JeanneA Report post Posted August 9, 2012 For your interest there is a programme coming up on the t.v. regarding autism:- Growing Children: Autism on BBC 4, 9pm on 13 August 2012 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indiscreet Report post Posted August 9, 2012 I've read the write-up on this programme and it sounds as if it could be very interesting. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeanneA Report post Posted August 9, 2012 Hi yes I read the write up also, sounds like it could be well worth watching. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mannify Report post Posted August 9, 2012 What's the angle? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A-S warrior Report post Posted August 10, 2012 BBC 4, one of those channels you have on your box that you dont ever think about. i dont think ive ever watched BBC 4 for more than a split second while channel surfing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeanneA Report post Posted August 10, 2012 Well this programme could put BBC 4 on the map. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indiscreet Report post Posted August 12, 2012 Apparently it's part of a series exploring how child development is affected by three major developmental disorders, beginning with autism. Child psychologist Laverne Antrobus meets a severely autistic teenager who requires full-time care from his family and a 19-year-old with high-functioning autism who is studying physics at the University of Surrey. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hollypoppy Report post Posted August 13, 2012 I've just watched it, and it was very interesting, I could really relate to the parents going through the process of getting a diagnosis for their son Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tes Report post Posted August 13, 2012 (edited) I thought the lack of the fathers views was interesting. The focus seemed to be on the mothers. Edited August 13, 2012 by Tes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special_talent123 Report post Posted August 14, 2012 did not like the programme, at first there talking about communication difficulties/sensory issues, etc but then they say being autistic is a bad excuse for having bad behaviour. dont they realise that the child maybe trying to communicate but unable to, do they know that it could be anything sensory from bright lights- to clothing to loud noises, etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special_talent123 Report post Posted August 14, 2012 which can cause sensory overloads, meltdowns. outbursts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robert7111a Report post Posted August 14, 2012 I thought the lack of the fathers views was interesting. The focus seemed to be on the mothers. My thoughts exactly. Think I saw one quick clip of (possibly) a father who had no input whatsoever. I didn't see the programme through to the end. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeanneA Report post Posted August 14, 2012 It was ok, not as good as I thought it would be however. I to noticed the lack of input from 'fathers' but that doesn't surprise me. I could really relate to the Mum with the 15 yr old son who had to have him placed in a care home in the end something i sadly had to do also. I think she was fantastic in how she managed her son on her own by the looks of it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lyndalou Report post Posted August 14, 2012 I actually thought it was an alright programme and quite positive overall. I think there was an awful lot of information to condense into one hour's viewing time but for any lay person watching it may have given them a little bit more of an understanding of what autism is and especially the 'spectrum' element of it. I thought the two brothers had great potential and were clearly in essence happy little boys who need their anxiety issues addressed in a timely way to help them to grow up to be happy young men. Tony's mum was an inspirational lady, very practical and understanding and someone who has clearly worked with rather than against her son's autism. Tony's behaviour seemed much more 'self regulatory' than 'upset' and they communicated very well with each other. The lad at University too, I felt showed autism in a positive light. He was beaming most of the time he was on screen and rightly proud of his achievements. The information about research was done sensitively and was very interesting. No talk of 'cure' and a lot of talk about 'different' ways of processing information and understanding social interaction. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sally44 Report post Posted August 14, 2012 I watched it too. Nothing groundbreaking really. I really felt for the younger children who both kept saying they did not want to go into school. That was how my son began getting more and more anxious. I too also noticed the lack of Dads. But that has been my experience also, in that I have always done all the leg work and my husband tries to keep up to date with what is happening. The only thing I thought was useful was how they showed that different children could have the same difficulties, and to a clinically significant degree, and yet be at different functioning levels. