Trying to sort it all out.....

Have you gotten a CAPD eval? It’s good that you have the vision therapy going, but the other big-ticket item is auditory processing. A regular audiological exam isn’t enough. You can find qualified audiologists who specialize in CAPD evaluations at http://pages.cthome.net/cbristol/ (click on links, scroll to nearly bottom of page). If you have a choice, audiologists at major university medical centers are usually thorough and up-to-date. This eval is usually covered by medical insurance, and the audiologist’s office should be able to tell you what you need to do in order to get coverage (referral from GP, or…).

I would think the CAPD eval is especially important since your son has language delay. If he is diagnosed with an auditory decoding deficit, a program such as FastForWord (http://www.scilearn.com) may be recommended by the audiologist. Some parents have been able to get FFW through the school district, but most still pay for it out-of-pocket.

LMB is an excellent program but it is very expensive. I’d get the CAPD eval done before signing up for it.

I would not try Ritalin unless your son is formally diagnosed with the type of ADD that responds to it. (If you check the ADHD board, you may find a website that describes the different types of ADD/ADHD and what works for them.)

You are not very specific about his problems, other than language delay, so I am not sure what else might be appropriate. PACE (http://www.learninginfo.com) is a good all-purpose cognitive training program, but you would want to first complete vision therapy and any sound therapies recommended by the audiologist and/or any OT/SI therapy.

Some people have gotten LMB from their school district, and this is certainly a route you should check out. Sometimes a school district will have a “roving” LMB tutor who comes to different schools, but only the parents who ask for it and make a fuss about it get it. You may need to go beyond the school to find out if your school district even has such a tutor (school personnel may not know about it, or may not volunteer the information). If you do get LMB provided through the school district, you need to be very careful it is of sufficient frequency and duration to have an effect (usually 1 hour 3 times a week is considered minimal, but schools often offer only 1 hour once a week).

Mary

I’m one whose not a big fan of the packaged programs. I’ve never seen any quick fix or any easy answers to learning differences and I think the packaged programs tend to suggest they offer clean, neat, easy answers. I also think that for every issue any child has, there’s someone out there who’s willing to take your money but no one who can make any promises. But others swear by the program you mention and many more so it’s always good to get many opinions.

His diagnosis of specific ld non-severe is not one I work with. It suggests he has a specific ld. What is it?

When thinking about what to do for a child with learning differences in school, I always like to look at the child’s school day and see what’s working and what’s not. You say your son’s struggles are intensifying. In what way? How is his reading? His writing? His math? How are his grades?

Those are the kinds of questions that can help you to figure out what you’d want for him. And then there are basically two approached. Remediation attempts to bring his skills up to grade level with tutoring specific to his weaknesses. Other kinds of support would be to support him in the school curriculum in an attempt to help him to be successful with it.

If you can locate any books by Mel Levine, I found them very helpful especially his book Educational Care.

Good luck.

I am here in Southern Calif., too. My son is now 13 and still struggling. I am a special ed teacher so even though I know a lot, there are still many things to sort out. As others suggested, I try to be specific about your son’s strengths and weaknesses. You can begin at your IEP meeting by expressing your concerns and asking for testing that will give you more specific information about your son’s LDs. Next find out what specific programs the school is using to remediate the areas defined. How often does he receive these programs and how well trained is his teacher? We have done a number of programs and while I think each one has filled in a piece of the puzzle, my son still barely reads or writes. Lindamood is a very experienced and well respected program. Is it right for your son??? Can your district provide it themselves during his school day? We had the school district pay for some programs, but it is a long, hard path. We had outside testing to determine the areas of disability. We had to hire an advocate to get the district to fund the little bit we got. TASK, Team of Advocates, is a good nearby organization. I think you can find their address on ldonline’s help site. You are right, though, ldonline is a blessing. So many share and care and understand what you are going through.

Greetings Cyndi,

Go to BrainPlace.com and read about the 6 types of ADD. This website contains an interactive checklist/questionnaire to help determine if ADD exists and, if so, which type. It’s important to note that this questionnaire is not meant to provide an actual diagnosis but it serves as a guide to help begin to identify problems and get further evaluation if necessary. By-the-way, most people will be shocked to know that the use of Ritalin alone is contraindicated in 4 of the 6 types of ADD!

Blessings, momo

I highly recommend using an advocate and bringing in experts. The only way my son received LD coding, an IEP, and placement into an LD program was by bringing in experts and advocates.

Finding advocates has taken a bit of detective work. We do live in the suburbs of a major metropolitan area, which has made it easy to locate support. If you know other families in special ed., ask them for suggestions. You can also check your local chapter of CHADD and LDA. If there are any LD support groups in your area, check those. You can also ask professionals who serve LD kids, such as tutors, psychologists, etc.

LJ

Lindamood-Bell is a good program, though the closer to the source the better you are — I have heard one or two (out of, say thrity) negative experiences, and both were cases where the people had some training but more of the “weekend workshop” type than some of t he longer options that include internships — I’m trained in similar methods and you’re years ahead if you can work with somebody while you get started (If you’re really ambitious, get the training yourself — some moms do it that way). It’s very individualized, very intensive, and very good.

LDs often occur with aDD — but just to make life difficult, trying to function in a classroom with LDs or auditory processing problems is a sure-fire way to look just like a kid with ADD.

I also recommend Mel Levine’s Educational Care. Wander over to amazon.com or wherever - it’s an excellent, practical book.

We went directly to a major teaching hospital to see a pediatric neurologist when we suspected some sort of learning disability. We felt that if our child had any other major diagnosis, that is what we would have done, so we should do the same here. Our insurance paid for most of the eval, even though they had told us they would not. We were willing to pay ourselves after they said no, but doc said, “No, does not always mean no” and he was right. That gave us leverage at school. The next problem was to try to figure out what to ask for. An advocate would have been helpful here. We did not use an advocate, but in hindsight, I think it would have saved us precious time and got us on track quicker and also take some of the stress off parents. Day to day life and schoolwork is enough stress

Hi Cyndi,

Try contacting Dyslexia Awareness and Resource Center, they are in Carpenteria, but have been working with many people throughout CA, particularly in the LA area.

http://dyslexia-center.com/

They deal with more than just dyslexia, so don’t be shy, look up the web site and contact them for help locating advocates, programs…

Good luck.

Andy

ps/ a good advocate is worth their weight in gold. Do not jump at the first one without giving much thought and time to see if you are on the same wavelength.

Do not sign any documents if you do not understand or agree with what is presented to you.

You have rights and responsiblities as a parent, and it will be much help to become familiar with the laws and regulations. Go to sites like www.wrightslaw.com and www.edlaw.com; also go to other parent’s sites like “Socks’ ” site from this bb :)

Thanks to everyone that responded. It sounds pat, but I’ve felt alone in this struggle and it helps knowing there are others out there. Our doctor is referring Eric to a pediatric neurologist and we will go from there. I have a lot of research to do before going to his IEP in June and you have given me some great places to start. Thanks again.

Cyndi