Specialists

So let's just jump right into it and start talking about specialists (I was going to lead into this post with something witty, but I'm too tired).  Specialists are going to be an incredibly crucial part of our lives from now on, and I just made appointments for Caleb to see SIX different ones.  Why so many?  Well for starters, Autism directly affects an individual's communication, social interaction, and behavior.  So there's at least 3 specialists right off the bat!  I'll start off with our who and whys (this might be a little bit nitty-gritty for some of you, but oh well...you might learn something):

Neurologist: 
Since Autism is a neurological developmental disorder, neurologists are considered the experts.  They diagnose, they treat, they refer, and they advocate; specifically when your insurance company views Autism as a behavior disorder...yeah, did you catch that??  Every state views Autism differently, which means every insurance company views it differently, and views its recommendations for treatment differently.  Ridiculous in my opinion, but that's for another story.  I'm thrilled with our neurologist so far, and we've only seen him once.

Ophthalmologist: 
There really isn't a specific reason for Caleb to go see an ophthalmologist; he's never shown signs of vision problems, so they're just going to do a simple vision test (which will include a full dilation...which also means we get to hold him down while they put drops in both eyes, and then wait around to have them looked at again.  A simple procedure made a bit more complicated.). 

Audiologist/Speech Therapist: 
Two different appointments, linked into the same category.  Right now I would probably rather have his eyes check TEN TIMES OVER than take him to his audiology appointment because of his sensitivities to sounds.  I have no idea exactly what they'll do, but I'm pretty sure it might involve headphones *sigh* which will make for an exciting time.  Because Caleb has a speech problem, it's totally necessary that they rule out any hearing issue (which will probably be nonexistent in my opinion, he has incredible diction and can repeat almost anything with the exact intonation it was spoken).  But if something comes up, we will be able to work on it. 
The doctor recommends he receives even more speech therapy than he already has at school (which is around 100 minutes/week when school is in session).  So with that, we'll also be taking him to a private speech therapist.  Why?  Because communication is SO important, especially for a child with Autism who already has a hard time understanding abstract things, let alone putting them into words.  We are so blessed that Caleb talks as well as he does; very often the first question I get when I speak of Caleb's Autism is "Is he verbal?"  You have no idea just how many children there are with Autism who don't speak, or maybe speak 2 words at a time.  We really do have one of the "best case scenarios" when it comes to communication.  Sure there are rough moments/days (specially when he's tired), and we have a long way to go, but really, it could be so much worse and we're so thankful.  Onto the next specialist!

Occupational Therapist:
Many children with Autism have some sort of sensory issue (sight-taste-touch-smell-hear) which can get in the way of their daily life.  They also may have a difficult time with gross/fine motor skills and/or balance.  Caleb was already assessed for OT at the elementary school he attends, and the specialist concluded he wouldn't need OT services.  Back up...what she really meant was that she tested to see if he could function in a preschool setting, and since he did so well with fine/gross motor (which is basically all the school district is responsible for), then he doesn't qualify to receive OT at school.  That being said, Caleb has SERIOUS sensory issue when it comes to sounds, which in my opinion might even be a sensory processing disorder, and an OT specialist is going to help with "sensory integration."  So maybe, just maybe, one day he won't cry when he hears a chainsaw, the vacuum, a barking dog, the hair clippers, a crying Lilly, another screaming kid, a musical tone that's a little off, a hedge trimmer, a group of people cheering at a football game; seriously I could go on forever.

Applied Behavior Analysis:
Okay.  This is something totally new that I'm going to be learning.  ABA therapy is a type of behavior therapy where a specialist looks at how a specific part of a person's environment is negatively affecting their behavior, and figures out a way to change their behavior, generally using positive reinforcement.  An example might be this:  Caleb has an innate need for sameness.  When his schedule is thrown off, he can show some pretty crazy tantrums.  An ABA therapist will somehow assist us in showing Caleb that when he behaves appropriately when things don't go his way, he will be rewarded, which should reinforce the positive behavior.  OHHHH, why didn't I THINK of that?!?!  Hold on, you mean I just need to give him a lollipop and all will be well??  No no no.  His neurologist explained it this way:  he said typical children have the need to please their parents.  That sounds right...I can remember wanting to do things that would make my parents happy.  Well children with Autism don't have that.  They just don't care (his words).  If it doesn't feel good to them, they aren't going to do it (which makes a whole lot of sense regarding Caleb).  Fair enough.  Bring on the specialist!!  ...and the lollipops...

BLOOD WORK: 
Okay I know a Quest Diagnostics lab isn't a specialist (although I'm sure/hoping the technician who draws Caleb's blood is THE BEST at finding a vein EVER), but since it was another appointment I had to include it.  I'm not looking forward to this appointment...yikes.  Why blood work?  They need to check for other genetic factors that might be involved, and they need to make sure his levels of iron etc. are on target.  And I wouldn't be surprised if they added his information to some type of Autism research (fine by me).  And can I just say...it's a darn good thing that Tj's sister is a Child Life Specialist at CHOC; she's going to be lending us some practice tools that might ease his anxiety. 

Ahhhhh sorry that was so long winded.  I somehow felt the need to over share.  Please know that I'm not an expert in anything I just wrote about (except my own son...I will forever claim to be an expert on him).  It just surprises me how little people know about everything, considering that 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys now have Autism.  Seems like we should be a little more in-the-know...ya know?

And yeah this picture has nothing to do with specialists. Caleb's just so darn cute.