My nine year old daughter saw a ped neurologist today. After a long struggle all her life with delayed large and fine motor we have started a process today that hopefully will answer some of the questions we have been trying to find out for some time. I was totally surprised at what the doctor was going to test her for. I am not familiar with diffrent LD’s and have only began to research them after my daughters last IEP which she was labeled cognitively impaired. She tested very low on her IQ testing. Her scores were VIQ 60, PIQ 53 and FSIQ 53. I then started to seek any info possible and wanted to have her tested to see what might be causing all the difficulties she has been facing. In my mind I thought she could be ADD or CAPD because she had so many of the symptoms. But what was not fitting all of the puzzle was everything I had read about on diffrent LD’s was that no one seemed to say anthing about large motor also being delayed. After talking to the doctor today and going over all her IEP’s and observations the doctor wanted to test her for chromosone abnormalities and fragile x syndrome. She also will have an EEG done next week. Can anyone tell me more about that test? I was not to surprised about genetic testing because two of her 1st cousins on fathers side one autistic and the other with some type of LD which he is currently taking Ritalin for. Apparently my daughters father whom is now my ex-husband had some learining difficulties as a child probably missed dx as behavioral problems. He was sent to a boys school for behavioral problems. I am looking for any information or possible someone whos been down this road. I have read a little about fragile x today and was seeing how some children are given some of the same meds as children who have ADHD. My daughter has significant anxiety and panic attacks. She often becomes frustrated, sometimes over very trivial things. Any info will be greatly aprreciated.
Traci
Re: visit with ped neurologist
Testing is a good idea. When there is a cognitive delay, such as her IQ scores would suggest, generalized developmental delay is not unusual. The cognitively delayed child I work with is delayed to a very similar extent and degree in pretty much all areas of functioning (gross/fine motor, language, social, adaptive behavior, etc.); this would differentiate a true cognitive delay from localized delays that might be more typical of learning disabilities. Sounds like your Dr. wants to get a grip on what the underlying problem may be. I’d suggest you “go for it.”
Re: visit with ped neurologist
It would probably help you to check out information on Sensory Integration Deficits or Sensory Defensiveness. In reading about this you would be able to tell fairly quickly if this applied to your daughter. Also Significant Language Deficits could also be a reason for poor testing. Best Wishes, feel free to e-mail me a [email protected] if you have any other questions.
My son has epilepsy and so has had many EEG tests. The test is painless but takes time and patience. The child has to be cooperative because many wires with small round sensors on the end have to be stuck to the head with a paste. Most EEG techs who work with children have learned how to talk a child through it or make it seem like fun in order to gain the child’s cooperation. After the many wires are in place the child reclines on a cot with a pillow and blanket and relaxes while tracings are run on a long roll of paper. They may encourage the child to go to sleep by having her come in with less sleep than usual, turning out the lights and keeping the room very quiet. They usually run some tracings with a strobe light on and while having her hyperventilate. The reason for these last two is that flashing lights and rapid breathing can lead to seizures in individuals with that tendency. After the test is over they will shampoo her hair to get the paste out. Expect to spend at least two hours between set up, running the test and clean up.