MERLD does exist!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The genes article is the lead article in a series of articles that confirms the genetic link. More recent research confirming the link:

http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/news-room-articles/scientist-identify-genetic-link-between-language-impairment-and-autism?contentid=121520

Oh boy. That article is so far from saying that autism and MERLD are the same that I don't even know how to respond. First of all, it makes clear that there is a wide range of language abilities in autism and they are not sure why. Second, even if there is a genetic "link," that says nothing about clinical diagnostic categories and evidence-based therapies that work for each disorder. So for instance it provides no insight whatsoever into one of the questions on this thread - how pragmatic language deficits are the same or different in MERLD and ASD. It also says nothing at all about prognosis and the assertion that some MERLD kids "catch up" while kids with ASD do not.

It wasn't offered for any of those points. It was offered to refute your point that MERLD and ASD are completely unrelated disorders. Clearly, they are not unrelated.

"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.

The whole way the article is written though suggests that autism is the more severe disorder, i.e. why do some people only have the language issues, while others have the language issues AND autism?

It depends entirely on the severity of the symptoms. Severe MERLD can be more damaging than mild ASD, even though it is simpler because fewer domains are affected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

Seriously give it a rest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You just keep making stuff up, don't you? When I felt we weren't getting much out of the private speech sessions I took a recording of a session to a university research center on language development. Those experts told me that the session was all wrong, and coached me on how to help the SLP correct the sessions.

It made a huge difference, and the SLP started using it for other kids as well. Again, these SLPs just don't get the level of training they need to help kids, and not enough of them use the MERLD gold standard treatments of child-led therapies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You just keep making stuff up, don't you? When I felt we weren't getting much out of the private speech sessions I took a recording of a session to a university research center on language development. Those experts told me that the session was all wrong, and coached me on how to help the SLP correct the sessions.

It made a huge difference, and the SLP started using it for other kids as well. Again, these SLPs just don't get the level of training they need to help kids, and not enough of them use the MERLD gold standard treatments of child-led therapies.

Child-led therapies don't work well with many kids with receptive issues. Kids do far better with structure and guidance. That is why Montessori and other programs, like Waldorf are not recommended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You just keep making stuff up, don't you? When I felt we weren't getting much out of the private speech sessions I took a recording of a session to a university research center on language development. Those experts told me that the session was all wrong, and coached me on how to help the SLP correct the sessions.

It made a huge difference, and the SLP started using it for other kids as well. Again, these SLPs just don't get the level of training they need to help kids, and not enough of them use the MERLD gold standard treatments of child-led therapies.

Cool story, bro

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You just keep making stuff up, don't you? When I felt we weren't getting much out of the private speech sessions I took a recording of a session to a university research center on language development. Those experts told me that the session was all wrong, and coached me on how to help the SLP correct the sessions.

It made a huge difference, and the SLP started using it for other kids as well. Again, these SLPs just don't get the level of training they need to help kids, and not enough of them use the MERLD gold standard treatments of child-led therapies.

Child-led therapies don't work well with many kids with receptive issues. Kids do far better with structure and guidance. That is why Montessori and other programs, like Waldorf are not recommended.

We we spoke to the Camaratas at Vanderbilt, child-led speech sessions, Montessori and Waldorf were among their top suggestions for MERLD kids. I didn't find a true Montessori and the Waldorf philosophy wasn't a good fit for my family, but the child-led speech therapy was spot on. My DS went from crying and tantruming the whole speech session to actually speaking and interacting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You just keep making stuff up, don't you? When I felt we weren't getting much out of the private speech sessions I took a recording of a session to a university research center on language development. Those experts told me that the session was all wrong, and coached me on how to help the SLP correct the sessions.

It made a huge difference, and the SLP started using it for other kids as well. Again, these SLPs just don't get the level of training they need to help kids, and not enough of them use the MERLD gold standard treatments of child-led therapies.

Child-led therapies don't work well with many kids with receptive issues. Kids do far better with structure and guidance. That is why Montessori and other programs, like Waldorf are not recommended.

We we spoke to the Camaratas at Vanderbilt, child-led speech sessions, Montessori and Waldorf were among their top suggestions for MERLD kids. I didn't find a true Montessori and the Waldorf philosophy wasn't a good fit for my family, but the child-led speech therapy was spot on. My DS went from crying and tantruming the whole speech session to actually speaking and interacting.

Please tell me more about this. i am trying to figure out a school for my son with receptive language issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You just keep making stuff up, don't you? When I felt we weren't getting much out of the private speech sessions I took a recording of a session to a university research center on language development. Those experts told me that the session was all wrong, and coached me on how to help the SLP correct the sessions.

It made a huge difference, and the SLP started using it for other kids as well. Again, these SLPs just don't get the level of training they need to help kids, and not enough of them use the MERLD gold standard treatments of child-led therapies.

Child-led therapies don't work well with many kids with receptive issues. Kids do far better with structure and guidance. That is why Montessori and other programs, like Waldorf are not recommended.

We we spoke to the Camaratas at Vanderbilt, child-led speech sessions, Montessori and Waldorf were among their top suggestions for MERLD kids. I didn't find a true Montessori and the Waldorf philosophy wasn't a good fit for my family, but the child-led speech therapy was spot on. My DS went from crying and tantruming the whole speech session to actually speaking and interacting.

It probably depends on the child. For us, they agreed with a very structured, academic program and many MERLD kids I know do far better. My kid always cooperated in speech sessions when he liked the SLP. When ours went away for a few weeks and we had a replacement he kinda cooperated but kept leaving the room to look for his therapist (we gave up and waited till she returned). If your child is having issues in a session, maybe the therapist is not a good fit. The structure and routine is good for receptive language as kids know what is better expected of them.