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smileyK Report post Posted August 14, 2012 i catched up with this programme on v+ i thought really interesting points /facts made and now hope of early diagnosis is coming closer by minute leave you with more hope especially for people like me who had wait literally years to find out work out 'missing mystery' to the puzzle (late diagnosis) as work out in our favour positive way forward for the future i also knew right away when saw other brother to one already officially diagnosed with autism that he also had an ASD of some kind with spinning around non stop etc all added up in my eyes! worked it out before even assessment/diagnosis was made! wasn't a shock to system for me! but knew mum's dilemma of that every child isn't the same is individual and so way each child that is affected by an ASD id such wide gap divide difference between eachother! he was showing so many 'classic ASD signs' pointed so clear! i found research good idea/step i liked the way two ends of spectrum shown high functioning autism andd severe kanners autism so it's fair so society just just see one side or other which normally is the case i really enjoyed viewing /watching i heard about baby research in newspaper too where i first heard about it .... more research into early signs as baby can't be bad thing only good can come out of this slowly moving forward and impacting lives at earlier stage of diagnosis meaning support /invention can be put in place more rapidly quickly ( hopefully) the mum lady with 2 boys with ASD said something which i did as a baby scream for hours wouldn't settle for nothing no matter what? this sounds common factor when 'we' are babies? is part of our aloofness due to autism and sleep issues even at baby stage beginning? or early warning signs even when have HFA? XKLX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sally44 Report post Posted August 14, 2012 Yes, there were a number of things I noticed that other mums said; getting extremely upset for no apparent reason; huge variations in emotions from severe depression to manic and happy; getting overloaded and using movements and noise to drown out sensory overload; poor development of language and taking language literally; head banging; not coping in school; repetitive movements [spinning and walking around in circles]; repeating TV dialogue; not being curious or playing with toys as we would; being with children but talking to himself and trying to get them to do what he wanted. My son is similar to the young child that got the diagnosis - however at that age his speech was not so good. Now he is 11 he is much more verbal, to the extent that his vocab can be advanced in some areas - yet missing in others. They didn't really talk about co-morbid diagnosis. I agreed with the psychologist who said that many parents notice the sensory behaviours of their children rather than 'autistic' behaviours. Which was definately the case for me. I don't feel he ever really regressed. I had concerns at 8 months old [first time in hospital for getting distraught and banging his head!]. But was always re-assured by professionals - until school had concerns in reception year, 4 months after starting. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smileyK Report post Posted August 14, 2012 i got from severe crashing deep low depression to manic high buzz state mood so could also relate to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MelowMeldrew Report post Posted August 14, 2012 Us Dads are often written off, but mostly, dads prefer not to communicate very well regarding 'feelings' and 'coping'. It may just mean women prefer to talk more Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike_GX101 Report post Posted August 15, 2012 Is this programme going to be on again? I was annoyed when I realised I'd missed it... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mannify Report post Posted August 15, 2012 Try iPlayer, Mike. It was there yesterday, so it should be on for a few more days yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indiscreet Report post Posted August 15, 2012 Mike, BBC4 is showing a repeat tonight at 11.00. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike_GX101 Report post Posted August 15, 2012 (edited) Just seen on Freeview TV Guide it is on TV tonight again! So glad because watching hour-long programmes online is a real no-no for me - buffering fails every 2 minutes if it is allowed (some website already have it that everyone is on super-super-fast broadband and see no reason to permit buffering!). Edited August 15, 2012 by Mike_GX101 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike_GX101 Report post Posted August 15, 2012 Thanks indiscreet - I was replying simultaneously with you! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekster Report post Posted August 16, 2012 Left a relative of mine watching the program and she still wouldnt accept what i was saying even though i have been saying it a number of times to her over the past 3 months. ie the explode in 1 situation fine in another. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sesley Report post Posted August 16, 2012 i liked the program because it showed 3 different examples of how autism affects people and how much we are learning about it and how much more we still need to learn.The importance now of early detection in toddlers and looking into the siblings and how they are developing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mannify Report post Posted August 16, 2012 (edited) Left a relative of mine watching the program and she still wouldnt accept what i was saying even though i havebeen saying it a number of times to her over the past 3 months. ie the explode in 1 situation fine in another. This is a difficulty we have with a number of people who know us. I sometimes think there isn't anything we could show some people to make them understand. Sorry, that sounds really negative, doesn't it? Edited August 16, 2012 by Mannify Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robert7111a Report post Posted August 16, 2012 Us Dads are often written off, but mostly, dads prefer not to communicate very well regarding 'feelings' and 'coping'. It may just mean women prefer to talk more I "want" to talk to my daughter about her feelings etc but she is not forthcoming - even to her mother. