MERLD does exist!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

I don't have a MERLD or an ASD child. I have a "complicated" child. Treatment is symptomatic no matter what they call it. So I need to learn about a lot of things. This is true for every SN parent I've taught our psychiatrist a few things. His own teachers taught him, "Your patients should know more about their condition than you do." So congratulations (truly) you can teach your SLP what to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

I don't have a MERLD or an ASD child. I have a "complicated" child. Treatment is symptomatic no matter what they call it. So I need to learn about a lot of things. This is true for every SN parent I've taught our psychiatrist a few things. His own teachers taught him, "Your patients should know more about their condition than you do." So congratulations (truly) you can teach your SLP what to do.

While this is true to a degree, I'm always amazed how untrained many "professionals" are. In my job, you constantly have to be honing your skills. Too often, these people are lazy and not keeping up with the research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: While this is true to a degree, I'm always amazed how untrained many "professionals" are. In my job, you constantly have to be honing your skills. Too often, these people are lazy and not keeping up with the research.

Whatever you do, you have to have a talent and a passion for it. I think a lot of people get into the wrong field and don't know what else to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

I don't have a MERLD or an ASD child. I have a "complicated" child. Treatment is symptomatic no matter what they call it. So I need to learn about a lot of things. This is true for every SN parent I've taught our psychiatrist a few things. His own teachers taught him, "Your patients should know more about their condition than you do." So congratulations (truly) you can teach your SLP what to do.

If you have to teach your SLP vs. them working with you as a partnership or teaching you, one should terminate with that provider and find another one. Ours is amazing and listens to our concerns, expresses hers and we all work together. We went through several before finding the right one. Ours is the only one who has seen our child who truly gets him and actually helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

I don't have a MERLD or an ASD child. I have a "complicated" child. Treatment is symptomatic no matter what they call it. So I need to learn about a lot of things. This is true for every SN parent I've taught our psychiatrist a few things. His own teachers taught him, "Your patients should know more about their condition than you do." So congratulations (truly) you can teach your SLP what to do.

While this is true to a degree, I'm always amazed how untrained many "professionals" are. In my job, you constantly have to be honing your skills. Too often, these people are lazy and not keeping up with the research.

Agree, and providers are supposed to do continuing education but its a very specific skill and most are just very basic and generalists. Its easy to find someone who has general knowledge but very hard to find someone who has specific knowledge on your child's needs. That is why many of us have gone to Nashville/Camarata's but I didn't find him nearly as helpful as others did and the report was useless. (he was great with my kid and did seem to pick up on things others never have that we knew and didn't tell him). There are not enough providers and more people in need so its hard to weed out the bad ones out of desperation. Also, some parents will settle for who they are assigned to not realizing they can change and advocate. (but in some situations you cannot change. We are stuck with our developmental ped. who is very helpful in some ways but doesn't understand my child at all).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

I don't have a MERLD or an ASD child. I have a "complicated" child. Treatment is symptomatic no matter what they call it. So I need to learn about a lot of things. This is true for every SN parent I've taught our psychiatrist a few things. His own teachers taught him, "Your patients should know more about their condition than you do." So congratulations (truly) you can teach your SLP what to do.

So, you are speaking on topics that really aren't relevant as you have no direct experience with any of this... thanks for the help and misguiding some who may take your posts seriously and make decisions accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Merld lady, Merld is clearly more severe than uncomplicated asbergers which isn't even caught until later. Clearly less severe than low functioning autism. As goes the spectrum so goes your comparison. The end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So, you are speaking on topics that really aren't relevant as you have no direct experience with any of this... thanks for the help and misguiding some who may take your posts seriously and make decisions accordingly.

Did she break the internet too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

"I" never said they were unrelated. There is more than one person on this thread. And anyway, those gene studies are so speculative that they are very far from being useful for the issues we all face. Psychiatric diagnoses are based on clusters of symptoms, not on underlying causes, which are still far from being understood. In some cases the symptoms might cross-cut diagnoses, of course. But we are far from being able to throw out the diagnostic categories in use. And even if we were we are so far from anything like gene therapy (assuming that the conditions share a genetic cause) that treatment would still be based on the symptoms for a long, long time.

