My son just turned 6 years old and is about to repeat kindergarten. We just moved from Michigan to Florida where the school systems are quite different.
We had some concerns last year when my son had difficulty learning his numbers and letters. Our son was tested by an occupational therapist and she suggested that he had visual motor processing problems and recommended occupational therapy. We were also told by a behavioral optometrist we should start vision therapy because there are eye tracking issues beyond the processing problems.
He is currently reviving tutoring and is scheduled for a speech evaluation next week. Are we overwhelming our son with therapy? Which therapy should be the priority? Is it too early to get comprehensive I.Q. and L.D. testing?
We met with a psychologist who feels we should wait until he is seven for best results because the delays could be resolved through maturation. Should we wait for comprehensive testing if he is getting therapy anyway or should we get the whole picture? We are confused, concerned, and spending a whole lot of money.
Please let us know what we should do.
Thank you,
Tiffany
The best time to intervene is when you find that your child has a problem. You have done just that. If the reason for the problems is a developmental delay, the interventions can only facilitate catching up. Should the problems no longer be there by first or second grade, you can stop.
However, if what you have found is the earliest phases of a learning disability, the early interventions will help him keep up and learn. In this case, he might need help for several more years.
So, yes, you are doing the right thing. The only suggestion is to focus the intervention on the problems found. He is old enough to have psycho-educational testing. These results will help to pinpoint the problems and will direct you to the necessary interventions.
Topic
Early Identification