EGG!
Today Zoë's pre-school went on a field trip to a small local farm. Andrew came along with us (all the kids had a parent with them, because it's easier to manage little kids that way), and of course, so did Miranda.
Zoë was fairly interested in most of it. At the start, the man giving the tour brought out a number of differently sized/colored eggs and put them on a table. He said, "Anyone know what these are?" and Zoë shouted, "EGG!" She seemed so very pleased with herself for knowing that word.
She petted some chicks and then some adult chickens, then said, "Cow," when I showed it to her, and she got to pet a little lamb, as well, but she was actually more interested in the floor in the lamb shed, which was a grate so that the sheep poo would fall through.
Later in the day, we went by her Dad's office (he needed to check on something) and she was immediately at home there. There was a desk, a computer, some books, papers... She knew just what was up.
She's more interested in the grating on the floor than in the little cute lamb and she knows just what to do in a cubicle. The kid's a born geek...
She's getting it!
Zoë is doing very well with the potty training lately. She seems to have finally figured out about using the toilet, at least with respect to bowel movements (sometimes she'll also do a wee on the potty, but I don't think she's quite ready to do that all the time).
Tonight, Miranda was stinky and Andrew said to her, "You need clean pants." Zoë piped up, "Poo pants," so she does seem to understand. She also went to sit on the potty herself, although she didn't do a poo. So the connection is being made finally. Whew.
Earlier today, I was working on the computer and I was searching for a file. In WindowsXP, a little animated dog comes up while you're searching (dunno why, but it's kinda cute). Zoë saw it and said, "Cat." I said, "No, it's a dog." She said, "Dog." I was very enthusiastic and told her how clever she was and showed her how the dog wags its tail. She said "dog" several times and seemed as pleased with herself and I was with her that she recognized it.
The thing here is that she applied the word to something she'd never seen before. That she thought it was a cat at first is okay (it's a cartoon, after all), but she knew it was an animal and she called it by a word. Big step there.
We're also assured that she will definitely have a place at the early intervention centre for first term of next year (Feb 04). How much she'll have and what it will entail we don't know. She certainly needs to continue working on her speech (although that's going very well, even if she wasn't very cooperative with her therapist last visit), and she definitely needs some socialization skills. She's mostly indifferent to most people, in a way that needs some attention.
So, all in all, Zoë's doing well and things are looking pretty good where she's concerned.
Good Progress
Zoë's making very good progress with respect to her speech skills. She's talking a lot more, seems to be understanding more. She seems to finally realize that speech is important and useful, and that's a big step.
She's also doing better with the toilet training. She's been doing well all week, pretty much, although today was difficult because she's got a bit of diarrhea. She seems to be finally understanding, though.
I've read in several sources that it's particularly difficult to toilet train a speech delayed or autistic child because of the communication barrier. You can't really give them meaningful instruction, so they have to learn it by trial and error and that can be difficult.
Anyway, Zoë is doing well, overall, and has made a great deal of progress in the past six months.
More Progress!
Yesterday at speech therapy Zoë actually talked to her speech therapist. It's the first time she ever has, although she's certainly interacted with her on various levels. The therapist noticed a marked improvement in Zoë's communication, as well.
She has started to ask for things by name! She asked for a bath, for example, and she actually asked to go to the potty a couple of nights ago (she didn't appear to need to go, so she might just have wanted the treat that goes along with going potty, but at this point anything that gets her there is a good thing as far as I'm concerned).
And then, today when I picked her up from pre-school, Zoë suddenly decided she wanted to use one of the potties there! They're small, child-sized, and in little open stalls. Zoë has seen them for months and never taken any interest at all, and suddenly today she wants to go potty on one. Naturally, I helped her do that. She, in typical Zoë fashion, had to take her clothes off entirely (no idea why she does this, but there you go). She didn't do much (if anything) on the potty, but she was happy to go.
This, I must say, is encouraging. Particularly after last week, when she was very difficult all week. She really pushes me to my limits sometimes... It seems that maybe she was out of sorts because she was on the verge of a breakthrough or a new developmental stage. I hope so, anyway. For now, I can't help but be encouraged by this interest in the potty and her improvements in understanding and in speech.
Various topics
We went out to have dinner with Auntie Lori (my best friend) and her two boys, Isaac (uhm, nine, I think) and Jeremy (who I think is seven). Zoë was reasonably good, I suppose. She was a bit cranky but after she ate she was better. We were seated at a big table in the corner so the kids could be a little bit adventursome without bothering all the other patrons. Zoë actually communicated with Auntie Lori and with the boys. She talked a little bit, but otherwise communicated with body language pretty clearly.
She's not actually indifferent to people. She just seems to figure that if she can't communicate, there's not much point trying. She knew that Auntie Lori would make the effort, of course, and Isaac is a sweet little soul (he was also playing with Miranda and holding her, it was pretty sweet) who talked to her and was very gentle and nice to her, so she responded to him.
She did poo in her pants at some point during the meal. She's just not getting this whole toilet thing. If we put her on the potty, she'll make the effort, and that's good. She knows what to do there. When she's done a a poo in her pants, she knows that, too, and knows we're not happy about it. But she can't seem to make the connection between feeling the need to go and asking to go. It's frustrating for all of us.
I've got a book on toilet training autistic persons and people with related disabilities, but so far it hasn't had much practical advice. Most of the techniques would only work with an older child who can understand pictures a little better than Zoë does.
I think the biggest problem here is -- once again -- the lack of communication. I think she does know when she's about to go, or at least when she's starting to go (she sometimes indicates it in various ways, but I have to be paying attention directly to her in order to notice it because she doesn't speak up at all or try to get my attention. For a while, she was deliberately going into another room to poo in her pants, so I know she has some understanding of the bodily functions. She may or may not be able to control them at this point (I think she probably could if she tried, but I don't know for sure). If she was just able to understand to say something or to pull me toward the bathroom or something, anything. But, unfortunately, that just isn't there, and so it's always hit or miss and very frustrating for everyone.
Her speech and understanding is improving, thankfully, and those bridges are being formed in her brain. I try to be patient and know that she doesn't understand, not because she's not smart (she is quite smart, that's very clear), but because without the language, she just doesn't get it. It's all quite difficult sometimes, for everyone.
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