrist. They took nootropic drugs (Cortexin, Pantogam, Ceraxon). It should be noted that nootropic drugs had a positive effect on speech, individual words began to “breakthrough”. But at the same time, aggressiveness was also added to our hyperactivity (especially on Ceraxon).

At the moment, the diagnosis of autism has been removed completely. Professor Rakhmanov and our family.

Also, hippotherapy helped, the boys began to treat animals kindly, insofar as earlier there was unjustified cruelty. Hippotherapy strengthened and coordinated gross motor skills. That is, development took place, but very slowly. And by the age of 5, the difference between boys and peers was already noticeably felt.

First cycle of treatment (20 days), 1st course

In June-July 2013, we completed the first cycle (20 days) of the first course. It was difficult to sign up for the course itself since there are a very large number of children. And naturally, Vagif Mammedovich physically cannot provide assistance to everyone. It’s just wonderful that there was a place for us!

Our psychological status before the start of treatment: one had echolalia (repetition of all the words heard, without comprehension) and a couple of dozen words of the active dictionary, the second had not even echolalia, the words were used: I do not want, I will not let go, give. In addition to speech, behavioral problems were a precursor for us. The children had no fears at all! And it was scary, the instinct of self-preservation was categorically silent. High? Come on higher! Deep? Let’s go deeper! Unfamiliar “uncle” — sit down, let’s go together! I stayed on an unfamiliar street myself — no problem! A big car and I’ll throw myself under the wheels and so on endlessly.

In the kindergarten, on a walk, the teachers put on sneakers and chased two children, and my mother, taking them away in the evening, blushed. The lack of attention was on the face, calmly, without a scandal, we could sit out for 5 minutes.

I would like to note right away that our family is very pleased with the results of the treatment and we are already waiting for the second cycle. However, turning to future “brothers and sisters in arms”, the first thing that should be emphasized is that NOBODY WILL WORK WITH A CHILD instead of you! This is a daily hellish work, not only for treatment but also at home afterward. If you are hoping for a miracle, you don’t even need to go to consultations. Speech zones are formed up to 3 years old, after which it is already late. Therefore, these zones must be “awakened” — and there will certainly be exacerbations of the entire mental status.

In particular, my children began to bite, fight, bang their heads on the floor, and deliberately throw themselves at the feet of the medical staff, during the procedures they had to be held back by force. Moreover, our dad could hardly cope with a 5-year-old child (then he joked that he had been to a bullfight). One must be mentally prepared for this. It is here that parental desire begins to manifest itself: after all, except for mom and dad, no one will achieve any behavior, no sounds, no words. The research institute has created a unique atmosphere of mutual assistance, as well as working with parents. This applies not only to the procedures themselves but also to developing the correct strategy for behavior with children and in the family.

Our achievements

We still have a lot of behavioral “parental” punctures, they themselves have been spoiled. However, staying at the research institute helped to form a single strategy of behavior and develop a certain direction, and not a chaotic movement. There is still a lot of work, but now it is clear “where to push next” For me personally, there was a very strong rethinking of the situation and our role in it.

Second cycle of treatment, 1st course (October 2013)

Since we left the cycle in a state of aggravation, and we wanted to provide the most accurate information, it was decided to wait a month. But now I want to share our undoubted successes:

