Help for New Parent on LD Online

Several red flags. Did you advise her to request the IEE?

Here is a message that I posted on another site and I was wondering if anyone could give me insight? "Regarding posting previously: child in Kindergarten who is English speaker only was stated to have difficulty with all academic areas, difficulty with focusing, completeting assignments, disorganization with writing, crying alot during school, low self esteem,difficulty with following directions, and notes regarding behavior sent home daily. Child stayed on at the same reading level for most of the year. Not to mention that our child loves to please others. We had him tested independently because of schools concerns as well as our concerns. He being my first did not really see anything that really stuck out to me at first. He was born with a Club Foot and in a cast and split for the 1st years of life. Yes, this did have some impact on some of motor skills such as standing, and walking. During Kindergarten, Rating scales were done along with WRIT and WRAT. At this time, he was diagnosised as ADHD. Noted that language learning disability may be an issue and math a concern. He received tutoring through the summer and during the school year for reading. This year he stayed at the same reading level, but then to gradually increase. With concerns about his processing, academics, language concerns asked for testing. (Child is mimicing what he says, and uses alot of hum,hum,....reasking questions as if he does not understand the answers that have been given him, takes things literally, confuses nonverbal cues, some sentsivity to noises (whistles, horns). In class, he trys to blend in and not call attention to himself. We found out that he was doing alot of copying in class, and we had a talk with him. Speech evaluation were completed with WISC IV, UNIT, WJIII. Speech results: CASL Core Composite Score 71, Basic Concepts 93, Sentence Complete 90, Syntaz Construction 85, Paragraph Compre 95, Antonyms 50, Pragmatic Judgment 75, EVT 88, TOPL-2 88. Evaluator noted to at times that it appeared that he did not understand what was being asked, prolonged stares into space. WJIII showed scores to be in basic reading 112, reading comp 98, math cal 88, math reasoning 86, written expression 100. Math fluency 75, quatitative concepts 83, reading vocabulary 88, writing fluency 85 were the lowest subtests. All others were 90 or greater. Evaluators did not feel that there was a concern. However, I am trying to figure out if I need to be concerned with the split in verbal and nonverbal IQ's. Other motor skills, he does easily lose things, still can't tie is shoes, some difficulty with buttons, snaps, he writes big (I think this is normal for his age), cuts okay, continues to be be followed for his foot and leg. He runs and plays like most kids, but is clumpsy at times. However, he was tested for motor skills. I continue to have concerns about speech-language (playing by self, at times withdrawn, concerns as stated above with mimicing what he has stated with his mouth, requestioning after he asks a question, taking things literally, and etc.) as well as the fact that he is having difficulty with calendar concepts, number concepts. I am trying to figure out if there is real reason's for my concerns. I feel that with all the things in place for him that he might not be as successful as he is if these things were not in place. Should I be concerned about the verbal and nonverbal split? Should I be concerned about motor skills?"

I don't mean to scare you, but you might also ask them to test your child in the area of an ASD such as Aspergers. There's some red flags in there.

My son does not receive any services. The one set of Evaluators felt that it was not needed. Speech stated that he did not qualify based on what information was discussed. I had not ever really thought of his club foot having anything to do with what was going on, so I have not spoke to orthopedic doctor. He has never been evaluated except for determination of LD, looking at Other Health Impaired, and his ADHD. This testing of course included the speech-language. I am still concerned, and did not know if I was thinking more into it than I should. However, I feel that if I did not look at every aspect and missed something that could offer us ways to better help him I am not sure that I could forgive myself. I just want to make sure that I am doing what is best for my child. He is showing more and more signs of being frustrated with homework and tutoring. He is only in 1st grade. I would not think it should be this way.

I do not see ASD/Aspergers in this description, particularly the description of his desire to please. I see a kid who does not understand what is being asked of him verbally......that could be global language delays (speech/language impaired by definition) or Central Auditory Processing Disorder.

That said, MANY red flags with these score splits. The CASL of 71 is concerning. If I am understanding that score correctly, I would call that the 3rd percentile.

>please know, a child on the spectrum can have a desire to please. I have two of them that want to please. And I see the red flags. BTW ADHD and Aspergers can look alot alike. It's commen for a child to be mis-dx'd when there young<
Very true!

No your right it does, but there's other things that bother me, like the repeating his words, the part about being withdrawn, the hum hum noise he's making, the motor issue's, the sensory issue's - says there's something else going on besides ADHD and CAPD (which can also be included in the larger dx of Aspergers.

Anyway please please note momaof3, I am not a doctor and am not trying to dx anything. I'm just saying it might be best to read up on the subject (and get it evaluated to rule it in or out) because thats something you wouldn't want to miss for him.

And I would definetly think about getting another opinion on the motor issue's. My kids school OT did a crappy job of testing my kids and only until I got a private report did the real things show up.