01-03-2007, 12:43 PM
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/st...2autism%22
Autistic boy from afar makes progress at Judevine Center
By Margaret Gillerman
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/03/2007
On Emre Orhan's first visit to St. Louis, the 3-year-old from Bursa, Turkey, seemed trapped behind an invisible wall — within his own thoughts, without human contact.
The toddler spun objects within his reach repetitively, not speaking a word and avoiding eye contact. He cried until tears ran down his face, and he appeared tormented and frustrated.
These are signs of autism.
A few weeks ago, on a visit with his parents to the Judevine Center for Autism, in Olivette, Emre, 4, broke through his wall and said his first recognizable word. It was mama, or mmammma, which in Turkish means "food."
"I am so happy with his development, his progress," said his mother, Sehnaz Orhan. "Last time, he had no speech. Now he has started to vocalize. This is a very big step."
Now, if Emre wants a cookie, he will say "be be" for biskivi, the Turkish word for cookie.
The Post-Dispatch reported in September 2005 on Emre's first visit to Judevine. The family returned for two weeks last spring, three weeks in September and again this winter. Because he spoke words for the first time on this trip, his parents decided to extend their stay until February.
The Judevine Center offers therapy, training, residential care and other services and outreach statewide for people with autism and their families.
Awareness of autism is growing. More than 12,000 people took part this year in the St. Louis Walk for Autism Research. The October event, held in Forest Park, raised more than $635,000. The money goes to the national Autism Speaks organization, and some of the money has been used to fund local research projects, spokeswoman Heather Conrad said.
On Dec. 19, President George W. Bush signed the Combating Autism Act, which will provide almost $1 billion over five years for research, screening, treatment and a public awareness campaign.
The news is welcome at Judevine Center, where Emre, a child with large, dark eyes and dark, curly hair, is working six-hour days to improve his language, communication and other basic skills.
"He's still a kid with limited language skills, but his skills are definitely increasing,'' said Rebecca Rubie, deputy director of clinical and educational services.
Emre's parents work with him every day in Turkey or St. Louis.
His father, Dr. Bulent Orhan, is an oncologist, and his mother has put on hold her plans to complete her doctorate in business so she can stay home with Emre. Three or four times a day, she runs through exercises with him. On this visit, a close friend, Ebru Deniz, helped her.
Judevine stresses techniques of applied behavioral analysis in a social context. Under the system, individuals with autism receive reinforcement for positive behaviors. That may be a favorite toy or favorite food.
Emre hands his mother a card with a picture of a cookie and he receives a real cookie. He also is asked to try to say the word. He shows another card to play with a toy truck. Instead of spinning the toy truck as in the past, he moves it in a straight line.
As part of another exercise, Emre is asked: "Touch your head, your ears, your eyes ..."
"A fairen ole chek," a therapist says. That means: "Well done, give me a high five."
Kelli Ballard, his music therapist, says that when he is playing with his top — topatch in Turkish — she will make the word into a happy song so he will understand the "o" sound.
"The brain processes music faster than it processes the spoken word,'' Ballard said. She puts phrases to tunes familiar to him.
Another therapy helps Emre avoid feeling overwhelmed by all that he touches, sees and hears.
Emre learned to put a shirt on over his head. When he succeeded, he clapped and hugged his instructor.
"He is happy, his eye contact has increased, he is more affectionate, he is smiling and he likes people,'' said his mother.
Judevine serves people of all ages. Last year, a 59-year-old man who lives in a Judevine residence broke his silence. He had not spoken since he was 5, according to Judevine staff.
For Emre, the moment came one afternoon when Karen Greiner, training specialist at Judevine, saw that he was upset and took him to swing. After she encouraged him to use sounds, and reinforced his vocalizing, Emre said mama. He repeated it about a dozen times that day.
"It's like a light bulb went off for him," said Rubie.
Since then, Emre has said "bye-bye"; "Ba ba," for father; "caba," for the musical instrument cabasa; and "su" for water.
"His feelings are increased … that is so important to me," Sehnaz Orhan said. "He is now in life, he is not outside of life. He is more active, so this is good."
Autism signs
A child who exhibits seven or more of these traits on a consistent basis might benefit from a professional evaluation:
—Has difficulty mixing with other children
—Acts as though he or she is deaf or visually impaired
—Resists learning
—Has no fear of real dangers
—Resists changes in routine
—Lacks use of gestures, laughing or giggling
—Has marked physical overactivity
—Avoids eye contact
—Has inappropriate attachments to objects
—Spins objects
—Engages in sustained odd play
—Has a standoffish manner
Source: Judevine Center for Autism
Autistic boy from afar makes progress at Judevine Center
By Margaret Gillerman
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/03/2007
On Emre Orhan's first visit to St. Louis, the 3-year-old from Bursa, Turkey, seemed trapped behind an invisible wall — within his own thoughts, without human contact.
