yet another ques - functional language

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Registered: 09-16-2005
yet another ques - functional language
6
Sun, 10-09-2005 - 8:20pm

Hi again.

I've been reading so much on this board about 'functional language'. I want to fully understand what you mean. My dd (2) can lable about 70 or so things, maybe more. Requests by pointing and saying 'want this' or 'want more' when I say "want what??" she will usually say 'juice, cookie, tv, book' etc, if she does not know the word for an item that she wants - she just says 'want this' ( while pointing to the item)and then always says 'teht-you'(thank you), once given it. When she sees somehting she likes or wants in a store - she will point and say ' want doll ' or want choo-choo (like she did today in target and had a minor fit over me saying NO, lol) .
Sometimes I KNOW she knows the word - but will just say ' want this ' and I have to practially drag the word out of her - but I usually don't give it to her unless she says the word ( if it's a word I know she knows) - - I know - I'm confusing - right??? lol

Yet - she can not ever answer me with a YES - she says NO, but not yes.

Is this considered functional language?

Also - how common are sensory issues with PDD?




Edited 10/9/2005 8:30 pm ET ET by lovenkids
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Registered: 11-05-1998
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 6:24am

You know, just about every 2 year old I know (and I have 4 kids, only one with AS) says No even when they mean yes. At this age (I have a nearly 3 year old right now as my youngest) it is developmentally appropriate for them to be negative. They're beginning to assert their personhood and their independence as separate people from mommy and part of that is saying "No" a lot. My DD will frequently say "No!" to something I know she wants, and then five minutes later will tell me she wants it. That's just being 2.

Your child sounds like she has excellent functional language.

As for your other question, yes, sensory issues quite often go hand in hand with PDD. My DS (age 12, AS, diagnosed at age 6) had tons of sensory issues as a baby/toddler--we just didn't know that's what it was. He hated to be held--wasn't a snuggly baby at all. Couldn't stand to have his head touched or to be tickled--only bear hugged (deep pressure). He hated loud noises--I got rid of my blender, my electric can opener, my hair dryer, and only vaccuumed when he was at child care. He hated the feel of so many things--wouldn't play in the sandbox, wouldn't walk barefoot on grass, wouldn't finger paint, stuff like that.

Interestingly enough, he had NO language delay. He talked early and often (little professor). He could build complex Lego buildings--and did, to the exclusion of all else. He could also do puzzles meant for older children at age 2 (like the ones for 3-8 year olds with about 12-15 pieces). But here's how he would play with them: get six puzlles and line them up. Dump out the pieces of each--1 through 6. Then go back to the beginning and put them together--1 through 6. Repeat. We thought he was a genius--we didn't know this was indicative of ASD behavior. He also lined up stuffed animals, cars, action figures, etc.

I hope this helps a little. I don't know whether I ever saw your initial post that explained why you're concerned about your child, but any of your other posts I've read, I haven't read anything that sounds remotely like PDD or AS. I hope her evaluation will lay your fears to rest.

Elizabeth
mom to four great kids, including 12-year-old artistic AS son, Christopher

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Registered: 09-16-2005
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 7:10am

thank you so much for the response.

I posted a long winded worrysome post a while back about my DD concerns - Iwon't bore you with it in it's entirety again, but the gist is:

she didn't say a word will she was almost 17 months, she did not point (other than in a book) till about 20 months ( only has about 60 or so now) does not really put 2 words together, can not really answer a question - other than to yell NO , she can not follow directions well and she definetly does not understand everything we say. The good news is she is progressing each day - and has never regressed ( which I've heard is a huge plus), she loves to be around us, loves her family, is good with strangers ( as long as DH or I are near), pretend plays, imitates, has no sensory issues, answers to her name about 80% of the time, loves peek a boo and hide and seek, always does silly things tomake us laugh and loves attention - and has tons of other big NON-red flags. She is in birth to 3 with a once a week visit and an amazing EI class we take her to - has taught her to sit in circle time and listen to a story while eating snack ( both parts she hated a few months ago). She is a very happy child too, so it makes her fairly easy to deal with, she only ,etls down occasionally and gets over it real quick.

I think a big part of the problem is I am constantly comparing her to her older sister
( almost 4) who is very NT and advanced. Although, if I knew all this autism stuff back then - I would have hed had dx as well - lol. She hated crowds, strangers, loud noises, would not let a stranger come anywhere near her or she would MELT down, she grew out of all of that - but it would have beena close call!

I guess we will see on friday - - thanks again to all of you for ALL of your help, you've answered so many of my quesions in the past few weeks

OK - so this turned into a novel once again - sorry!!




Edited 10/10/2005 7:16 am ET ET by lovenkids
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 8:36am

I agree with Elizabeth. The language you described is functional and sounds fine. She is communicating her needs to you appropriately, even stringing two words together "want doll/choo choo" etc. Yes there is a certain anount of laziness there, if she can't be bothered to think of the right word, she will say "this" and rely on good old Mom to figure it out. That's not dysfunctional -that's smart. ;)

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 11:50am

Simply speaking I would consider functional language to be language that serves a function. Or language that is used for communication.

There is a huge difference between being able to talk and being able to communicate. Many ASD kids can talk but not communicate. They may be echolalic, have lots of words but don't know how to request a drink or to interact with communicative intent. Some maybe able to request needs but don't have 2 way conversations. Most little ones will point out things they thing are neat and want to share it with thier moms. Oh look mom a plane! and they make sure that you see it too and you may be able to have a small exchange over it depending on age and development. The kid with ASD may not do that at all.

Your daughter is making requests already, that is functional. I will tell you Cait was not able to tell me until she was 4 1/2 that she wanted something from a store like a toy. I still have that stuffed elephant she wanted! She could make requests at 3 (I dont remember if she did at 2 honestly) but her requests at 3 were very hard to understand what the heck she was talking about. She spoke like Yoda with word retrieval problems. I know at 2 she had maybe 1 or 2 2-word phrases and they were echolalic or copied phrases that she had learned as chunks. It wasn't that she spontaneously could put 2 words together. I do know that if she would have said "want that" or something similar and I would have asked her "want what?" she would have just melted down because she wouldn't have known what I said and would have been frustrated that I didn't read her mind.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2005
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 12:19pm
what worries me too is sometimes she says " want this " and I say " want what?" and I KNOW she knows the word, but will say louder " WANT THIS " lol, like I didn't hear her the first time.....this could go on for 5 minutes or so until she will finally say
" ELMO, or SIP ( for drink)
I don't know if I should give in, or not until she says the word ( again, only when I KNOW she knows it) ...........
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 12:43pm

In that case, I woudl prompt her with the first syllable, because "want what" is confusing. When Peter did start to communicate, and I would ask "What?" he would say "Not What! Not. WHAT." as if 'what' was some *thing* I was always trying to fob him off with!

So if you know what she wants and you know she knows the word, help her out by offering the first sound; say "e" for elmo, If she still doesn't get it. try "el" then "elm" etc. Praise her hugely wherever she uses language appropriately, and tell her *why* you are praising her. She should catch on pretty quickly. As I said, she's smart.

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com