Diagnosing LD Adults

I believe the DSM-IV category LD falls under is “Disorders *usually* diagnosed in childhood” or something to that effect, meaning that while it’s less common, adults can be diagnosed as well.

Dear Tyger,

I know you are right, and I suppose that this is my point. How can a diagnosis that is supposed to apply to children, possibly have applicability to us as adults?

Rob

The DSM is a piece of crap written by bigger pieces of crap. It pretends to descibe psychological symptoms. The key to undestanding LD is understanding brain function. Psycholgists are wothless dangerous and usually wrong scam artists. Psychiatrists are the same but more dangerous because they have prescription pads and therfore are allowed to peddle poison. Frazier is such a twit. Kelsey Grammar is brilliant. Do you know anyone who has been helped by a shrink? I suppose there are some well meaning ones but for the most part their proffession is a scam. They and the DSM are 50 years behind the times. The work of Alfred Luria is current news to them. Most shrinks base their businees on behaviorism and B.F. Skinner. Skinner was 100% wrong!!

please tell me how to get help for a learning disabilty

Christine,

Try praying.

Dear Christine,

Our good friend “ball” is a bit jaded. Although I can find no one in my particular geographic area, (Columbus, Ohio) that treats LD adults, and nobody in the state that provides mental health treatment, there may very well be such resources available where you live. Your best bet is to use the internet. Just go to your state, and type in the words, “Learning Disability,” and see what you come up with. However, failing this, you might try contacting your local mental health services board, or its equivolent. Should you again come up short, instead of seeking treatment for being a LD Adult, pick one or two of your symptoms that are causing you the greatest degree of discomfort, and seek help for those. For example, if, because you are a LD adult, you are depressed, seek help for your depression. It is far from a perfect solution, however, ball is not half wrong, the helping professions are not as yet prepared to help us in the way that we need. Therefore, you might also want to try either finding, and/or creating your own self-help support group.

Rob

Hi AA:

I’m not the Christine who just posted, but I wanted you to know that you sound exactly like me!!!! I’ve been tested and diagnosed as a child and an adult. However, I can’t seem to get a good pinpoint as to why I have auditory problems. I do have a documented hearing impairment, but I feel like it’s way too minor for the problems I encounter in listening and taking directions. My husband and job coach both think I’m nuts and am trying too hard to find out what’s wrong with me. However, I feel like I need a complete picture of how my different disabilites and difficulties interact with one another. Also like you, AA, I hope to find the right accommodations for these problems. All of my accommodations have related to sensory impairments (at least in my jobs). However, my LD has not really been touched upon as an adult. I hope to possibly get a Masters one day and work with disabled people. However, I feel like I’ll sink if I don’t get that “complete picture”.

Thanks for listening,

Christine

Christine,

The problem with testing is it tells you what you already know except it puts it in psycho-babble to the point that when a VR idiot reads it(yes some of them are literate) they get even more lost. Or they use it against you to deny you any occupational goal. It might be useful in getting accomodations at college or work but otherwise testing is useless because psychometric testing is based on a flawed understanding of brain function.

Jaded Ball

I think that a caveat should appear at the end of all psychometric testing saying something like this: The above values and assertions are estimates and do not take into account all aspects of human functioning and behavior. These predictions may not be scientifically valid.

The other thing is, Who tests the tests? Iv’e read several neuro-psych evaluations and the tend to be at best value judgements and at worst personal indictments.

Testing needs to be improved!

Christine and AA,

I would suggest to identify for problems more clearly for yourselves and trust me I know this is easier said than done. AA, I believe you said you had trouble with your memory with reading in reference to the simultaneous processes that take place. What are the processes specifically; is it organising your thoughts (I know I harp on about that probably because that’s my big one), is it mutli-tasking (I.e.reading from an overhead and having to listen at the same time or formulate a response while taking in info, etc).