1. the active vocabulary has expanded, phrasal speech began to break through, and words are easier to remember and reproduce (before the first cycle, one echolalia, the second was generally silent)
2. more passive vocabulary, a much better understanding of addressed speech, and implementation of instructions;
3. the imitation and reproduction of sounds have become better, if before there was “porridge” in the mouth, now the words are pronounced more clearly, louder;
4. began to sing and sing along, and stopped closing their mouths to speaking people, but on the contrary, they look into the eyes and try to repeat after them;
5. began to talk in a dream (separate words);
6. Fine motor skills have improved immensely, they paint well, and write better;
7. while reading (finally) they began to associate open syllables!
8. make a phonetic analysis without any problems;
9. correlated the number and quantity, now, quietly, we introduce the elements of mathematics;
10. perseverance and attentiveness increased. In principle, individual lessons and homework already pass without problems and tantrums;
11. In kindergarten, improvements were also noted in communication with other children. Boys began to speak not only to adults but also to their peers.
    In addition, they began to do exercises with everyone (you can’t force them before), and they began to incubate group classes. And if the boys also have “stars”, they even participate in the classes. For example, the other day, the children in the group had the task to go to the blackboard and compose a story based on the picture. The kid sat, sat, and when everyone answered, said “I want,” he was called to the board. It is clear that we have not yet succeeded in a connected story, but he named everything in the picture, said “I have everything!” and then sat down in his place. The teacher is shocked, and mom is happy!
12. elementary questions “what is this?”, “Who is there?”
13. began to want to communicate by phone, albeit primitively, but the fact is obvious;
14. began to calmly cut their hair in a hairdresser, have their teeth sealed
15. it became possible to apply the method of “bribery-blackmail” in education, earlier it was possible to achieve one’s goal only through punishment

Of course, the lability of the psyche, mood swings, the state of “I don’t want”, but their “I will not,” negativism for everything new has not gone anywhere. However, it is worth noting that it is much easier to persuade or persuade something to be done. Yes, and it became much easier for us because it is already clear that our everyday hellish work does not pass by, but finds response and understanding in children. During this cycle, Vagif Mammadovich treated not only children but also father and mother.

Our dad suffered from severe migraines, up to complete disorientation and vomiting. That is, if he did not have time to extinguish the precursors with a crazy dose of drugs, then he was completely out of order for at least a day. And such attacks, depending on the weather, could be up to 2 times a week. After the treatment, he did not have a headache for a WHOLE month. Unfortunately, stressful situations in life are inevitable, so the headache returned after the next “nerves”, however, it was much weaker in strength (without vomiting).

As for my mother’s condition: her teeth stopped hurting, she felt less hungry (she used to wake up at night with a persistent desire to eat a mammoth), fewer tantrums, became calmer, became organized, and had a desire to do anything at all. I cannot but note that the quarrels in the family have become ten times less, they have become much more tolerant of each other.

Completed the first course of treatment, i.e. completed 3 cycles

The changes that occurred in the children after the third cycle became deeper and more noticeable, however, the period of exacerbation after treatment lasted longer.

1. Phrasal speech is formed, and active and passive vocabulary has increased. This is reflected in the fact that the children began to speak not by memorized phrases, but tried to make up their own phrases. Of course, speech is agrammatical (without prepositions, cases, childbirth, etc.), BUT the dialogue has already begun.
2. Questions were fixed in the speech (appeared in the second cycle, but disappeared during periods of exacerbation). Children constantly ask: what is it? Where? how?
3. It became much easier to memorize words and to introduce them into your speech. Although for this the whole family has to be parrots, we constantly and constantly tell the boys about everything that we see and hear, sometimes even the throat grows hoarse in the evening.
4. Boys answer questions more easily and began to distinguish other people’s names, unfortunately, we have not left echolalia yet, but these changes are a great success for us.
5. Concerning classes – the boys read practically without problems at a normal speed. And if before they did not understand at all what they were reading, now, thanks to colossal efforts, we are also achieving understanding. For example, we write different questions to the children on paper, and they have to read it themselves (I am silent) and answer.
6. Writing – we write in print, rewrite texts from books, keep a line, and remember what we wrote, and from where. Now we are learning uppercase letters. Writing dictations is still bad (they distinguish between individual syllables, and you need to constantly repeat to write a word), but progress is obvious – even a month ago, children could not reproduce words by ear in writing. And the quality of the letter itself has become much higher.
7. We introduce some elements of mathematics, ie. the boys correlated the number and the quantity and now we are deepening the skills.
8. In individual lessons, both attentiveness and perseverance increased. Honestly, after the second cycle, we had no problems with either home or individual lessons.
9. But regarding the group lessons in kindergarten, there were serious problems. And if they were still inactive classes, at the very least, hatching, exercise, and music classes were enchanting. The children were either ignored or aggressive. In the third cycle, at the “dance”, children began to participate in group competitions. And at that moment, the boys began to participate in group physical activities in the kindergarten. True, for this my husband and I took turns going to these classes in the children. garden, but before the children, it was not possible to persuade the children to repeat any exercise, they either shouted or huddled under the piano. And then they began to do everything first for us, and then for the educators.
10. People around said that we have become calmer and more adequate. Of course, my hyperactive children did not abruptly become calm itself (no one canceled the ability of the psyche), but to negotiate, persuade, and come to a compromise, but it is banal to buy! has already become possible.

