Its confirmed - dd has CAPD.

[mom22kids]

We went for testing today and will get a formal written report in the mail in 2 weeks but while there the tech confirmed everything we were seeing.  She has a slow auditory processing speed.  Some memory issues.  She said she observed that she wasn't always able to remember some words long enough to process them.  But that if she did process a word/sentence that she held on to it.   Also that she recalls things in the wrong order.

 

She also listed a host of recommendation:  Preferred seating, eye contact, repeat back instructions (all standard) as well as an FM system in the class - which my dd has fought against.

 

So anyone BTDT and have anything helpful to tell me?  Any tips in class that worked best?  Any games activities to improve this?

 

I though it was best to ask the real experts ;)

 

Thanks!!

[PeterPan]

Wow, I'm so glad you got some explanations on this!!  How exciting!  And I forget, has she also had a psych eval?  When they did the psych eval, did they do any language testing?  If she has some deficits from the CAPD, you can try to target them and do intervention.  (language, phonological processing, vocabulary, etc.)  

 

Yes, getting them to USE the accommodations is harder than getting them qualified.  ;)

 

I keep thinking there ought to be a way to replace the FM transmitter thing with an app, kwim?  I'll bet someone is working on it.

 

Well congrats on getting some more answers.

[mom22kids]

Wow, I'm so glad you got some explanations on this!!  How exciting!  And I forget, has she also had a psych eval?  When they did the psych eval, did they do any language testing?  If she has some deficits from the CAPD, you can try to target them and do intervention.  (language, phonological processing, vocabulary, etc.)  

 

Yes, getting them to USE the accommodations is harder than getting them qualified.   ;)

 

I keep thinking there ought to be a way to replace the FM transmitter thing with an app, kwim?  I'll bet someone is working on it.

 

Well congrats on getting some more answers.

 

Yes she had a Psych Ed Eval done and there was some hearing "concerns" for lack of a better word but they were minimal compared to some of the other things the report discovered.  And yes I am aware of how difficult it is to ensure EACH teacher is making eye contact, confirming she understood directions etc.

 

The FM systems have evolved in some schools/ school boards.  Some now place a speaker in the area of the child (as opposed to the ear buds) and some have a speaker built into the walls in certain areas of the class and it benefits more than one student struggling.  She advised looking for a newer build school as opposed to the decades old school we are zoned for next year.  Lots to consider!

[Mom28GreatKids]

So glad you got some answers and a confirmation of what you were seeing. It is always a relief to me. 😃

Edited July 28, 2016 by Mom28GreatKids

[kbutton]

Since we aren't do the "school thing," I would just make sure you don't underestimate how difficult things are for her. Try stuff you think she ought to be able to do, and then increase the difficulty or variables until you can see what specific ways this shows up. That's powerful information to bring up in an IEP meeting.

[kbutton]

By variables, I mean things like what else is going on or how many "typical" tasks to do at one time--my son CANNOT multi-task, and sometimes that's as basic as listen and write. Other times, it depends what he's listening to and writing. 

[mom22kids]

By variables, I mean things like what else is going on or how many "typical" tasks to do at one time--my son CANNOT multi-task, and sometimes that's as basic as listen and write. Other times, it depends what he's listening to and writing. 

 

Oddly enough we suspect that my dd cannot listen and write either.  In math she is no longer required to do so.  Based on what you just posted I may request it across the board now!  Thanks!

[Tiramisu]

Along the lines of multi-tasking... My DD has weaknesses with simultaneously processing auditory and visual information.

 

People often recommend visual supports for kids with CAPD. That doesn't work well for my DD. And if she's already feeling stressed it can through her over the edge.

 

The FM system wasn't great for my DD. She started it in college when she was in small classes with a lot of discussion and music classes. It's just not good for those situations.

 

In college, note-takers helped, because sometimes she misses things or could not judge what info was important.

 

The things that helped here were a sensitivity to her challenges, changing expectations, and patience.

 

We had a therapist who told us that just daily living with a processing disorder is like pushing a medicine ball up a hill. The disability director att DD's college says the kids with hearing- related difficulties are the ones who are the most exhausted at the end of the day. Accepting how difficult it is for them, when it's so invisible, and just supporting them is so important.

Edited July 29, 2016 by Tiramisu

[1shortmomto4]

I can't agree more with Tiramisu's advice or feedback.  Hearing-related issues suck the energy out of a person so fast.  It is invisible and people just don't have the patience - workmates, schoolmates, and sometimes even family.  It is hard!  My ds is hearing impaired and with that came issues with CAPD.  He just finished CC - slow and steady and is working now to save money up to finish up the last two years of college.  Issues that he dealt with in the college lecture hall have been much easier to deal with versus the issues he deals with in the workplace.

 

Trial and error for what works best.  Make sure a list of accommodations has more on it versus less - easier to not use something versus trying to get it added later.  The CAPD audiologist should provide a letter with a list of accommodations and start with those.  My ds used an FM system in his college lecture hall and sometimes it helped and sometimes, well, not so much.  The one professor wore the speaker around his neck and didn't clip it up on a shirt pocket so it hung near his stomach and my ds was overly distracted from all the stomach noises!  I think in the beginning you really need to encourage your child to try the accommodations and see what works. The point is to be successful in the classroom versus what looks cool or is acceptable to those around the student.  I think young people are much more understanding to one another and their differences but I understand, too, the need to feel the same as one another versus different.  It takes some time to feel confident in dealing with the struggle to process language and sounds in a hearing world. 