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted August 16, 2012 I sometimes think there isn't anything we could show some people to make them understand. Sad, but true. My mother-in-law constantly brushes our worries off with glib statements about how my lad might "suddenly get himself a girlfriend and start jetting off all over the world"!! What?! He's 18, has never even had a friend before, not one, how does she think he's suddenly going to GET himself a girlfriend. He is practically mute when it comes to being with other young people. It's ridiculous and so flippant it makes me want to stream!! Does she actually think that helps or would it be more helpful if she just listened for once. (Rant complete). ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mannify Report post Posted August 16, 2012 Yes, Mel, and then there's 'Why don't you just...?', . Yeah? You wanna try it? . But I also get fed up of the assumption that we must be devastated. We're just us, ok? Accept us or shut up Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekster Report post Posted August 16, 2012 This is a difficulty we have with a number of people who know us. I sometimes think there isn't anything we could show some people to make them understand. Sorry, that sounds really negative, doesn't it? Realistic and shows empathy which autistics arent meant to have or recognise. Happens to be the relative who fought long and hard for a diagnosis and who wrote a book on Aspergers with me as the guinea pig. i think i might print out 'dont mourn for us' and hand to sceptical relatives especially those that claim they accept my autism in 1 breath, then accuse me of splitting hairs when im being precise and literal in another. i hate people who fake autistic behaviour. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekster Report post Posted August 16, 2012 I "want" to talk to my daughter about her feelings etc but she is not forthcoming - even to her mother. Does she communicate them non verbally? eg with dolls or art? (sorry dont know her age, even then i tend to have my playmobils hitting each other when im really upset. Then ironically i tell them off when they hit each other "behave you two!" i tell them sternly). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekster Report post Posted August 16, 2012 http://www.autreat.com/dont_mourn.html Might be an idea to show sceptics who think it is devastating to have an autistic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mannify Report post Posted August 16, 2012 Interesting article, Trekster. It's funny, that whole grief thing because I don't relate to it at all. I'm not saying it's not valid, and I don't wish to demean parents who have felt that grief to one extent or another. I just don't relate to it, that's all. As parents, my husband and I have always just been delighted with the children we have. There have been some tough times, but most of the time we're just burstingly proud of our kids. We wouldn't alter a thing. But there's no moral high-ground here, and some parents have a much harder time than us, which would make it harder to be positive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekster Report post Posted August 16, 2012 Thanks Mannify and well done for seeing your kids as exactly that 'kids' warts and all. i really admire parents who accept their kids diagnosis something i hope to get for my birthday this year to be accepted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indiscreet Report post Posted August 17, 2012 I had to tape this and watched it last night. As so often happens I felt the programme makers tried to cram too much into the time available. Also, I felt they spent a disproportionally long time on Tony, whose condition is familiar to many people, and not nearly long enough on Michael. It would have been interesting to know when he was diagnosed, and to have had some input from his parents. The part I found most informative was being able to see Zaine being assessed. I wonder whether the BBC paid for this because I think we were told that it was a private diagnosis (I'll need to go back and check that). Here again, though, I would have like some indication of how Zaine would be treated after it was established that he has both AS and is highly intelligent. Will he stay in that mainstream school (and if he does what kind of support will be available) or will he be found a place in a special school? If the programme makers had broadened it to two hours over two weeks I think it could have explained so much more about autism than it actually did. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special_talent123 Report post Posted August 17, 2012 trekster do u think your family are in denial because you have it, or do you think they are just being too ignorant? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekster Report post Posted August 17, 2012 trekster do u think your family are in denial because you have it, or do you think they are just being too ignorant? They believe all the negative stereotypes of autism and that they maliciously apply to me. So being literal is splitting hairs and none of my autistic behaviour is tolerated or any of my other disablities. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special_talent123 Report post Posted August 17, 2012 so then they are being ignorant/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trekster Report post Posted August 17, 2012 Disablist is how i would describe them, most of them that is a few of them are much better than others. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites