please help

Ask for an assistive technology evaluation. You may want to request an alphasmart (device that he can type his school work on) and keyboarding lessons.

Most schools will not let you choose a teacher. Many will accept parent input on a type of teacher the child needs. Write a letter requesting a quiet, calm teacher because of his anxiety.

Is he on meds? Is that where the tremors are coming from?

I know some doctors say to ignore tics when they develop because of meds. I would seriously advise getting a second opinion if a doctor says that.

How long has it been since these symptoms began? I get the impression from your letter that it has not been since the beginning of his school career or you wouldn’t just now be faced with dealing with them. If I am correct, you may want to check out the work of Dr. Swedo at the National Institute of Health. Tremors can be a side effect of strep infections where the antibodies attack parts of the brain. (See Sydenham’s chorea—Dr. Swedo’s work shows that tics, OCD, and ADHD also can arise as a result of strep in susceptible individuals.) A classic hall mark of these disorders is a decline in handwriting.

Look into typing programs like Mavis Beacon and consider getting an Alphasmart for him to take to school. A child with anxiety disorder does not need to be with a teacher who ‘yells a lot’. If there’s nothing you can do about his placement for this year, try to make sure that next year he does not get a teacher who ‘yells a lot’.

Good luck.

Okay,
1. Is this meeting regarding an IEP?,504?

2. Have you requested and has the school done an Assitive technology evaluATION?

3. If this teacher who yells al ot aware of the anxiety disorder?

I can relate,my son has dysgraphia,ADHD,and tremors according to his evaluation. I ca help you if I knew more about the situation?

grade 4 for many LD/ADHD is a watershed year. Primary ed. has ended and instruction really changes-lots more material, lots more multi-tasking, lots more higher thinking (what’s the main idea, what are the supporting details). Its tough for many but can be a nightmare for learning different kids.

Our family is still recovering from a horrible, painful 4th grade with a teacher from *ell and its now 6th grade. It has taken this long to rebuild self-esteem, trust and find our way back to some joy at school. I am very sorry I didn’t pull my daughter out and homeschool. We were in a difficult situation of being overseas in a tiny community, only one school, one class, etc, etc. But no mistake, it was my daughter who paid the price. In your case, you have child with anxiety problems and an adult who yells. You are not going to change the adult so you must change the situation- immediately. You can change teachers mid-year, even if you have to drive him to the next school. Find a supportive teacher.

The dysgraphia is the tougher question. I would do a search on this board and the teaching reading board on the subject. You will find lots of posts. Steps to Writing for writing skills, Inspiration software for planning, and Handwriting without Tears for penmanship seem to be the favorite instructional programs. The LD in Depth section has some dynamite articles. You need to do some research and see what fits your child-there are variations within dysgraphia-motor skills, planning, etc

You need to educate yourself about your childs needs. I know that’s not what you need to hear right now. It will take some time as there is a great deal for you to sort through. But in the long run you will need to know al you can to insure your child gets what he needs. You will find many parents here who supply the extra tutors, programs, etc but the school doesn’t. Yes, they should but the reality is that you will have to be the case manager.

Make a plan. Here’s what I might do- 1. get a supportive enviroment for my child. 2. Read every thing I can on dysgraphia but knowing that while I’m reading my child is in an okay environment. 3. Make an informational appointment with my doctor (no kids, just parents and a notepad) and get an understanding of the diagnosis and what the probable/possible changes/effects/treatments are 4. Make an appointment with the school to a) ask what they are going to do for the dysgraphia - OT? Writing remediation? b) indicate that I am aware of my child’s problems, indicate my support, and indicate that I have knowledge about possible solutions, accomodations, treatments and school’s responsiblities. Take someone with you if you want-or arrange for an advocate. Remember in an ideal world the school would have everything your child needs but the fact that he is in with a yeller should indicate they don’t. Be prepared to provide additional services yourself.

It is overwelming at first. That’s why a stepwiae approach helps-it’s too much to do all at once! But a “do no harm” environment for my child would top my list

Good luck-keep posting on how its going

Thank you! It means alot to have so many people out there willing to share what they know.
1. The school meeting is about his testing and modifications that need to be made for him in the classroom.
2. The test he has been given: Wechsler intelligence scale for children, Woodchock-Johnson psyco-education battery, development test of visual motor intergration, behavior assessment for children, copeland symptom checklist for add.
3. This is a new diagnosis and this is the first meeting, the teacher does not know about the anxiety yet.

Thanks again!

Thanks for replying to my post. What is an assistive technology evaluation? The neurologist has him on 10mg paxil for anxiety. This is just not working, he still seems anxious (wants to come home from school at least once a week because of stomach ache) and he has always been very well behaved, now he is very impulsive. I am reducing his paxil to 5mg. I have an appointment next week with the neurologist. The tremors have been diagnosed as essential tremors, the Dr. said that it is something you are born with and that he will just have to live with them as they are not very obvious.

Thanks again for the help.

The handwriting has been a problem since 1st grade. All of the teachers have said until now that he would outgrow the problems. His grades have always been good and his oral responses to the teach have always been stong. This year his grades have dropped drastically. The anxiety started this year, or we just noticed it this year. He is not anxious around his family so it was hard for us to realize he was having trouble. Thanks!

Thank you for responding and sharing your experience. I was feeling very alone, confused and uninformed. There is so much information out there it’s hard to weed the good from the bad. Talking with others who have been there is a tremendous help.

An assistive technology assessment can help decide if he needs a computer like device such as an alphasmart to type rather than write. An assistive tech assessment should be done at every IEP (by law) but they almost never do them unless you ask.

If he is impulsive and anxious after taking meds you need to reevaluate the meds. If your doctor seems dismissive or is not taking your concerns seriously get another doctor.