 

My ds found note outlines provided by the professors was definitely key in helping him keep track during lectures.  Sitting in the front row helped.  Speaking with the professor before the courses started helped by explaining to them not to put their backs to him.  Note takers was not what he thought it would be.  The student had to approach a fellow student and ask if they'd provide notes to him (using copy/tracing paper).  Definitely hard to gauge if you were selecting a good note taker or one that attended class on a regular basis, etc.  That option was quickly dropped to the bottom of the list.

 

My ds started out slow at college - just 12 credits each semester.  It was exhausting.  It wasn't until his last semester that he took 15 but he progressed over time and got stronger.  Some accommodations he used in the beginning were dropped over time. It just takes time, a lot of time, to get strong in finding ways to overcome the deficits and make things work for them in this hearing world.  If nothing else, just be that listening ear.

[kbutton]

Along the lines of multi-tasking... My DD has weaknesses with simultaneously processing auditory and visual information.

 

People often recommend visual supports for kids with CAPD. That doesn't work well for my DD. And if she's already feeling stressed it can through her over the edge. It's interesting that you say this--one of the checklists we have from the audiologist had options for adding visual support or for NOT adding visual support based on the particular profile of the CAPD and the student. I found it interesting, and it's very clear that my son can't do both!

 

The FM system wasn't great for my DD. She started it in college when she was in small classes with a lot of discussion and music classes. It's just not good for those situations.

 

In college, note-takers helped, because sometimes she misses things or could not judge what info was important.

 

The things that helped here were a sensitivity to her challenges, changing expectations, and patience.

 

We had a therapist who told us that just daily living with a processing disorder is like pushing a medicine ball up a hill. The disability director att DD's college says the kids with hearing- related difficulties are the ones who are the most exhausted at the end of the day. Accepting how difficult it is for them, when it's so invisible, and just supporting them is so important. We have a lot of fatigue here, yet my son doesn't need a lot of sleep. He does need breaks to just do nothing and let his brain do something light.

 

 

I can't agree more with Tiramisu's advice or feedback.  Hearing-related issues suck the energy out of a person so fast.  It is invisible and people just don't have the patience - workmates, schoolmates, and sometimes even family.  It is hard!  My ds is hearing impaired and with that came issues with CAPD.  He just finished CC - slow and steady and is working now to save money up to finish up the last two years of college.  Issues that he dealt with in the college lecture hall have been much easier to deal with versus the issues he deals with in the workplace. Oh, that's frustrating! I hate to hear that, but I am glad you are speaking up. It's so hard to know what to think about this in an 8 y.o. vs. an adult. Thanks!

 

Trial and error for what works best.  Make sure a list of accommodations has more on it versus less - easier to not use something versus trying to get it added later.  The CAPD audiologist should provide a letter with a list of accommodations and start with those.  My ds used an FM system in his college lecture hall and sometimes it helped and sometimes, well, not so much.  The one professor wore the speaker around his neck and didn't clip it up on a shirt pocket so it hung near his stomach and my ds was overly distracted from all the stomach noises!  I think in the beginning you really need to encourage your child to try the accommodations and see what works. The point is to be successful in the classroom versus what looks cool or is acceptable to those around the student.  I think young people are much more understanding to one another and their differences but I understand, too, the need to feel the same as one another versus different.  It takes some time to feel confident in dealing with the struggle to process language and sounds in a hearing world. 

 

My ds found note outlines provided by the professors was definitely key in helping him keep track during lectures.  Sitting in the front row helped.  Speaking with the professor before the courses started helped by explaining to them not to put their backs to him.  Note takers was not what he thought it would be.  The student had to approach a fellow student and ask if they'd provide notes to him (using copy/tracing paper).  Definitely hard to gauge if you were selecting a good note taker or one that attended class on a regular basis, etc.  That option was quickly dropped to the bottom of the list. 

 

My ds started out slow at college - just 12 credits each semester.  It was exhausting.  It wasn't until his last semester that he took 15 but he progressed over time and got stronger.  Some accommodations he used in the beginning were dropped over time. It just takes time, a lot of time, to get strong in finding ways to overcome the deficits and make things work for them in this hearing world.  If nothing else, just be that listening ear.

 

So, with the note-taking at college, I have a question for the general hive audience listening in and you two--do some colleges hire note-takers and the like for students with disabilities? I am thinking I have heard that some places do this--provide on-campus employment in this way, and maybe that has something to do with the wide variations in experience with note-taking and some other services.

[mom22kids]

Along the lines of multi-tasking... My DD has weaknesses with simultaneously processing auditory and visual information.

 

People often recommend visual supports for kids with CAPD. That doesn't work well for my DD. And if she's already feeling stressed it can through her over the edge.