Looking back, I don’t recognize my children, and they became much better physically, mentally, and emotionally!

4th cycle of treatment at research institutes (June 2014)

I want to note right away that cycle 4 has turned out to be the most productive for us so far. If we compare with the previous cycles, then, firstly, we began to notice the changes already at the cycle itself, and they still last (after the previous cycles, the main changes were at home). Secondly, all the changes have become an order of magnitude deeper and better.

1. The reading speed has increased and the skill of reading small print has appeared;
2. Letters – the quality of writing in capital letters has improved; we are still writing dictations in print, but the listening comprehension of the text has become an order of magnitude higher;
3. Mathematical elements and components are perceived more easily, but so far mathematics is given the hardest;
4. The vocabulary is expanding, we now introduce abstract and unifying concepts;
5. They memorize new words more easily, operate with old ones, and combine them into sentences (of course, speech is agrammatic, there are no prepositions, wrong endings, etc. BUT a year ago there was no speech at all. So for us this is a colossal breakthrough!);
6. The concept of “first-then” appeared;
7. Use the questions – what? Where? where? still at a primitive level, but constantly;
8. The boys began to draw before they only painted (according to the model and independently), and now they draw people, animals, and all kinds of different things, albeit schematically, but you can really understand what is drawn.

Our main problems are still hyperactivity, extreme negativism of prohibition, hysteria, and, of course, the flow of our desires in everything. However, despite the above, behavioral problems are much less pronounced compared to last year.

The twins have already gone through 5 cycles of treatment at the institute

Now, looking back and rereading the diaries of our complaints, it’s even a little hard to believe the changes that have happened to the children. So, in small steps, we have moved colossally forward.

1 – Regarding speech: a fairly clear phrasal speech has formed, I dare not call it “the best sentence”, because there are problems with endings, and prepositions, however! there are full-fledged nouns, verbs, and adjectives;
– there was planning, a sequence of actions expressed in speech (first and then), hence there is less protest if it is impossible for parents to immediately fulfill requests; it is still difficult to answer the questions “what did you do then?”, especially if you ask about morning events in the evening, but bright events are noted (like “teeth were treated”);
– pleases constant questions “what? where?”, after the 5th cycle appeared and now “slip” – how much? where?;
– the addressed speech sounds constantly, and if it is still difficult for us to memorize other people’s names, then the boys choose the alternative “aunt, uncle, boy, girl”. We are constantly struggling with other people’s names, and the speed of memorization has clearly increased;
– the vocabulary is growing every day, and I am very glad that the boys began to pick up words not only from us but from the environment;
– understanding has also grown, in dialogues, when children cannot find the right words, they try to replace them with familiar ones, it turns out in places funny, but understandable.
– we teach and recite poetry, we train memory and communication;
– we teach groups and associations, and we try to go beyond the framework of substantive speech.

2 – I have described in previous messages our success in writing, dictating, and reading: skills have increased, but it should be noted that if a long break is taken, the skill deteriorates. So, we have already achieved a quick reading of words per minute, but time passed and a little moved out. Proceeding from the fact that the daily load is very strong, I even had to make a schedule of classes));
– after the 5th cycle, the boys gradually began to understand what they read (answer questions on the next picture drawn, and show every word that they read), for us it is still quite difficult, but the children are trying very hard;
– we rewrite the printed text in capital without prompts;
– we draw ourselves, but without composition, incomplete. Now we are trying to teach how to correctly arrange the drawn cats, dogs, little men, etc. in a sheet format, and not grouped in one corner. By the way, the kids began to draw after the 4th cycle, before that we only painted;
– dictations with a fight, in terms of familiar words still lie correctly, and unfamiliar ones … you understand)))
– there was a breakthrough in mathematics (plus, minus scores for ten without training sticks). However, the children themselves did not wake up as geniuses of mathematics, dad spends “nerve hours” based on the motivation “A man may not be able to talk, but he must be able to count!” ))).

3 – Socialization: now they attend group classes, judo – they learn to perform frontal and group instructions sequentially and in turn. I can’t say that everything works out right away and without problems, but we work every day and every minute, and even in a dream we inspire!
– began to understand and follow the rules of the simplest games, both board games, and physical education. And it is immensely glad that my husband and I began to notice that the boys periodically try to play these games at home themselves, that is, they remembered and adapted to their situation;
– a huge relief to go calmly to performances in the circus, to cartoons (and entertainment for parents, not stress);

4 – I would like to note the emotional sphere as an important point. To be honest, I never even thought about how poor she was with us. And now for you, malice, and resentment, sympathy, joy, and laughter “on business” without prompting, and the desire for praise and approval. And how boys can tease each other is another story altogether! Thanks!!!

I would like to dwell separately on the problem that our family faced when moving to another city. Namely, rumors that only the first few cycles of treatment at the Center are effective. To the natural question, “how much do you spend on classes with children per day?”, You hear … “well, an hour or two.” Every time you have to repeat and repeat the words of the Professor that “this is everyday hellish thankless work”, the changes can be minimal, but the more you work, the more your children will delight you, and you will be proud of them. And a miracle, in itself, may never come!
“Trust in God and work hard on it!”

2 courses of treatment. Improvements have been made in the emotional, behavioral, mental, and speech spheres

I would like to remind you that children are diagnosed with autism, a hyperactive form. We turned to the Center when the children were 5 years old: the children did not speak, and the behavior was antisocial, inadequate, hysterical, and completely uncontrollable. After 2 courses of treatment (6 cycles), we have such achievements.

Academic knowledge

1. Understanding problems, solving examples (addition, subtraction after a dozen to 50), counting up and down to 50, neighbors of numbers, volumetric and plane objects, etc.
2. Read, have reading comprehension, subject to the presence of familiar words; it is still difficult to retell the entire text, but they are trying to formulate what they understood from the text using active vocabulary; answer simple questions about the text (the question why? is still puzzling)
3. Write in both capital and print, dictations by ear with short and familiar words (4-6 letters) do not cause problems, but large and unfamiliar words cause difficulties
4. Phonetic and syllabic parsing of the word is still based on the image
5. Solve logical problems: what is wrong in the picture, find what is superfluous, why is it superfluous (differentiation by groups), find 5 differences, complete a series in sequence, etc.
6. Introduced a calendar, we are working on understanding the time and events. For example, every morning we mark what day it is, the day of the week, month, and season. If during the month there are any significant holidays or events (birthday, grandmother’s arrival, going to the cinema for a cartoon, dolphinarium, etc.), then these days are marked in the calendar and they say how much is left before them, what day is over … Thanks to this, it became easier to bargain with a trifle)), that is, they ask to go sailing on a ship (steamer), you tell them that no, we won’t go today, but let’s go on Friday, on such and such a date … and that’s it, the question is removed without hysterics. True, on Thursday, they will remind me 100 times that tomorrow I have to go sailing on a ship!
7. Introduced a grading system – different colors of emoticons, moved away from classes “for candy” to more abstract, school concepts.

