several doubts

Thanks for your replays concerning the LD and bilingual school, but this is not the only doubt I have and kidnly ask you to reply me for the following questions:
- The kids with LD will never solve the problem but with specialised help they can learn how to leave with it?

– It depends on the type of LD. Many reading problems and math problems go away with good instruction. I teach children with great difficulties in school all the time and very many of them, after a year or two of help, are doing well in regular classes.
Other types of LD remain but people can learn coping skills.

- It is not a problem of maturing, it is not a question of time that the child will reach the same level of its pairs?

– In general, definitely not. The longer you wait, the more the student falls behind. Early intervention is the best thing.
It is important to teach at the appropriate level for the student; trying to jump immediately to the level of other students will not help and may cause more frustration. But steady work, starting as soon as possible, can often pull a student up to the level of his peers over time.

- The LD could cause AD or it is the other way round?

– This is a very complicated question. A child can have LD *or* ADD *or* some combination. Even doctors disagree a lot about this.
Also, many behaviours that are labelled as ADD can sometimes be in fact a frustrated child acting out; in this case, when the student learns to read and write and do math and can do what is demanded in class, the acting out behaviours go away (I work with many children like this.)

- Kids with AD who are taking “Concerta” improve its learning abilities?

— There is a lot of argument about this as well. A frequent poster here, “Dad”, has posted research that says the learning outcomes in the long term are about the same with and without medication. Using medication is a decision that you and your family should make, not strangers.

- How long must a kid take “Concerta”, all its student life? What happens when these kids became adults?
Thank you very much for your interest

– Formerly it was thought that students would grow out of ADD and would not need medication as adults. Recently there has been a move in the other direction and adults are being diagnosed as ADD ad being put on medication. This is a very complex field and there are no definitive answers. If you think there is a real need for this medication, that the benefits outweight the risks, then that is a personal decision you and your family need to make.

- The kids with LD will never solve the problem but with specialised help they can learn how to leave with it?

Some LD can be completely eliminated with appropriate therapy. It depends on the underlying cause of the LD and also on whether appropriate therapy is given. This is a complex issue. Usually it is best for the parent to do a lot of research on the internet, get appropriate evaluations from professionals, research therapies, and then try to select therapies most likely to benefit the child. It is very difficult to find a professional who can do this.

- It is not a problem of maturing, it is not a question of time that the child will reach the same level of its pairs?

I agree totally with Victoria. Early intervention is the key. “Wait and see” is the worst approach for LD.

- The LD could cause AD or it is the other way round?

There are many different causes of ADD. An undiagnosed developmental vision deficit can cause symptoms of ADD, in which case vision therapy followed by cognitive skills training will have a dramatic impact. Sensory Integration Disorder (SID) can cause symptoms of ADD, in which case occupational therapy becomes very important. Auditory processing disorders (APD) can cause symptoms of ADD, in which case sound therapy becomes important. Some types of ADD are primarily neuro-chemical in origin. This is the type that responds to chemical intervention (such as Concerta).

- Kids with AD who are taking “Concerta” improve its learning abilities?

Only if the ADD is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain that Concerta addresses. If the ADD is caused by other problems (usually some kind of sensory deficit such as undiagnosed developmental vision delay, undiagnosed SID, and/or undiagnosed APD), giving the child drugs will not help.

- How long must a kid take “Concerta”, all its student life? What happens when these kids became adults?

No one knows the long-term effects of drug therapy for ADD. Some people seem to benefit from it every day for life, others find the side effects too negative, others take it for certain activities and not for others.

Nancy