My 8 y.o. old, 2nd grade has been dx’ed with LD in reading/writing, ADHD, apraxia of speech, and fine motor weakness. He has an IEP, goes to Resource Lab every morning for Language arts, speech therapy 2/x week and OT 1/x week. Has been making progress with reading, although slow, reads at early-mid 1st grade level. His speech disorder (apraxia) significantly imacts his reading. He still cannot correctly pronounce many sounds; s blends, r, short vowels… So sounding out words is extremely laborious and often unproductive. We’re also working on sight words, which is somewhat easier for him than phonics. We work with him nightly at home on easy reader books, spelling and sight words.
He is on Concerta 18mg for ADHD, teacher says she can see it ‘kick in’ approx 1 hr after taking it, he is somewhat more focused, attentive. But he still has some attending problems, I am talking to his doctor about a higher dose.
My questions;
1) Cursive- he is having a very difficult time learning, doing. He holds the pencil very tight, doesn’t have good control. His OT is working w/ him on this. I think it may be a good idea to write in his IEP that no cursive is required (other than maybe to sign his name) because we have so many other issues to deal with and cursive is low on the list..
2) Spec educ teacher says she sometimes sees ‘repetitive movements’, for example he will lick his fingers and then touch his eyes (for dryness) a lot. We are using eye drops now but still does it. Could this be a side effect from the drug? Looking up concerta on internet, doesn’t state it is. Could it be anxiety? He does seem anxious sometimes over things..
3) Teacher also now noting behavior where he will ask the aide over and over again same question, when he probably knows the answer- like an obstinante attitude. He stops when she tells him to.. He definitely has some contrary behavior at home but up until now hadn’t at school.
Advice???
Thanks, Marla
Re: advice- LD, ADHD,..
My son Michael Duran Scott has a LD, ADHD and he all the time gets
nervous is there anything you can do to help his condition
Lee Ella Ervin
Please call your doctor
Psychostimulants like Concerta can trigger tics (“repetitive movements”) in children. Asking the same question over and over also is tic-like behavior, though a perhaps more to the OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) side. Some doctors tend to discount side effects of drugs, but through hard experience I’ve learn to suspect the drugs first, then rule them out.
Doctors will differ on their view of tics and psychostimulants. Some believe the meds induce the tics, others believe that will only occur in susceptible children (e.g., those where tics run in the family), while still others (probably a minority) think the kids would have come down with tics regardless of whether they were taking the meds.
Bear in mind that substantial recent research supports the view that in some children tics, OCD, and adhd can be induced by antibodies produced to fight strep infection. There appears to be a relationship between children who are susceptible in this regard and those who come from families with a history of rheumatic heart disease (also induced by strep antibodies).
Re: advice- LD, ADHD,..
my son has ‘no cursive required’ written in his IEP. Its never been an issue so I assume its pretty common IEP fare
I read a ADHD checklist on one of Amen sites-it may have been for adults/teens- poor handwriting or choosing to print was a marker for the disorder
Is it possible he is forgetting he is asking the question? I think the ADHD has short term memory connections that could cause that type of behavior.
Re: advice- LD, ADHD,..
I suggest you go to www.drstordy.com and get information on her book about essential fatty acid deficiencies and their relationship to ADHD, dyslexia and dsypraxia (and apraxia of speech).
You might also want to go the Cherub web site. They are a parent-driven organization of families with children of apraxia of speech. There is a whole section of the web site devoted to essential fatty acid supplementation and the improvements seen in many children after taking EFAs for a relatively short time. Clinical trials are underway…
My son had some of these problems. I really think that dealing with the motor issues helps the attentional and learning issues so I think working with the OT is important.
Cursive itself is not really the most important skill but I think the act of learning cursive and the therapy used to help develop this skill helps with other things.
Improving my son’s motor issues has helped his attention. Interactive metronome helped the most.
I don’t know that much about the meds so I can’t help you there.