? about tv and scripting, etc.

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Registered: 09-15-2003
? about tv and scripting, etc.
7
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 6:58am

I suspect my son has Aspergers, but we do not have an official label yet. He does lots of scripting from television. We tend to let him script if it is not disruptive (like if he is playing alone) and we redirect him if it interferes with socialization (like his is talking to us and suddenly launches into a script).

I want some opinions on whether or not it is important to limit or stop his tv watching. Part of me thinks I should limit it more. But part of me thinks that if he has a need to be repetitive (scripting, etc.) that it will come out with our without tv. KWIM?

He definitely watches a couple of hours a day. Most often while we are preparing for work or trying to get something done with dd. THe rest of his day is filled with positive stuff though - trips to library, preschool, outside time, playing games with us, etc. Any opinions?

Chrissy

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Registered: 01-19-2005
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 8:24am

Hi Chrissy,

First of all, is he scripting or doing echolalia? Is it immediate or delayed?

Here is my experience, which may be different from yours. Eric had delayed speech and didn't really talk at all until we started ST. But he always had little "scripts." For example, if he sat in the red chair and said "bubble" the first time he saw the ST, he would want to do it again, every time. When the ST realized this, we would sometimes let Eric do it, but sometimes switch things up with something fun. He started doing this when Eric was very little, like age 2. I use the technique even now bc Eric is very inclined to scripting, his own scripts, not those from tv.

Echolalia started later. Eric did not do the immediate type as much, that is you say "what is your name?" and he responds "what is your name?" But he did do it a little. I think it was almost a developmental stage for him, and even for many ASD kids. In that case, we try to get the right response. I'd often repeat the whole thing and use pointing, anyway, I don't think that is your problem. Then there was the pronoun issue...but I digress.

If he is just randomly quoting long passages from tv out of context, I think what you are doing is right. If it is when he is alone, maybe part of his own play, I think it is ok, but if it is random and disruptive to a conversation, I think redirecting is good. Eric quotes short snippets from things and actually sometimes they fit the context and we let it slide. If he gets stuck on it, then I intervene.

Funny story, DH took Eric for fries as a treat. Eric took a bite and said, "I just love that zip locked taste." I think that was the quote. I didn't know where that was from, but DH, who has a mind for these things, said it was from the movie "Madagascar." In that case it did sort of fit the moment and DH said he continued the conversation fine.

Does that help at all? Just a long winded way of saying I think what you are doing is fine. But our situation is a bit different since Eric had to totally be taught speech.

Katherine

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 8:53am

Sounds alot like Mike (10). Even now he does alot of lines but it is more like what Katherine said now. That "I just love that zip locked taste" is totally him. And knowing where it came from is TOTALLY my DH. It has gotten to where he uses it almost as a joke most times and says it with a really sly smile. Then I ask him where he got it from and now most times he will tell me. If not either dad or one of his sibs can. It is my way of letting him know mom caught him doing it again.

I did the same thing, we just try to limit TV a bit and redirect when it interferes. I wish I could make it disappear all together sometime but that really won't take away the autism, kwim? I would like to take DH's computer away too but I don't see that happening.

When Mike was little most of his communication was through tv lines used appropriately. Not sure the kid could have communicated with out them! He definitely now has an extensive vocab and his communication in that regard is so much better. Much more spontaneous if a bit stilted or choppy.

Pretty much if it is appropriate to the conversation we let it slide or we may neutrally restate it for him or joke with him. If it is interferring then I redirect it. If he is playing alone I let it go unless it gets disruptive. Picture goofy voice "love that ziplocked taste!" really loud over and over again. After a while I girl has got to say ENOUGH.

The problem we had in preschool is he would script with the TV and would rewind things over and over to get it right. Still will do that on occasion if I am not watching him.

Renee

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Registered: 12-22-2003
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 9:46am

Both of our spectrum kiddos have done tons of "scripting" - Claire (6 y/o) still does it all the time. It has been our experience that limiting TV did nothing to curb the scripting because her memory is so incredible she'd just recall something she saw "way back when"- and much like Renee's son, Mike, if it weren't for scripting when she was a younger, she wouldn't have said anything at all.

Currently she's scripting from "Annie" - and a little of THAT goes a long, long way.

Amy

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Registered: 06-25-2003
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 11:02am

Chrissy,


I agree with the others. It is important to figure out the function of the scripting, keep the functional scripting, and distract him when is using it repetitively or non functionally.


I think our story is a little different than the typical Aspie story, because my son is more Autie than Aspie.


My DS had SEVERE verbal communication issues. At 3 years he had the language skills of a 9 month old. He was able to articulate -he could repeat words you said, but he had no clue as to their meaning. He couldn't answer a 'yes or no' question, but could parrot the question right back at ya with perfect diction.


He used to quote movie (and book) lines, but didn't know seem to know what they meant.

-Paula

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Registered: 09-15-2003
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 9:11pm

Thanks for the input everyone. I am not sure if what ds does is scripting or delayed echolalia. Is there a difference?

The scripting seems to serve two purposes. Often he uses a quote or script and fits it into a conversation in a meaningful, fairly appropriate way. For example, I am carrying him to his room for timout and he says (a la cat in the hat) "Put me down! This is no fun at all, put me down I do not wish to fall." LOL. He definitely modifies the original script to make it fit...inserting other names, etc. This week we are quoting heavily from Magic Schoolbus. If I engage in a script with him (even if I change it up) he is delighted and I get major eye contact. I do that infrequently.

At other times, the scripting seems to be for pure entertainment/enjoyment. He will be scripting to himself and then chuckle. Or he will be scripting LOUDLY (with lots of enthusiasm) with a big grin on his face. Just like you might sing a favorite song at the top of your lungs while driving in the car.

He also uses plenty of spontaneous, appropriate language, although not a lot of "original creative" language. It isn't like he can't alk without scripting, he can. He won't come home and tell me a story about school. He will, however, answer a question about what he did at centers. He was a very late talker though and had speech therapy from 18 mo. on.

BTW, I jsut read Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew and it was wonderful. Anyone read it?
Chrissy

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 10:11pm

Don't worry Amy, the sun will come out tomorrow....

(hehe, ducking under desk. I couldn't resist. We just bought a dvd of it today as ours is an old VHS version and Emily is dying to watch. Thank god she doesn't script.)

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 10:20pm

Love those apples and trees. Just gotta learn to stay outta the genes (or is that jeans)

Anywho. on topic. I remember a ST or psychologist once telling me that kids like this often learn language in a Gestalt manner (or I am pretty sure that is what they said). Basically instead of learning individual words and thier meanings and putting them together spontaneously, the learn them in chunks and phrases. A typically ASD thing but it is a good sign. Kids that can do that are learning language and communication in thier own way and eventually they do learn enough to generalize to more typical language particularly if they have support.

For the most part Mike's speech is now very spontaneous and typical. When he does lines is it more for amusement or when he is stimmy. He sometimes will when he is really stressed, then he will revert to this. But mostly it is much more just him putting together the words which he can do quite well except when he is trying to tell you something and stutter skips through it trying to think of what he wants to say.

Renee

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