Growing Fruit: Deafness and Autism

Monday, April 13, 2009

Deafness and Autism

Through comments on this blog and privately, I think that Autism + Deafness is a topic that isn't discussed enough. First, there are those that are initially diagnosed with deafness and the autism is missed. Then there are those that are diagnosed with autism and the deafness is missed! For Andrew, both were diagnosed....yet the challenges are heady even with the correct timing. So, I have decided to focus on this blog, at least for the next few months, the challenges of handling both. This will include:

diagnosis
cochlear implants
teaching options
additional challenges
bilateral discussion
autism therapies that may work well with both
discussion when there are both challenges in the family with separate family members

Please feel free to leave a comment on what you might like to see discussed here. Mostly I have had 'writers cramp' so this will give me an opportunity to focus on this specific topic that I don't see addressed in many areas on the internet. I have facebook too and will post there when I give an update. So feel free to chime in either place...send me a friend request if you would like. (Amy Lapain.)

3 comments:

JamBerry said...: Hi Queen Mum
I'd love to hear more about language and communication issues common to both autism and deafness/HI. I'm thinking about how language and communication develop (whether it's verbal talking or signing or maybe augcomm), and how they interact with relationship and perspective sharing. I'd also be curious about the role of 'auditory processing disorder' with regards to language, communication, and social/relationship development. :) Love ya!!!; April 13, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Penny said...: I know one family with a son with auditory processing challenges so severe that his family made the case for him to be labeled HI (hearing impaired) in public school. He's not considered autistic.

Still, they realized when he was a teenager that the early reading techniques the elementary school teachers used in groups were ineffective for a child who could indeed hear sound, but was SO not processing information that he met criteria for "hearing impaired".

I suspect many children on the autism spectrum are similarly challenged, even though they do hear sound.

I'm with JamBerry, curious about the role of auditory processing disorder w/ regards to language, communication and social/relationship development.; April 13, 2009 at 1:33 PM
walking said...: Jamberry is right. There are many issues that dovetaill in the autism and deaf communities and you are in a position to see it first hand!; April 14, 2009 at 3:44 AM