Not the PP here. Yes but there is considerable evidence that ASD and language disorders are related (though not the same thing), and where symptoms do overlap, then the same treatments are indicated. There seems to be some resistance to or misunderstanding of this issue by some on this thread.

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

Good lord, I am not sure why you bothered. I mean, after all, your child will age out of MERLD with no lingering deficits, so why bother with speech therapy? Even if you think your child could use some help, why bother with speech therapist since you know more than all of the professionals and researchers put together? You could just do it yourself because you're the one who knows your child best!

Do you have a MERLD child? You do speech therapy to give your child the tools they need so as they advanced, they do it successfully. And, we have a great SLP.

What does therapy for a receptive weakness look like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Merld lady, Merld is clearly more severe than uncomplicated asbergers which isn't even caught until later. Clearly less severe than low functioning autism. As goes the spectrum so goes your comparison. The end.

where do you come up with this stuff?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

"I" never said they were unrelated. There is more than one person on this thread. And anyway, those gene studies are so speculative that they are very far from being useful for the issues we all face. Psychiatric diagnoses are based on clusters of symptoms, not on underlying causes, which are still far from being understood. In some cases the symptoms might cross-cut diagnoses, of course. But we are far from being able to throw out the diagnostic categories in use. And even if we were we are so far from anything like gene therapy (assuming that the conditions share a genetic cause) that treatment would still be based on the symptoms for a long, long time.

Not the PP here. Yes but there is considerable evidence that ASD and language disorders are related (though not the same thing), and where symptoms do overlap, then the same treatments are indicated. There seems to be some resistance to or misunderstanding of this issue by some on this thread.

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

Good lord, I am not sure why you bothered. I mean, after all, your child will age out of MERLD with no lingering deficits, so why bother with speech therapy? Even if you think your child could use some help, why bother with speech therapist since you know more than all of the professionals and researchers put together? You could just do it yourself because you're the one who knows your child best!

Do you have a MERLD child? You do speech therapy to give your child the tools they need so as they advanced, they do it successfully. And, we have a great SLP.

What does therapy for a receptive weakness look like?

A lot of very basic question and anwser such as yes and know. Following 1 step commands, like get your shoes, then two step, then more complex things. Sequencing, action words (jump, clap). Working on things like asking questions or asking for what you want. (Some of it is intermixed with expressive). Later on, more like reading comprehension, formulating anwsers verbally and in writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

"I" never said they were unrelated. There is more than one person on this thread. And anyway, those gene studies are so speculative that they are very far from being useful for the issues we all face. Psychiatric diagnoses are based on clusters of symptoms, not on underlying causes, which are still far from being understood. In some cases the symptoms might cross-cut diagnoses, of course. But we are far from being able to throw out the diagnostic categories in use. And even if we were we are so far from anything like gene therapy (assuming that the conditions share a genetic cause) that treatment would still be based on the symptoms for a long, long time.

Not the PP here. Yes but there is considerable evidence that ASD and language disorders are related (though not the same thing), and where symptoms do overlap, then the same treatments are indicated. There seems to be some resistance to or misunderstanding of this issue by some on this thread.

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

Good lord, I am not sure why you bothered. I mean, after all, your child will age out of MERLD with no lingering deficits, so why bother with speech therapy? Even if you think your child could use some help, why bother with speech therapist since you know more than all of the professionals and researchers put together? You could just do it yourself because you're the one who knows your child best!

Do you have a MERLD child? You do speech therapy to give your child the tools they need so as they advanced, they do it successfully. And, we have a great SLP.

What does therapy for a receptive weakness look like?

A lot of very basic question and anwser such as yes and know. Following 1 step commands, like get your shoes, then two step, then more complex things. Sequencing, action words (jump, clap). Working on things like asking questions or asking for what you want. (Some of it is intermixed with expressive). Later on, more like reading comprehension, formulating anwsers verbally and in writing.

Yes, it's a lot of slow scaffolding. What's frustrating for me is the school SLP pushes "reading faces" -- which my MERLD child has been expert at since he was born. But that's the go-to for ASD, so that is what she trots out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

"I" never said they were unrelated. There is more than one person on this thread. And anyway, those gene studies are so speculative that they are very far from being useful for the issues we all face. Psychiatric diagnoses are based on clusters of symptoms, not on underlying causes, which are still far from being understood. In some cases the symptoms might cross-cut diagnoses, of course. But we are far from being able to throw out the diagnostic categories in use. And even if we were we are so far from anything like gene therapy (assuming that the conditions share a genetic cause) that treatment would still be based on the symptoms for a long, long time.