 

The FM system wasn't great for my DD. She started it in college when she was in small classes with a lot of discussion and music classes. It's just not good for those situations.

 

In college, note-takers helped, because sometimes she misses things or could not judge what info was important.

 

The things that helped here were a sensitivity to her challenges, changing expectations, and patience.

 

We had a therapist who told us that just daily living with a processing disorder is like pushing a medicine ball up a hill. The disability director att DD's college says the kids with hearing- related difficulties are the ones who are the most exhausted at the end of the day. Accepting how difficult it is for them, when it's so invisible, and just supporting them is so important.

 

Yeah visual supports wont work for my dd either as she has Visual Processing Disorder!  When you have Sensory Processing Disorder every single sens you have - sense of time, sense of smell, sense of force, distance, taste etc on and on all have processing issues. 

 

So the Auditory people suggest visual supports and the visual people suggest audio supports! LOL  Such a catch-22

 

Without doubt I can confirm the exhaustion aspect of her issues.  This poor kid works 15 times harder than her peers just to keep pace with them.  As she is aging she isn't even able to keep pace anymore. 

 

[mom22kids]

I can't agree more with Tiramisu's advice or feedback.  Hearing-related issues suck the energy out of a person so fast.  It is invisible and people just don't have the patience - workmates, schoolmates, and sometimes even family.  It is hard!  My ds is hearing impaired and with that came issues with CAPD.  He just finished CC - slow and steady and is working now to save money up to finish up the last two years of college.  Issues that he dealt with in the college lecture hall have been much easier to deal with versus the issues he deals with in the workplace.

 

Trial and error for what works best.  Make sure a list of accommodations has more on it versus less - easier to not use something versus trying to get it added later.  The CAPD audiologist should provide a letter with a list of accommodations and start with those.  My ds used an FM system in his college lecture hall and sometimes it helped and sometimes, well, not so much.  The one professor wore the speaker around his neck and didn't clip it up on a shirt pocket so it hung near his stomach and my ds was overly distracted from all the stomach noises!  I think in the beginning you really need to encourage your child to try the accommodations and see what works. The point is to be successful in the classroom versus what looks cool or is acceptable to those around the student.  I think young people are much more understanding to one another and their differences but I understand, too, the need to feel the same as one another versus different.  It takes some time to feel confident in dealing with the struggle to process language and sounds in a hearing world. 

 

My ds found note outlines provided by the professors was definitely key in helping him keep track during lectures.  Sitting in the front row helped.  Speaking with the professor before the courses started helped by explaining to them not to put their backs to him.  Note takers was not what he thought it would be.  The student had to approach a fellow student and ask if they'd provide notes to him (using copy/tracing paper).  Definitely hard to gauge if you were selecting a good note taker or one that attended class on a regular basis, etc.  That option was quickly dropped to the bottom of the list.

 

My ds started out slow at college - just 12 credits each semester.  It was exhausting.  It wasn't until his last semester that he took 15 but he progressed over time and got stronger.  Some accommodations he used in the beginning were dropped over time. It just takes time, a lot of time, to get strong in finding ways to overcome the deficits and make things work for them in this hearing world.  If nothing else, just be that listening ear.

 

Its odd...my dd has been so accepting of her accommodations but is digging her heels in about this FM system?!?  She is the only one in the class sitting on a yoga ball, or using thera-putty, or with a zones of regulation binder on her desk showing what zone she is in?  But an FM system is her hill to die on??

 

[kbutton]

Its odd...my dd has been so accepting of her accommodations but is digging her heels in about this FM system?!?  She is the only one in the class sitting on a yoga ball, or using thera-putty, or with a zones of regulation binder on her desk showing what zone she is in?  But an FM system is her hill to die on??

 

 

Oh, that's not funny, but it's funny! I hope you are able to get her to reason with you about this!!! 

[mom22kids]

Oh, that's not funny, but it's funny! I hope you are able to get her to reason with you about this!!! 

 

LOL!  Oh no it's funny!!  Like seriously though?  What gives kid? LOL

 

Even better when we started discussing vision therapy we discussed with her what it might entail and one of the things we discussed was that some kids wear glasses with different colored tinted lenses.  So one lens might be tinted light brown or green.  So big thick generic framed glasses with fugly tinted lenses and she was ALL OVER IT!!  Excited about them?  But ear buds are very very bad!  Okaaaayyyyy....

[Kat w]

It's always so funny to me the things that 'get em'.

 

My DD 24, we've experienced that too. I asked her the other day, we were just hangin out at her house, with my DS 20, her fiance ....comfortable environment, my DS 20 brings it up ( go figure...brothers lol, can always count in then :)) but since he brought it uo and her mindset was lighthearted and ahe was chuckling about it..I asked her. What???? Was up???? With THAT??? LOL.

 

She came out with a perfectly logical reason to HER ....we all looked at her for a sec like....uh... Hmm. And all busted out laughing ...including her.

 

Who knew? Was unique to her pshyce I guess. Made no sense to us and ahe was OK with that and owned it jovially. So, mayb one day you'll know, maybe not. Funny funny...stuff.

 

We couldn't WAIT to come home and tell dad lol.

The expression on his face....priceless ;)