There are many improvements in speech too

Every day we celebrate new words and phrases that the boys pick up not only from us but also from the world around them. Of course, speech does not correspond to age, there is still not enough active vocabulary, there are no prepositions, it is difficult with pronouns and correct word formation, incorrect endings of childbirth, and a bunch of problems. But! Memorizing new things is an order of magnitude higher than even six months ago. You can already talk with the kids, find out what they did during the day, what marks they got, who fought with whom …

We began to communicate with pleasure on the phone, answer questions, tell the events of the day, show off good grades (green emoticons). They themselves ask 100 questions a day (my head hurts in the evening …) We are very happy about that! Of course, there is an objective understanding that neurotypical children are still far away, but we try not to forget to rejoice at every step and success. Because every small victory is a titanic work!

Behavioral Disorders

Reading our complaints 2 years ago and now, we understand that all our old complaints are gone. They just are gone! Yes, others have appeared, we periodically go through exacerbations. But! Exacerbations are always lighter and softer than the previous ones, and cannot be compared with exacerbations in the first cycle. For example, I had all my hands bitten and bruised – protests were expressed extremely aggressively and hysterically, now the boys can argue (verbally) and try to insist, but if they hear a harsh NO, they calm down and try to bargain (also verbally).

We, FINALLY, can go with children wherever we want and whenever we want. Earlier, they ran away, did not obey, jump up from their seats, and ran all over the cinema … (it is already scary to remember). Now, they calmly sit for 2-3 hours (no sweets, just themselves), wait in lines, and do not run away. It happens that sometimes, especially when the two of you, flirt and you need to strictly pull up. But for this, we do not need to run headlong after them, but it is enough just to say that this is impossible.

Separately, I would like to note the emotional sphere

The children developed a lot of different emotions. And most importantly, they began to recognize the emotions of others correctly. And if something is not clear, then they may ask: why is the boy crying? etc. we didn’t even think before that the emotional world of children was very poor (against the background of other problems we simply didn’t pay attention to). Emotionally, the boys began to change after the 5th cycle, and these changes insanely inspire us to further work.

Now they have very diverse interests, they like to draw with paints and pencils, sculpt crafts from plasticine, collect puzzles, and play board games (walkers, table football, lotto) – and they understand the rules and try Consciously! cheat! They love to ride scooters, and bicycles, so they bought rollers – we plan to learn to ride them. And the boys do not perceive it as an occupation, for them it has become a game and entertainment, as well as for us!

And most importantly!

Children successful passed the initial school test, and according to the results, we go this year to a general education school (mass) according to a general education program for children with speech impairments (there are also programs for preschool education and training) to the kindergarten, and the next year to the first with inclusion in the same school !!! Our joy has no boundaries!

Our children (twin boys) were diagnosed with autism (hyperactive form) back in 2012. The children were non-verbal, like Mowgli’s behavior, and a full range of related problems. In 2013, at the age of 5, we got (with great difficulty) to Professor Vagif Mammedovich Rakhmanov for treatment, and from that very moment our new path “from neuroatypical form to neurotypicality” began. We described our small and big victories after different stages of treatment on the forum. In total, we have 7 years and 18 treatment cycles behind us.

At the moment, the diagnosis of autism has been completely removed, and only speech tasks remained (moreover, it is tasked, not problems), the children successfully passed the intermediate school exam for 8 and 9, independently studied in the 5th grade, without tutors’ help. Our path is long and thorny, however, I sincerely believe that without the unique methodology of the Professor, we would not have mastered even half of our results. And, despite the complete absence of primary complaints, after each cycle there is noticeable progress not only in the psychological and behavioral sphere, but also a noticeable strengthening of the general somatic state is noted.

Thanks to Doctor Rakhmanov for your tremendous work!

Mom Anna, a doctor (+38-050-621-three-5-2-nine) – If you have any questions, please call me!
Dad Alexander, a software developer.