Behavioral Therapist?

[ourangelalicia]

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience seeing a Behavioral Therapist for their child? If you did what were the reasons....and the results? I'm having a real hard time justifying possibly adding another professional to Ali's life...she just bites and throws her food....however I'm starting to feel it may be neccessary to get these problems under control before she gets older and is around other kids. They are getting out of control.

I was hesitant to think that we couldn't handle it ourselves, but we've tried every suggestion we have been given....and either it didn't work, or it's something we can't do because of her individual issues already. (Oral aversion so obviously punishment with something that tastes bad is out of the question, we have a hard enough time getting her to eat anything.) I think it's worth a try to see a Behavioral Therapist. I just thought I'd see if anyone has used one. It also appears they are not common here....for little kids. Plenty of them for teens....but rare for young kids, so we'd probably be travelling to see one.

Thanks in advance.

[christie]

I have seen a Behaviroal Therapist for Chris and the first time was way back when it didn't seem he was gonna EVER be potty trained. I didn't ask for this service thru the school I went to a private one and actually I was the one to see him the most and for us it was AMAZING how just a few of his suggestions worked like a charm with Chris ;D

I have also over the years called him about other issues with Chris and he helped me every time ;D

We found ours thru reccomendations and THANKFULLY he happens to also be a professor at a local college that has lots of expereince with kids with exceptional needs

Best of Luck and I say hey anything or anyone that can help go for it ;D

CC ~

[ourangelalicia]

How old was he??? Do you know of anyone who had a behavioral therapist before 3 years old ? I found the ONE place within 600 miles who works with children under 3 years. After talking to two different people and giving them information about Ali, INCLUDING her having DS...I got a call from the person who was supposed to take all of our information, and then someone would call and make an appointment for Ali. After talking to the lady for 15 minutes and giving her medical history, concerns, information about us, and Ali, and insurance, ECT...she asked me why I waited to call.

Me: "I don't like stereotyping my kids, and since everyone told me Ali would need behavioral therapy I was hoping we wouldn't have to add another therapy to the list."

Lady: "Why did they think she would need it".

Me: "Well when she was born with Down Syndrome it -" Lady cuts me off....

Lady: "WHAT?! She's RETA&DED??"

Me: *speechless* Not easy to do.

Finally I tried to explain that while her having Down Syndrome means that technically she will be cognitively delayed, at this point she isn't showing much in that area. She is delayed in gross motor, but is on track in other areas. The lady wouldn't even listen...I would get a few words out and she would say "She's RETA&DED!!!" It was like I had just told her that my child had 5 heads or something, she was totally freaking out.

She finally calmed down and said, "Well I don't think we'd be the best referral for you, we don't work with retarded kids." And practically hung up on me.

Now obviously I'm confused, and upset. If this place truly doesn't take kids with disabilities, then where am I supposed to take Ali? And where do all of the other kids here go?!

I am making phone calls tomorrow...to the people I know in Utah, to all of Ali's therapists, to her Ped, and to the other office of this same Clinic. There is two locations, I am going to call the other one and ask them if they have any guidelines for kids that they won't accept. See what they say....

Any ideas or suggestions?

[MB]

How about calling the head of the practice and asking him/her why children with disabilities are not seen? It sounds to me like you've got an intake person who is probably 100 years old with an I.Q. to match. If they take medicaid, I am wondering if they aren't in violation of about 100 laws?

I have to believe the head of the practice would be very interested in your conversation with this lady.

MB

[Claire]

We have seen bahavior specialist for Adam last year as he had started slapping the EA and us at home for no apparent reason. Basically if our face was arms lent we got it. It did help with the suggestions they gave. One thin e did not agree on was one of their suggestion "Let him do whatever he wants so he forgets about slapping" Tha!!! No way!!!! >:(This year he is 7 in grade 1 and really active, like running out of the class and not cooperating at all, so again the behavior team are being called in.

[rickismom]

All I can say, is that in my opinion, if you have behavior problems, that is problem #1 ! Today I wish I had started on Ricki's behavior earlier.... I never let her get away with things, but I didn't know HOW to really correct her. If needed drop EVERY other therapist if you can find a good behavioral therapist. For all of Rickis smartnesss. if I don't get her behavior under control, all of her studies will be useless. (We are thank- G-d making progress, but if I give her an inch she'll still take a mile....

[Staci]

Chelsae, that stinks about the ignorant lady on the phone. I'm sorry you had to deal with that!

We took Aidan to a behavioral therapist once...it was about a year ago. He was and has always been into the hitting, scratching the face, throwing, etc etc, ever since he was a tyke. He HAS gotten better, though, since his intestional surgery in April...I chalk up a LOT of his behavior issues to not feeling well, like, his WHOLE life, poor sweetie While it has gotten better, he still has several episodes throughout the day. The behavioral specialist we saw last year wasn't at ALL helpful...his only solutions to correcting the behavior, my husband and I were/are already doing for him. I felt like it was a waste of our time...but I know this was only ONE specialist and that someone else might be more helpful for him, maybe not, who knows. I was just telling my husband tonight, during one of Aidan's episodes, that I just don't know what to do for him anymore...just consistency, I guess. Be consistent, whatever method of discipline you decide on...seems to be SLOWLY working for us, anyway! Good luck and I hope you find something that works for y'all!

Staci

[ourangelalicia]

I just wanted to update....on Tuesday the 23rd we had a particularly horrible incident where Ali literally attacked her sister. On her cheek, and her hand. Poor baby almost needed stitches, and it all happened in less than 30 seconds. It was unbelievable. So, I made phone calls that night until I got results, and I finally found a behavioral therapist. We had a meeting with her the next day, and we have our first session on Monday. She is a speech/behavioral therapist and she works with a woman who has her PHD in Behavioral Therapy. They both teach at the school in the area that is most reccomended for kids with DS. So, I am hopeful that this will make a big difference, and in the meantime we are doing what we can here.

A couple of things they suggested were using a spray bottle. When they do the behavior, squirt them immediatly in the face. Some kids love it, some hate it....but it works for a lot of kids. That is what we are going to try next.

I'm hoping we can get this taken care of soon....Ali's little sister has an infection now from the bite and is on antibiotics too.