xposted on General Education...maybe here would be better? Do you see any red flags?

[emmaluv+2more]

nm

Edited April 2, 2017 by emmaluv+2more

[Storygirl]

Since you have been working on these basic skills for years, you might consider having her evaluated for learning issues. Perhaps she has low working memory or attention issues? Does she have any sensory issues -- either seeking out sensory input or being overly sensitive to it? Does she have any fine or gross motor delays?

 

I would suggest a private neuropsych evaluation. You do have the option to go through the school district, for free, but the school will only be able to give you the results of their testing and tell you if she would qualify for any special education. They would not be able to tell you WHY she is having these difficulties. A NP can.

 

NP evaluations are often pricey and not often covered by insurance, although you can check with your insurance to see what they would cover and also check with your pediatrician to see if s/he can give you a referral.

 

I'd also suggest having her hearing tested, not just with the little screening test in the doctor's office, but with an audiologist.

 

 

[emmaluv+2more]

Nm

Edited April 2, 2017 by emmaluv+2more

[Storygirl]

The reason I mentioned attention issues are things you list in your post: she is forgetful and distracted and has trouble following directions. Or forgets to do what she was told. Those things might be seen in someone with ADHD. ADHD plus low working memory could make learning things very challenging, in the ways that you have mentioned in your post. ADHD often looks different in girls and is therefore under diagnosed.

 

In fact, I have two children with ADHD. DS12 is very obviously ADHD, and I always suspected it. I didn't see it in DD11 until the NP pointed it out, but now that I know, it is very clear to me. You would think that I would have seen the signs, having one child with it already, but no.

[PeterPan]

Not sure why you're thinking no SLDs.  A psych will most certainly look at discrepancy, and it sounds like you have HUGE discrepancy between achievement and IQ.  Her current levels are similar to where my ds' were at that age, and he got diagnosed with SLDs in math, reading, and writing.  

 

You're also describing ADHD.  The blanking out, easily distracted, forgetting things (low working memory, remember 2 of 3 bits, that kind of thing), etc.  You're saying it all.  

 

Things have changed with diagnosis.  The current recommendation IS to get dyslexia diagnosed going into 1st grade, because early intervention is where it's at.  So you're at the CORRECT time for getting the evals and getting it diagnosed.  Don't buy into the late bloomer thing.  All it's doing is delaying proper intervention and methodologies for her.  Now if you actually have a developmental delay, some ASD going on, sure let's talk that.  But you don't seem to be thinking that way.  And they'll diagnose SLDs *and* developmental delay.  My ds has both.  Sure you could.  Sure I adjust timetables with my ds.  He's considered not more than 2 years behind, and we take that into account.  But he has SLDs and we intervene.

 

So yes evals.  You're right.  Don't let people tell you to wait till she's in 3rd gr.  It's only wasting time.

[emmaluv+2more]

nm

Edited April 2, 2017 by emmaluv+2more

[PeterPan]

I think you're stumped because she's contradictory.  Her verbal skills are clearly quite high.  That's why you want to sort out of these are SLDs, because you have these remarkable (noteworthy!) strengths and surprising (unexpected) weaknesses.  That totally screams SLD.  But it's the contradiction that is making it hard...

[emmaluv+2more]

nm

Edited April 2, 2017 by emmaluv+2more

[PeterPan]

You're saying it's free, but it's saying affordable.  Typically universities offer reduced-rate services because it's students doing the work.  When I took my dc to the audiology at the university, I knew that's what I was getting.  I also know the prof with the PhD was right around the corner, because she came in.   ;)

 

So personally I think the question is how free/affordable it is.  At our university, the psych evals are about half the going rate of a private, more experienced psych eval.  So you've got a balancing game there.  It's a pretty important thing you're sorting out, and if it's going to cost you, say $1K at the university and say $2K privately, well you'll have to weigh all that.  You'll hear all kinds of stories.  The audiology is pretty objective.  Psych isn't quite so objective.  It's really about slowing down.  The students really might do that, and they might nail it.  The times they're listing (the amount of time they spend) certainly sound ballpark normal.  

 

You can go to the ps and get evals for free.  The university will typically be reduced rate.  Your insurance may cover private.  A neuropsych will typically do some extra testing, like language testing (CELF), the VMI Beery (visual motor integration), look for praxis (you mentioned walking later), etc.  So it's perfectly reasonable for you to want to know what things would get done in the eval and whether they do those additional tests.  A basic psych eval privately will be IQ, achievement, CTOPP, an EF survey, done.  So call, ask what they'd be doing, ask what tests they'd run, and compare that across providers.  The more time they spend, the more tests they're running, except in the case of students who are just plain slow.  So they could be taking 5-6 hours and only doing that basic psych eval (IQ, achievement, CTOPP, EF screening) and not getting to the more advanced stuff.

 

Fwiw, we've had some horror stories about university psych evals.  Personally, for someone who's on the bright side with that much contradiction, I wouldn't.  I'd look for someone on the Hoagies Gifted list or someone with a stellar reputation with SLDs.  But you COULD have a good experience at the university.  I'm just saying you might not.  The more complex the scenario, the more the lack of experience will matter.  And it's time lost (ugh) and it's division in the home with people saying see you already got told no and now you're still harping on it...

Edited September 8, 2016 by OhElizabeth

[emmaluv+2more]

nm

Edited April 2, 2017 by emmaluv+2more

[Heathermomster]

Pick someone that is highly experienced and knows 2e kiddos. Speak with them and try to get a sense of whether they are someone that you can deal with. If the person cannot diagnose, I would not bother with that person.

 

IDK what the deal is lately, but the boards have experienced a run on moms that used crappy sounding testers. Maybe call your local dyslexia school, speak with the headmaster, and discover who they prefer for testing.

 

ETA: You can request that the testing be split up over a couple of days. My DS has been tested 3 times over the last 9 years, and it was no big deal. I mean that. We had lunch and it was fun. More like a game really.

Edited September 8, 2016 by Heathermomster

[PeterPan]

Heather is right that the testing is typically pretty fun for the kids, no big deal.  My ds has reports from, um, 4 psychs over the last 2 years.  Now that was because we had an IEP process, needed a 2nd opinion, got a 3rd/4th opinion as bonus, etc., but I'm just saying it's not the END of the world to end up getting a 2nd opinion.  If you accept the probable limitations of what you're getting, the pricepoint is good (free).  

 

I would think through the amount of time it takes, as in the wait.  If you wait 6 months to get in and then another 6 weeks for your report, you're getting no data to make changes until March.  IF the report is thorough and complete and helpful, then you got it all for free by March.  But if they offer really cursory counsel on what changes to make, don't do all the testing she needs (VMI, praxis, CELF, etc.), then you're going to be through most of the school year without help.

 

I'd encourage you to gather your data and THEN decide.  Find out what your options would be privately and their prices so you can compare.  See what your insurance would pay.  See the waits.  If the univ clinic has a 1 month wait and is free, you could do that AND schedule the private.  The private might have a longer wait, meaning you could just cancel if you're satisfied with the free. You could also look for a tutor who can do the CTOPP and go ahead and get that baseline and get some intervention going while you wait for your full evals. I would find the options and work them to get your more information, sooner rather than later.  

 

I wasn't joking on the conflict it can bring to have incomplete evals.  How will it go over in your family if you do the univ evals and the person, who obviously will be a student, gives you results so cursory that they aren't helpful?  Will the rest of your family say not paying for more?  It's a pretty big deal.  So think through the whole dynamic.  But the main goal is data in-hand, sooner rather than later, with a good analysis by someone who knows what they're doing whenever you can make that happen.  And that person who has enough experience to do this will *probably* have a waitlist.

 

The major way to eliminate psych dissatisfaction is to slow down and talk with them and listen to your gut.  I let myself be bamboozled by reputation and ignored the fact that the guy was a donkey on the phone.  He talked over me, was rude and abrupt, etc.  I just thought it was personality or he was just smarter.  No, he was just cursory and abrupt.  And you can go to a psych and have a different experience, depending on what you need.  Some of it's about how you interact with them.  The first time we went to a psych (this was years ago with dd), I needed someone to listen, to validate, to give me a cathartic experience, to help me "let it go" on the stuff we were feeling.  The psych did that FABULOUSLY.  His temperament was just right for what I needed, and I could think well and talk well with him.  But this psych we went to that I'm saying was so abrupt and rude has given a satisfactory experience to other people I know.  So you really just have to talk with them and make sure it's a match.  If one doesn't fit, there are tons more on the planet, mercy. 

[PeterPan]

nt

 

Edited September 9, 2016 by OhElizabeth

[Catherine]

• any of the responses, but I will say that she sounds a little like one of my kids.  He seemed to have quite a bit more difficulty learning to spell, learning math facts, copying (more than dictation or narration); however, once he DID get them, he has been fine, and in fact is doing really well now as a tenth grader-he had straight A's last year in his first year in brick and mortar school.  He just seems to have needed more time, or more practice, to learn those things.  Also, I will say that the curricula I used were very helpful for him: Rightstart for math, AAS, and WWE.  

 

Edited April 2, 2017 by Catherine

[emmaluv+2more]

nm

Edited April 2, 2017 by emmaluv+2more

[PeterPan]

Sounds like a good plan!  :)  If you need help understanding the report or figuring out what to do with it, we're here!

[Storygirl]

I don't think this was mentioned, but you can ask your pediatrician to screen for ADHD. Some will do it in-office, and some will refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist. But it's an option that should be covered by your insurance and is a place to start. Having that conversation also brings your pediatrician into a discussion about your concerns, which is good.

 

Just one caution: The pediatrician only sees the child for a very few minutes. We found that our ped, whom we loved otherwise, minimized our concerns about ADHD when we brought them up initially, because he didn't "see" it. If that happens, be persistent about pursuing testing anyway. Doctors can't give definitive answers until the testing is done; until then, their thoughts are only their opinions, which are not infallible.

 

I hope you get some answers that help!