WISC profile

The verbal skills are within the normal range and the non-verbal skills are within the high average range. What are your concerns and how is his performance in school?

It means nothing. The WISC is a load of manure.

Of course it means something. This kid is freakin normal. Quit your worrin nutbar.

…

…

Reading and spelling skills are approx 3 years behind Math skills seem to be only slightly below age mates Of major concern, however, is his flat affect (only while in school), his what seems to be a severe problem in “finding” words to reply to questions, and his constant reply of “what?” or “huh?” when he is spoken to or asked a question. It is almost as though he tries to “buy” some extra time before formulating an answer. He is having an increasinly difficult time keeping up with any requirments in the regular ed classroom.

LJS,

Do you have other test results that you could post (achievement and speech/language)? Please tell his current age and grade level, too. It’s hard for people to get the picture with such a small amount of information.

But, a red flag goes up for me from your last post, but I hesitate to say it without knowing the other test results. Has anyone suggested testing for auditory processing disorder?

Janis

That is exactly what I am starting to think. The young man is currently in 5th grade. His last formal testing was completed approx 2 .5 years agao. He is currently served by the speech and lang. therapist who does not like to consider processing problems. I have just requested a new and complete reevaluation and the speech therapist has agreed to test auditory processing. Does anyone have information on what those tests are and are the results reported in standard scores? If this turns out to be the problem what are some common interventions which could help?

I forgot, I do have the other scores but not home with me this weekend. I can post them on Tuesday. Thanks for all your thoughts. This young man is a really wonderful guy and it just pains me to see him stuggle so!

LJS,

A speech pathologist is not the one to test for auditory processing disorder, it must be an audiologist. Unfortunately, it basically takes an audiologist who specializes in APD to really get meaningful results and recommendations. Often, this means travelling to a specialist and the parents paying for the testing. Soemtimes insurance will pay, but that depends on several factors. If you want to tell me what state you’re in, I can tell you if any of the top APD people are near you. Also, you can get some professional advice (plus parents) at a message board just for APD (used to be called CAPD but now APD is preferred but you’ll see both):

http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/capd.html

Other sites:

http://www.ncapd.org/

http://pages.cthome.net/cbristol/capd.html

Janis

Is this child labelled LD for reading? Does he receive speech/language services? My bet is that he will need a multi-sensory structured language approach to reading (Orton-Gillingham, Lindamood-Bell, Phono-Graphix, Wilson, etc.). Often this has to be acquired by private tutoring outside of school as well.

Janis

When kids have that kind of range, they often use the strong area at the expense of the weaker area, even if the weaker one is technically “normal.” (If they don’t, they don’t have problems and they don’t get tested so they’re “normal, nutbar ;)). Often this means the gap widens, especially since verbal skills need verbal practice — the kid that memorizes the look of words really well doesn’t figure out the strategies that will work with longer words, but since it’s such a strong area the kiddo may not have a problem til high school or college.

That “90” too can have its ups and downs and if the downs are in auditory areas, this kiddo will *need* time to process.

Thanks for the sites I will be sure to visit. We are in Washington (Eastern) North of Spokane.

Thanks I am glad to heard that. My district just bought the Wilson program and it is beginning to sound as though he might be a candidate for this type of approach.

His current identification is LD for reading and written language. He does also receive speech services. I also think his math skills are now suffering because he is just not “getting” what he needs through his auditory channel. Does that make sense??

Thanks Sue. He really is having a rough time now in 5th grade. Others who don’t work with him directly are just under the impression that he doesn’t have the cognitive skills to be any more reponsive verbally. I just don’t think that’s the case and am really searching for some stategies which will make his life in school smoother and certainly more successful.

One more article since you live in Washington:

http://www.audiology.org/professional/jaaa/11-9a.php

You will see that one of the APD experts listed in this article (in 2000) is Gail Chermak from Washington State in Pullman, WA. That may give you a starting point in finding an APD specialist.

Janis

Sure it makes sense. He still has to process instructions, both auditory and written, so that could cause general difficulties in any subject.

Janis

What is the Wilson Program?

Wilson is one of the multi-sensory structured language programs to teach reading. There is a good article that lists some of the programs under LD In Depth, Reading.

http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/reading/mssl_methods.html

Janis

I am a psychologist and work in a nonprofit organization for people with spina bífida.
I need updated information for helping the kids how to deal with their learning problems.
Thanks .
Mónica

Monica,

Under LD In Depth on this site you will find excellent articles relating to remediating learning disabilites in all areas. It’s like a mini Master’s degree all in one place! I encourage you to read there for the latest information on learning and learning disorders.

Janis