In my experience in working with people with various disabilities, some like ours, some with more challenges the goal has always been the same. Identify the specific problem area and areas of strength, once both are completed you can then look at different approaches. Examples would be compensating for the difficulty areas (I.e. trying to listen and take notes at the same time - you could tape record a class so you can focus more on note taking or contact the special education department of the school who should be able to ensure some assistance is provided). You can also avoid the difficulty by purchasing software (I.e. Kurswell software that will read scanned in information and produce the words through your computers speaker system).

I use alot of different strategies that are successful for me because I have identified most of my specific deficits so now I know what I’m working with. People don’t notice me using them because they’ve become very natural for me and I can do most of them in my head now. I also have a very poor memory (I think my wife sometimes thinks its selective, it’s probably both) and use a daytimer, write notes to myself. Remembering what I am reading only got better when I finally recognised that I had a severe organisational deficit (for me anyways) and developed strategies to deal with it.

I know it sounds easy and I know its not. The kay is really to analyse every task you do in the day well, poorly and OK. Analyse whats going on in your head (I.e things make more sense visually vs auditorily), look at your environment (I.e. is it busy and distracting or overwhelming for you and again how visually , auditorily ,etc), how do you complete a task(could it be more organised, do you forget what you are doing during at task - me at times).

Sorry for going on and on, I hope it helped,

Brad

Hi,

My name is Cherie. I need some suggestions on how to proceed. I had only a couple problems, LD wise, as a child (telling right from left; Math). In fact, I was never diagnosed. And if things hadn’t gotten worse, I probably wouldn’t have known that those problems were related to LD.

But back ‘93 I was working in a state facility with DD adults. I was attacked & recieved a head injury from one of the clients. My physical symptoms received [& continue to receive to this day] treatment, but suddenly I had all this LD symptoms. For example, my memory became affected. I have problems remembering names, both of people & things; I can do something and immediately forget I have done it [or what step I’m in, in the process of doing it]; I turn letters/numbers around, esp. when receiving the information orally; I have trouble understanding letters over the phone, like mistake ‘f’ for ‘m’.

I had done that work for 13 years and suddenly couldn’t do it anymore because of the physical pain. I worked for about 5-6 years as a clerk in the federal gov. The first 2 year position went well, as the boss was real understanding and accommadating. The second position [Information Receptionist] didn’t work out as well. And my physical symptoms got worse so I had to leave the position.

Now I’m applying for SSD. It wasn’t until the past couple days that I realized there was a lable for the non-physical problems I was having. I live in northern CA. Can anyone give me some suggestions on how to get this “on the record”?

Thanks for reading & any suggestions. :-)

Hi Cherie:

That’s very interesting. I used to volunteer at a camp for DD children and adults. You’re the second person I’ve encountered with that kind of a story.

Have you mentioned to your doctors about your LD symptoms? I’m sure they could refer you to somebody that might be able to test you. I’m actually kinda surprised it never even came up, especially if you are dealing with neurologists. I’m no psychologist, but maybe your doctor could refer you to a good neuropsychologist. Also, during your SSD application process, I wouldn’t be surprised if they send you to a pschologist of their choosing—that’s what happened to me when I tried for SSI back in 1996 (without success). It’s not an easy process, though, so hang in there.

I don’t know if anybody has suggested Voc Rehab, but the opinions of that on this board are not favorable, including myself. Therefore, I’d try to avoid that if you can.

Just know that when all is said and done, you will hopefully have many of your questions answered. Plus, whoever tests you should suggest accommodations (I’m not sure if you want to get back to work or not).

Good luck!!

Christine

So you get tested. What practicle purpose do the tests have ? Several areas of deficet get identified. Now what?
How does one get accomodated? Who’s qualified to suggest or implement accomodations? Certianly not the VR anal apertures. Thats why I see testing as dettrimental to the LD client. Testing offer no solutions and often gives the screw ups at VR more justification for screwing you.