On The Distance Travelled...

You all familiar with the ATEC? As in Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist?

I completed the ATEC for Salamander, to get a baseline, in July of 2004, just prior to starting DAN! protocol based treatments for him.

His score?

A whopping 101 (yes, incredibly high for somebody who was diagnosed with *Autism Lite*)
Of which 24 points in the sociability category, 20 points in Sensory/Cognitive Awareness, and 50 in Health/Physical/Behavior (and the remaining 7 in the Communication category; Salamander had speech).
That is where we started. Things were NOT good. NOT good at all.

In August of 2006, after almost 2 years of DAN! treatments and a ton of remedial therapies (with an depressing amount of one step forward, two steps back.. ), I redid Salamander's ATEC.

Score had dropped to 43.
Of which 6 points in the sociability category, 8 points in Sensory/Cognitive Awareness, and 28 in Health/Physical/Behavior.

An impressive change by all accounts.

But let me tell you, those 28 points in Health/Physical/Behavior still made for a very tough home life.

After getting that incredible feedback from Salamander's counselor yesterday, I redid the ATEC. And this ATEC will reflect the progress made since August 2006 (which coincided with me switching from DAN! to Dr. Yasko's program; we kept his diet, remedial therapies, school interventions etc going):

His score is now 14!!!! Yes, FOURTEEN!!!

Of which 1 point in Sociability, 2 points in Sensory/Cognitive Awareness, and only 10 points left in Health/Physical/Behavior.

Here are the answers on the Health/Physical/Behavior Category for July 04 (black) August 06 (blue) and now (red).

Oh. My. God!!!!
I don't know exactly what the HELL I am treating, or why I should be condemned for wanting to treat what's presented below (and to be honest, I don't give a rodent's behind..).

I do know however that Salamander's quality of life has improved ENORMOUSLY.

**IV. Health/Physical/Behavior
1. Bed-wetting: Serious Problem Serious Problem NOT A PROBLEM
2. Wets pants/diapers: Moderate Problem Minor Problem (GFCFSF etc F helped a lot here) Minor Problem
3. Soils pants/diapers: Moderate Problem Minor Problem (see 3) Minor Problem
4. Diarrhea: Serious Problem Not a Problem (see 3) NOT A PROBLEM
5. Constipation: Serious Problem Minor Problem NOT A PROBLEM
6. Sleep problems: Serious Problem Minor Problem (modified Feingold helped a LOT with sleep issues) NOT A PROBLEM
7. Eats too much/too little: Serious Problem Moderate Problem NOT A PROBLEM
8. Extremely limited diet: Serious Problem Minor Problem (see 3) NOT A PROBLEM
9. Hyperactive: Serious Problem Moderate Problem Moderate Problem
10. Lethargic: Not a Problem Not a Problem Minor Problem
11. Hits or injures self: Minor Problem Not a Problem Not a Problem
12. Hits or injures others: Serious Problem Moderate Problem MINOR PROBLEM
13. Destructive: Serious Problem Moderate Problem NOT A PROBLEM
14. Sound-sensitive: Moderate Problem Moderate Problem NOT A PROBLEM
15. Anxious/fearful: Moderate Problem Moderate Problem MINOR PROBLEM
16. Unhappy/crying: Moderate Problem Minor Problem NOT A PROBLEM
17. Seizures: Not a Problem Not a Problem Not a Problem
18. Obsessive speech: Moderate Problem Moderate Problem MINOR PROBLEM
19. Rigid routines: Moderate Problem Minor Problem NOT A PROBLEM
20. Shouts or screams: Moderate Problem Minor Problem NOT A PROBLEM
21. Demands sameness: Moderate Problem Minor Problem NOT A PROBLEM
22. Often agitated: Moderate Problem Moderate Problem MINOR PROBLEM
23. Not sensitive to pain: Not a Problem Moderate Problem NOT A PROBLEM
24. Hooked or fixated on certain objects/topics: Moderate Problem Moderate Problem MINOR PROBLEM
25. Repetitive movements: Not a Problem Minor Problem NOT A PROBLEM

(Yes, yes, I realize, we still have work left to do...But we've come a loooooong way in 4 years)