My 9 year old daughter (adopted from China at age 5) has visual and auditory processing disorders that manifest when it comes to her (language-based) memory.
I’ve noticed quite a bit of day-to-day variance on her reading level, whether she remembers her multiplication tables, her ability to recognize frequent sight words. I realize that this is just an anecdotal observation by a mom, but it got me wondering whether other factors — her diet, specifically — might be in play here.
After three years of testing, IEPs, tutors, and hard placement decisions, I admit to hoping for an “easy” answer.
Anyway, before my husband starts saying we’ve been living in Los Angeles too long and I’ve gone loopy, have there been any reputable studies that evaluate the connection between diet, sleep, exercise and LDs involving memory?
Thanks all,
Ann
Re: Diet and LD
One thing you might try that some parents have report results with is Fish Oil supplements. These are relatively inexpensive, readily available and fairly easy to administer. Should you decide to try these, read the labels carefully and get a brand that has been filtered to remove the mercury and PCB’s.
Re: Diet and LD
I notice the same thing with my daughter. She has good days and bad days. One time I swear she had some m&ms after school (a treat, not a daily occurance) and she was barely able to accomplish anything homework wise. I stopped the sugar after school and would only give her minimal sweets only after the homework was done, but not a reward necessarily. It really didn’t help. She still had days where she could not focus at all. I wonder if along with auditory processing problems, she might also have ADD. We have not tested for that yet, but sometimes I swear she is not there with me mentally. She’s busy touching every toy that is within reach or dropping her pencil and unable to hold still or just zoning out. All of this could be from being tired too, so who knows.
I would definitely say to try the daily log thing. That is the best way to figure out a pattern.
Kathryn
Re: Diet and LD
My 10 year old son is dyslexic. He can vary considerably from day to day in his academic performance and memory. I’ve heard from several sources that this is just part of having LDs; it’s a neurological problem and sometimes the brain functions optimally and other times it just doesn’t click.
I would highly recommend Rick Lavoie’s Beyond FAT City video. Mr Lavoie discusses performance inconsistencies and how frustrating it is for people with LDs. If you haven’t seen Rick Lavoie’s original FAT City workshop entitled “How Difficult Can This Be?”, you MUST see it. It’s such an eye-opener; you experience what it is like to live with LDs.
I’ve also heard that omega-3 fatty acids can help brain function. Many Americans don’t get enough omega-3 in their diet and it can affect mood as well. It’s worth a try. My daughter has atopic dermatitis and we found that elminating as much processed food from her diet as possible has helped her skin as well as her behavior.
I hope this helps.
Jenn
Hi Ann,
Diet, sleep and exercise are all factors effecting memory.
Given that you noticed ‘quite a bit of day to day variance…”.
It suggests it could be some external or environmental factor?
I would suggest that the best solution, would be to start keeping a ‘Daily Log’.
Where you put in the details daily, for perhaps a month.
Where something might stand out from this?
Or alternatively, rule it out?
Geoff,