recommendations??

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

I’ve just reviewed the new psych for a 1st grade student I tutor in reading. THe only area he qualifies for services is listening comprehension, although he most likely would have qualified in reading as well had he not been tutored since September, as he continues to be an incredibly slow decoder with minimal visual memory for words. Despite an above average IQ, he pretty much bombed the TAPS testing, with all but one SS between 61 and 80. He also struggled on the WISC with the Picture Concepts and Letter-Number Sequence subtests, and was above average to superior on Block Design, COding, and Symbol Search.

IMHO, the schools really aren’t equipped to remediate this type of student around here, but the parents would be very willing to go outside to help him. I’m thinking that the parents should request a CAPD evaluation from the school system. Any other suggestions that the school system might be willing to provide?

Do you have any suggestion that might be most effective helping this child to remediate his weaknesses? (He’s been doing Earobics at home since November, and made good progress.) I’m thinking that he might benefit from Audiblox (mom would be willing to work with him daily….that’s why he’s doing so well!) Anyway, any suggestions?

Thanks,
Karyn

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 03/18/2004 - 6:51 AM

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I think CAPD is considered a medical condition. Schools are not qualified to assess medical conditions, so would refuse to evaluate for CAPD.

However, schools can assess speech and language, which usually will include some screenings for CAPD (which, unfortunately, sometimes provide false negatives). The only way to get a really accurate APD assessment is to use an audiologist who specializes in this area. This type of eval is sometimes covered by medical insurance.

Because of the poor visual memory for words and the problem with sequencing, I would get a developmental vision evaluation.

I’d also get an occupational therapy eval that assesses sensory integration. The OT eval could provide some indication of whether there is an auditory or visual processing problem.

The Sound Reading CD would probably be helpful (http://www.soundreading.com ).

Audiblox could be very helpful. However, progress from it will be limited if there are any severe undiagnosed auditory or visual processing problems.

Nancy

Submitted by keb on Fri, 03/19/2004 - 1:12 AM

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Thanks for the reply. I’ll mention the developmental optomotrist to mom….we actually have a pretty good one locally. I’ll also mention the CD.

The school system here does actually diagnose CAPD (really good audiologist, who I know pretty well because of my own child’s hearing loss). Unfortunately, they won’t do much of anything after the diagnosis…..

OT is another good idea. I’ll mention to mom she might want to look into it as well. Thanks again,
Karyn

Submitted by Janis on Sat, 03/20/2004 - 4:45 AM

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I feel that a child should have a full speech-language eval before going for an APD eval. And truthfully, I wouldn’t go for an APD eval unless I went to an audiologist who specializes in APD. I’d suspect the listening comprehension problem may show up as a receptive language delay. It is possible that the child might benefit from Fast ForWord, but I’d get the language and APD eval’s first.

By “letter-number sequence subtests”, are you meaning digit span? Problems there indicate short term (working) memory issues. Has the child had the CTOPP? He should if he has reading problems.

Personally, even though my own child has had all the testing I’ve listed, the most valuable assessments for instructional purposes is the reading and language ones. I mean, if a child has receptive language problems and difficulty reading, then you can safely bet the APD will probably be there, too. I just don’t think there is much added value to having that diagnosis.

Janis

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