Finally got Test results

In other words he has problems with executive functioning skills, he is smart but his brain is just wired a little slower than normal. The encephalopathy is just the way his brain works but he doesn’t have a degenerative disease of the brain.

I don’t think PACE or Audiblox would help here…he needs specific instruction on organization of writing and language and as far as I know neither PACE or Audiblox teaches children written expression. An SLP/RSP/Educational therapist would teach a child how to write. |The variation in the IQ is within the law of averages plus or minus and I don’t think it is of great concern. If you saw a HUGE drop from where he is to 70 I would be concerned…

I have worked with kids who are slow methodical processors, and have problems with visual/spatial and motor areas. Perhaps if you exposed him to sculpture or art this would be a fun way to work on these weak areas. Also if he can use a keyboard like an Alphasmart perhaps that will help with his written expression. Perhaps his motor deficits are interferring with his written expression. Just some thoughts..

How old is your son, and how does he function in the classroom? The change in IQ is not significant…but how is academic functioning? For my son now in 7th grade without ADD but with LD in written expression maturity, instruction in the regular classroom(it’s very structured in Mass. thanks to standardized testing in almost every grade), and his own laptop really made the difference. No his writing is not like that of someone with a very superior IQ(but we expect it never will be), but the regular ed explicit instruction has helped. He does not qualify or receive spec. ed. services. We have encouraged him to draw(he likes to cartoon), and print as neatly as he can. Middle school teachers seem to appreciate slow and methodical, over the slap-dash don’t care of many middle school boys.

Sar, We have been homeschooling for 4 yrs. He is in 6th grade and is very advanced in all areas except History and Writing. He is up and down constantly during school and many times I have to sit right beside him for him to do his work. He is on Strattera and Imipramine for his ADHD and it helps but not as well as stimulants do.He is allowed to use a laptop when he has a written assignment and he also uses computer when he wants to review in some area.We live in Alabama and I have had to get all this testing done over the past 5-6 yrs at my expense! The school would not do ANYTHING to help him. Thus I had no choice but to homeschool. Jan

Audiblox does work on processing speed and organization. I am working with a student and her language expression has greatly improved-more organized and sequential. Before she would bounce around when speaking or writing.

I have a 7 year old son recently tested in all areas. He is only finishing 40% of his work due to dysgraphic issues as well as has standard scores of 3 in short term memory and 2 in long term memory. Aldo an exteremely slow processing speed. Had a psych at the school tell me he won’t ever be able to write effectively so remediation is not an option. His overall IQ was 112 but they felt it was probably higher and his deficits hampered his score. His WJR scores are in the average to above average range so he doesn’t qualify……blah, blah, blah. Am considering home schooling as his self esteem is plummeting. Anything out there to remediate writing?

The short answer is typing. The longer answer is typing plus software. If your child is having problems with physically producing handwriting, the computer is the way to go. If, as is often the case, he is also having problems with generating words, sentences, ideas, etc., there is plenty of software out there, including word prediction software such as Co:Writer and organizational software such as Inspiration and Kidspiration. Also check out Draft Builder and Write Out Loud. Written expression is very remediable. Your school is giving you a line of bull! He might not love writing or end up being good at it, but he certainly can get better. Handwriting is harder (but not impossible) to remediate. Take a look at Jan Olsen’s program “Handwriting Without Tears” (I think that is the name).