The toddler spun objects within his reach repetitively, not speaking a word and avoiding eye contact. He cried until tears ran down his face, and he appeared tormented and frustrated.
These are signs of autism.
A few weeks ago, on a visit with his parents to the Judevine Center for Autism, in Olivette, Emre, 4, broke through his wall and said his first recognizable word. It was mama, or mmammma, which in Turkish means "food."
"I am so happy with his development, his progress," said his mother, Sehnaz Orhan. "Last time, he had no speech. Now he has started to vocalize. This is a very big step."
Now, if Emre wants a cookie, he will say "be be" for biskivi, the Turkish word for cookie.
The Post-Dispatch reported in September 2005 on Emre's first visit to Judevine. The family returned for two weeks last spring, three weeks in September and again this winter. Because he spoke words for the first time on this trip, his parents decided to extend their stay until February.
The Judevine Center offers therapy, training, residential care and other services and outreach statewide for people with autism and their families.
Awareness of autism is growing. More than 12,000 people took part this year in the St. Louis Walk for Autism Research. The October event, held in Forest Park, raised more than $635,000. The money goes to the national Autism Speaks organization, and some of the money has been used to fund local research projects, spokeswoman Heather Conrad said.
On Dec. 19, President George W. Bush signed the Combating Autism Act, which will provide almost $1 billion over five years for research, screening, treatment and a public awareness campaign.
The news is welcome at Judevine Center, where Emre, a child with large, dark eyes and dark, curly hair, is working six-hour days to improve his language, communication and other basic skills.
"He's still a kid with limited language skills, but his skills are definitely increasing,'' said Rebecca Rubie, deputy director of clinical and educational services.
Emre's parents work with him every day in Turkey or St. Louis.
His father, Dr. Bulent Orhan, is an oncologist, and his mother has put on hold her plans to complete her doctorate in business so she can stay home with Emre. Three or four times a day, she runs through exercises with him. On this visit, a close friend, Ebru Deniz, helped her.
Judevine stresses techniques of applied behavioral analysis in a social context. Under the system, individuals with autism receive reinforcement for positive behaviors. That may be a favorite toy or favorite food.
Emre hands his mother a card with a picture of a cookie and he receives a real cookie. He also is asked to try to say the word. He shows another card to play with a toy truck. Instead of spinning the toy truck as in the past, he moves it in a straight line.
As part of another exercise, Emre is asked: "Touch your head, your ears, your eyes ..."
"A fairen ole chek," a therapist says. That means: "Well done, give me a high five."
Kelli Ballard, his music therapist, says that when he is playing with his top — topatch in Turkish — she will make the word into a happy song so he will understand the "o" sound.
"The brain processes music faster than it processes the spoken word,'' Ballard said. She puts phrases to tunes familiar to him.
Another therapy helps Emre avoid feeling overwhelmed by all that he touches, sees and hears.
Emre learned to put a shirt on over his head. When he succeeded, he clapped and hugged his instructor.
"He is happy, his eye contact has increased, he is more affectionate, he is smiling and he likes people,'' said his mother.
Judevine serves people of all ages. Last year, a 59-year-old man who lives in a Judevine residence broke his silence. He had not spoken since he was 5, according to Judevine staff.
For Emre, the moment came one afternoon when Karen Greiner, training specialist at Judevine, saw that he was upset and took him to swing. After she encouraged him to use sounds, and reinforced his vocalizing, Emre said mama. He repeated it about a dozen times that day.
"It's like a light bulb went off for him," said Rubie.
Since then, Emre has said "bye-bye"; "Ba ba," for father; "caba," for the musical instrument cabasa; and "su" for water.
"His feelings are increased … that is so important to me," Sehnaz Orhan said. "He is now in life, he is not outside of life. He is more active, so this is good."
Autism signs
A child who exhibits seven or more of these traits on a consistent basis might benefit from a professional evaluation:
—Has difficulty mixing with other children
—Acts as though he or she is deaf or visually impaired
—Resists learning
—Has no fear of real dangers
—Resists changes in routine
—Lacks use of gestures, laughing or giggling
—Has marked physical overactivity
—Avoids eye contact
—Has inappropriate attachments to objects
—Spins objects
—Engages in sustained odd play
—Has a standoffish manner
Source: Judevine Center for Autism