Audra Jensen - When Babies Read: A Practical Guide to Helping Young Children With Hyperlexia, Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism

When Babies Read

of related interest

Different Minds

Gifted Children with AD/HD, Asperger Syndrome, and Other Learning Deficits

Deirdre V. Lovecky

ISBN 978 1 85302 964 6

eISBN 978 1 84642 035 1

Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, LD, Aspergers, Tourettes, Bipolar, and More!

The one stop guide for parents, teachers, and other professionals

Martin L. Kutscher MD

With contributions from Tony Attwood and Robert R. Wolff

ISBN 978 1 84310 810 8 (hb)

ISBN 978 1 84310 811 5 (pb)

eISBN 978 0 85700 882 4

Aspergers Syndrome in Young Children

A Developmental Guide for Parents and Professionals

Laurie Leventhal-Belfer and Cassandra Coe

ISBN 978 1 84310 748 4

eISBN 978 1 84642 033 7

Aspergers Syndrome

A Guide for Parents and Professionals

Tony Attwood

Foreword by Lorna Wing

ISBN 978 1 85302 577 8

eISBN 978 1 84642 697 1

Revealing the Hidden Social Code

Social Stories for People with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Marie Howley and Eileen Arnold Foreword by Carol Gray

ISBN 978 1 84310 222 9

eISBN 978 1 84642 142 6

My Social Stories Book

Carol Gray and Abbie Leigh White

Illustrated by Sean McAndrew

ISBN 978 1 85302 950 9

eISBN 978 0 85700 166 5

Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum

A Practical Resource of Play Ideas for Parents and Carers 2nd Edition

Julia Moor

ISBN 978 1 84310 608 1

eISBN 978 1 84642 824 1

When Babies Read

A Practical Guide to Help Young Children with Hyperlexia, Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism

Audra Jensen

Foreword by Peter S.Jensen MD

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia

First published in 2005

by Jessica Kingsley Publishers

73 Collier Street

London N1 9BE, UK

and

400 Market Street, Suite 400

Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

www.jkp.com

Copyright Audra Jensen 2005

Foreword copyright Peter S.Jensen 2005

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London ECIN 8TS. Applications for the copyright owners written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.

Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.

Diagnostic Criteria for Autistic Disorder and Aspergers Disorder in Appendix C reprinted with permission from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, copyright 2000. American Psychiatric Association.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Jensen, Audra, 1972

When babies read : a practical guide to helping young children with hyperlexia, asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism / Audra Jensen ; foreword by Peter S. Jensen.-- 1st American paperback ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13:978-1-84310-803-0 (pbk. : alk. paper)

ISBN-10: 1-84310-803-8 (pbk. : alk. paper) I. Dyslexic children-Education. 2. Autistic childrenEducation. 3. Language artsRemedial teaching.4. ReadingRemedial teaching. I. Title.

LC4708.J46 2005

371.91 44--dc22

2005016785

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 I 84310 803 0

eISBN 978 I 84642 249 2

Contents

Set Seven: More phonics words ,,, (CVC)

Foreword

Only a few years ago did I learn from my nephew Dave and his wife Audra about the troubling symptoms that their precocious two-year-old son Isaak was showing. Isaaks acute over-fascination with letters and words, his gaze avoidance with his caring family, his temper tantrums when his routines were interrupted, and his spontaneous ability to sing the alphabet song backwardsto my child psychiatrists eye, all these characteristics suggested something more ominous than simple precocity. For Audra and Isaak, I arranged an evaluation with my colleague Geri Dawson, an autism expert whom I had gotten to know and to greatly admire while I served as the Associate Director of Child and Adolescent Research at the National Institute of Mental Health. Before long the definitive diagnosis of autism was made.

For Isaak, you must become THE expert, I told Audra, knowing the terrible lack of resources most children receive. Dont settle for less than what he needs. Even though all the evidence isnt fully in, get him into intensive ABA programs. And if you need to, be prepared to get a lawyer, who will write letters on his behalf to the school or early intervention programs. Learn what his rights are in educational law, and go out and get it.

No lioness ever defended her cubs more fiercely. Though our initial phone conversations were probably no more than one-half hour (I lived at the time in Washington DC, and Audra, Isaak, and Dave in the Pacific Northwest/Seattle area), what an amazing, marvelous transformation overtook Isaaks parents, particularly Audra who had all the day-to-day responsibilities for arranging his care. She quickly absorbed and evaluated all new information. She learned to not take no for an answer. In her small county public school system, she led successful efforts to transform early intervention programs and services available to youngsters with autism and other widely misunderstood pervasive developmental disorders.

Becoming increasingly expert, she learned when to go with the standard medical advice, and when to trust her instincts. Yes, all of the therapists, doctors, and educators knew a lot about autism, but she lived with Isaak 24/7. Audra understood that she was (and is) the expert about Isaak. Never bull-headedly, and only after considering all the facts and drawing upon her own experience, fortunately for Isaak and for all caregivers and educators who will read this book, Audra followed her instincts, and in the process discovered new keys to help her son use his precious but overgrown language abilities to move forward in areas of social functioning.

For those readers who benefit from Audras wisdom, insight, and experience with hyperlexia, I would also encourage you to read between the lines, and learn the other lessons she has to teach. Learn all you can about your childs condition. Become expert. Look for the keys for that which works for your child, and dont stop until you have found them.

Peter S. Jensen, MD

Ruane Professor of Child Psychiatry

Director, Center for the Advancement of Childrens Mental Health

Columbia University

Preface

You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled then something has been lost.

Martha Graham

(American dancer, teacher, and choreographer, 1894-1991)

Hes sitting next to me on the couch now, reading a book. Hes not even six yet. He thinks hes big, but hes still my baby. He turns to me. Can I tell you a secret?