They are angels thanks for that post...I just posted something in regards to echolalia and that sounds like my son...he starts to say random words when it seems like he has no idea what we are saying and when it gets quiet in the house. I will pick up that book and add it my autism library. It amazes me how I am not a reader however, I read almost anything that is close to giving me more insight on how to deal with Autism.
LOL...my son talks to me in "Thomas speak" all the time...he'll quote entire segments of the show, or passages from one of the books (echolalia)...but sometimes we have to take what we can get, at least he is verbalizing, so I just try to find a way to expand what he's interested in talking about, (as foxl indicated) which is usually Thomas...my son has a tendency to get hung up on one thing, and then the whole world revolves around that one thing... first it was Thomas, then it was Cars, now it's Thomas again...
Have you read the book "Ten Things Ever Child With Autism Wishes You Knew?" There is a chapter on language and speech, and how many children echo things they have heard because they know no other way to respond (this is an oversimplification of the explanation of echolalia)...it's a good, short read, I highly recommend it
Carters Mommy -- Here's the article that inspired the book, which I also HIGHLY recommend. She's a great author and very easy to read -- sounds like a friend. One of her sons has autism, and her positive attitude is downright contagious.
http://www.ellennotbohm.com/ten_things_article.html
How did you respond to him? It sounds like he is SURE trying ... I know well, those heart-sinking moments ... do you ever watch Sponge Bob with him, so you can get into some back-and-forth based on the plot? I found we could do that, with Dora ... and turn it into conversation. But ... you have to know the references. UnfortunatelyMy dd can not tell me anything in any detail. I asked her how her day was at school, I got the "it was good" response I always get. Then HOURS later tonight she got all bummed out and told me she didnt like school because of the "matching game." I had no idea what she meant. I tried and tried to get more information but she cannot answer the simplest questions or just come right out and say what happened.
After almost 45 minutes of trying to help her tell me I still dont know what happened. I assume that there was a game on a wall and she wanted to play...the kids that were playing picked partners and she was not picked. That is what I kind of pieced together.
I just dont know why it is so difficult for her to tell me things. She has such a huge vocab. She knows what words are...whats causing this...
Sorry to rant on your thread...I just want you to know that I understand. I am more worried now too...I wonder if it will ever get any better...
I hope you feel better soon...
Wow! Sometimes I am just amazed that I get surprised about my son's communication skills. I know there is a lack of ability to process and yet, I still am taken aback at times. Like I just woke up or something. I don't know, is it just me? Or do they have these "Honeymoon" periods where things seem to be going better. I don't know if this makes sense or not, but here is what got me thinking about this. Tonight Daniel came up to me and said, "Hey, by the way you have to have 15 golden spatula's to get to Sandy's house, yeah, and hey by the way you have to have 45 golden spatula's to get to the Crusty Crab, yeah, listen to me this is very important! By the way, you have to have 15 golden spatula's to get to Sandy's house, day Sandy Mom, yeah and by the way you have to have 45 golden spatula's to get to the Crusty Crab! Say Crusty Crab Mom! Aaaand you have to get the underwear! Sponge Bob's underwear. Say Sponge bob Mom. Yeah this is very important! By the way.....etc. He is only 5 but he sounds just as flat and monotone as rainman did in the movie. My husband says he thinks he wants us to hear him say "By the Way", like that is a new phrase that he has learned. I don't know, but to me this is odd. It makes me wonder what the future will hold. Sometimes I look at him and see only small little things that I think he will do just fine with, and then I have times like tonight when I think, ok if he continues with this talking and repeating and making me repeat it might be a little more difficult than what I imagine.Hang onto the feeling of hope. Your son has a desire to communicatem he's speaking in long sentences and picking up new phrases. The repetitiveness and the monotone can be worked on. Is there anyone on your child's team that you can talk to to help your son meet these goals?