Please help me interpret these test scores

I think the reason that there isn’t anything about the MRI & in utero stuff is that these tests don’t really test for that kind of thing; they’re testing the stuff that Matters In School. I would make my own copious notes while I could still remember what those folks said and put them in my files right next to all these test scores, because it sounds like the psych has a good handle on things. (The other possibility is that he is an awful jumper to conclusions — but since what he said jives so well with what you see and what happened in googleville, I’m inclined to believe that he just plain knows what he’s doing. HOw refreshing :-))

It’s interesting that the INformation score is high and the vocabularly score is low. Both are heavy on long term memory; I wonder if confidence or some other factor didn’t kick in there. Based on everything else you’ve said, I’d guess that his vocabulary is better than that score indicates, which would nudge that verbal IQ towards above average :-)
Similarities is a solid 10 and that’s very good; it’s the score that shows how well you understand not just what words mean, but how they’re related. It requires higher level thinking than, say, vocab. or information.
Arithmetic is not really a math skills test; it’s more of a test of how well you process what you hear and spit it back. You listen to longer and longer very simple arithmetic problems; if you know your facts and can add while you listen, you do well. If numbers intimidate you or you have a problem with working memory, you don’t. He did as well as the average bear — so he’s likely to be able to follow what’s going on in a classroom, or follow your directions when it comes time for homeschooling.
THe WRAT by the way is a cheesy test — very quick and not too good for the diagnostics. The visual presentation on the page can be confusing — especially for folks with those NVLD tendencies. However, those skills scores are low enough for serious concern (and seriously considering alternatives like homeschooling to get them back). Do you have any other standardized test scores for reading & math?
THis kiddo clearly is a whole lot more comfortable in the verbal world than the nonverbal. If that translates into trouble managing time and space, then it’s going to translate into trouble managing assignments and the comings and goings at school, especially when they’re suddenly Expected To Be Responsible. If I were going to homeschool, I would be sure to include actively *teaching* him organization and management of his stuff; it would be awfully easy to do that stuff for him, but knowing how to Manage your Stuff and your Time may be every bit as important as learning the reading and writing and arithmetic.

DS definitely has problems learning in a classroom enviornment. First it’s too distracting and second he processes much slower than normal. He’s literally slow.

Testing done at school re math and reading clearly show that he’s at least 2 years behind grade level. Last week we received the results to a standardized math test that, I think, was performed a year ago and he scored in the 6th percentile. That’s pretty much where DS scores on math standardized tests. He does somewhat better in reading tests, scores consistently around the 25th percentile.

He has excellant long-term memory, not so hot working memory. His vocabulary is weak. He really doesn’t get meanings beyond the most superficial in written and oral communication. He doesn’t really get jokes except for the broadest of humor. Comic books and illustrated novels work best for him.

Socially he doesn’t tie together the meaning of the words with vocal inflection and facial expressions. As you can imagine this leads to many misunderstandings.

*Sigh* He’s a really good kid and I’m trying to help him find his way in life. I have a brother with almost the exact problems and I don’t want my DS to turn out like that. DB lives at home with our Mom, he’s 43yo, and hasn’t worked in a decade or more. Even then he only worked sporadically. Never had a date, mobidly obese, you get the picture.

Thanks for answering my post.

I think you will enjoy homeschooling

You will both be able to recognize his strengths instead of his weaknesses which makes for a pleasant change

His scores arent that bad-doesnt seem like he should be a kid 2 years behind, KWIM??? Makes me think there is plenty of potential for improvement-good luck

Thanks, I’ve had the feeling for a long time that if DS was taught at his speed instead of the school speed he’d have learned a lot more. My gut feeling is that the main problems are 1) processing speed, 2) comprehension both math and reading. 2 can be very easily tied into 1 so I’m hoping with some solid one-on-one instuction he’ll show dramatic improvements.

I’m also not happy with the school system in general even though it’s one of the best in a state with good schools. I don’t agree with “teaching to the test” so that the school looks good on the assessments.

DS has a younger “typical” sister and I plan to hs DS for a year and then start hsing both.

My DH thinks I’m obsessing too much over this stuff and I may well be but I want a decent handle on what’s going on inside of DS’s mind and at least a starting point for teaching him. And DS didn’t grow up with a LD sibling like I did and see how school crushed him. And how our parents didn’t understand, but in their defense they didn’t know any better, calling my sibling lazy and stupid. I’m sure my father was scared that my brother would turn out like *his* brother who was in prison most of childhood.

All we have to do now is break it to DS that he’s not going to middle school like he wants to and will be hsed. After the SOLs at the end of May is when that will happen.

Mothers obsess more than fathers. I have obsessed over my middle child for years now. I believe firmly that without my obsession, which resulted in action, he would not be where he is today. This bb is full of obsessive moms! So welcome.

One thing I wondered when I read your post was how your son decoded. Are his reading issues comprehension issues or does he have issues with reading fluently as well? Kids with a NVLD profile often decode well but have trouble with higher level comprehension. But, as I know from my own son, kids who have some sort of nonverbal learning disability but don’t really meet the clinical critieria for NVLD do not necessarily fit that profile. We have had very significant reading isses—comprehension has been easier to move than the mechanics of decoding and reading fluently.

Also, kids who don’t read are at a disadvantage with vocabulary growth. On the advice of a neurologist three years ago, we got our son books on tape. I think it really has made a difference. Recent testing put him way above grade level and he still doesn’t read for pleasure. His paraochial school also teaches vocabulary as a subject and I think that has helped as well. But to put it in perspective, he was a kid who had an above average vocabulary on testing as a preschooler but lost that advantage as he went into school and was a nonreader.

Beth

DS had huge problems learning to decode. It was 3rd grade before he was reading more than a word or two at a time. In 5th grade he decodes okay, slow but okay. But he spends so much mental energy decoding that comprehenson really lags. The school has him placed in 5th grade reading!! Even his spec ed teacher concedes that he doesn’t have 5th grade understanding.

DS spends time most nights reading out loud to either his father or me. At natural stopping places I stop and discuss with him what he’s read. Try and get him to tie it in to what he’s already read and to make predictions.

I’ve thought about books on tape and that would probably benefit DS.

I plan to do a lot of non-academic things with him, lots of walks, building with legos, swimming, lots and lots of talking and discussions. Also visiting local historical sites and the numerous museums. We live outside of DC and there are so many places to visit and see. This will go along with the basic reading, writing, and math instruction. I’ll also teach him organizational skills but I may be the wrong person for that, since I’m terribly unorganized but maybe we both can learn something.

After years of IEPs and some improvement using the Wilson Reading Program at school, I homeschooled by son in sixth and seventh grades with great success. Those middle school years are great for homeschooling since we get to protect our kids from the middle school mess of behaviors.
He is now in ninth grade, feels very successful as a learner, is very responsible with his school work, takes Level 2 courses (just below honors courses although the school had recommended Level 3 and I rejected that recommendation). For his English course, he listens to books on the computer or his iPod while he follows along in the book and he believes that this has greatly improved his reading fluency and comprehension. (I have used Great Leaps in the past and recently retested him).
We all try a variety of techniques but there’s nothing better than hearing that our kids see the improvements and feel successful as learners! I know he will do great in life if we can just get through the public school system!