Not the PP here. Yes but there is considerable evidence that ASD and language disorders are related (though not the same thing), and where symptoms do overlap, then the same treatments are indicated. There seems to be some resistance to or misunderstanding of this issue by some on this thread.

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

Good lord, I am not sure why you bothered. I mean, after all, your child will age out of MERLD with no lingering deficits, so why bother with speech therapy? Even if you think your child could use some help, why bother with speech therapist since you know more than all of the professionals and researchers put together? You could just do it yourself because you're the one who knows your child best!

Do you have a MERLD child? You do speech therapy to give your child the tools they need so as they advanced, they do it successfully. And, we have a great SLP.

What does therapy for a receptive weakness look like?

A lot of very basic question and anwser such as yes and know. Following 1 step commands, like get your shoes, then two step, then more complex things. Sequencing, action words (jump, clap). Working on things like asking questions or asking for what you want. (Some of it is intermixed with expressive). Later on, more like reading comprehension, formulating anwsers verbally and in writing.

Yes, it's a lot of slow scaffolding. What's frustrating for me is the school SLP pushes "reading faces" -- which my MERLD child has been expert at since he was born. But that's the go-to for ASD, so that is what she trots out.

Our SLP's did some reading faces too but my kid didn't last long on that. He has always been really good at reading people and its interesting watching him interact. I learned early on to watch his body language. He's always been right about people. Now that he is older, its more about answering questions verbally and in writing as well as a few other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

I don't have a MERLD or an ASD child. I have a "complicated" child. Treatment is symptomatic no matter what they call it. So I need to learn about a lot of things. This is true for every SN parent I've taught our psychiatrist a few things. His own teachers taught him, "Your patients should know more about their condition than you do." So congratulations (truly) you can teach your SLP what to do.

If you have to teach your SLP vs. them working with you as a partnership or teaching you, one should terminate with that provider and find another one. Ours is amazing and listens to our concerns, expresses hers and we all work together. We went through several before finding the right one. Ours is the only one who has seen our child who truly gets him and actually helps.

PP isn't interested in what the SLP has to say. She knows everything. Everyone else knows nothing, even though they have graduate degrees in the field. She is the nightmare parent that every professional hates to see walk through the door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

"I" never said they were unrelated. There is more than one person on this thread. And anyway, those gene studies are so speculative that they are very far from being useful for the issues we all face. Psychiatric diagnoses are based on clusters of symptoms, not on underlying causes, which are still far from being understood. In some cases the symptoms might cross-cut diagnoses, of course. But we are far from being able to throw out the diagnostic categories in use. And even if we were we are so far from anything like gene therapy (assuming that the conditions share a genetic cause) that treatment would still be based on the symptoms for a long, long time.

Not the PP here. Yes but there is considerable evidence that ASD and language disorders are related (though not the same thing), and where symptoms do overlap, then the same treatments are indicated. There seems to be some resistance to or misunderstanding of this issue by some on this thread.

Do you have a MERLD child? Because this has not been our experience at all. In my experience, the behaviors can look the same, but what my MERLD child needs and what the SLPs who are focused on autism language disorders were very different. I had to go in often and instruct the SLPs how to do their job, even the allegedly very talented ones.

Good lord, I am not sure why you bothered. I mean, after all, your child will age out of MERLD with no lingering deficits, so why bother with speech therapy? Even if you think your child could use some help, why bother with speech therapist since you know more than all of the professionals and researchers put together? You could just do it yourself because you're the one who knows your child best!

You are kind of proving the point - that MERLD kids are getting shunted to ASD treatments that may not be appropriate for their conditions because so many providers are specialized in ASD.

MERLD kids get assessments and individualized treatment plans just like every other kid who goes to speech therapy. PP is telling her ST that the ST is doing it wrong based on PP's preconceived notions of what her kid's needs are, rather than what the kid's assessments show and the ST's clinical judgment.