SonshineMama
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Posts posted by SonshineMama
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I don't know anything about retrain the brain but I am getting ready to start more handwriting therapy with my ds again. Last winter we did Callirobics and I liked it. I just haven't figured out if the Brain Integration Therapy (Dianne Craft) did more for him -- the writing 8. Or if the callirobics did more.
Our OT provided all the Callirobics materials so it was a no brainer for us to choose but now I need to purchase materials and I am not sure what to do.
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I am 90% sure our chiropractor does cranial sacral on my youngest, Suz! We saw her today which is why we were at the park I mentioned ;) I never even thought to ask her if ds would benefit from cranial sacral *duh*. DD got it when she had REALLY bad headaches and the chiropractor only needed to do it two times and the headaches went away. It always stuck in my mind because WOW it worked and quickly in S's case!
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Does anyone prefer one over the other? What are pros and cons to both?
Thanks!
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I am part of a GAPs facebook page if there is interest, you can PM me your first and last name - I will friend you and then add to you the gaps page.
We have been on a "mostly" GAPs diet since June of last year. Until october we were VERY strict and then we began to cheat a little here and a little there.
We started it for MANY reasons. -- physical, learning, emotional and allergies.
. I am prayerfully considering going back to 100% gaps. Our current cheating is corn a few times a week and the occasional treat (sugar) and so far it hasn't really seemed to affect us at all *shrug*. However, I am finding sugar to be SUPER easy to keep gone now that I have so many "GAPs legal" treats under my belt. Like chocolate, nut butter fudge, carmels, "faux twix" etc ;)
I am getting "eat like a dinosaur" soon. A friend has it and while we have the majority of the recipes my kids REALLY want it to help cooking. ANd the different fun names help my kids want to eat it :lol:
As far as what it looks like with GAPS and homeschooling, hmm. . . well, it's hard. Not going to lie but my really smart friend told me "I'm choosing my hard" and I remember that when I want to give up. The emotions, physical issues, learning issues that have improved are way harder than being on GAPs.
On a positive note, I have found TONS of tricks and it's really cut down my kitchen time. If you can dedicate one hour of cooking a day it can be done. Honestly, the past few months, only cheating on corn occasionally, I have spent no more than an hour a day in the kitchen. We don't eat a lot of baked goods (we eat mostly meat, veggies and fruit). I would like to move back to a little more time in the kitchen so I can make dehydrated treats (honey sweetened granola/nuts, apple chips, veggie chips, fruit leathers, etc) but we can definitely live without them.
My time savers
*perpetual broth http://nourishedkitchen.com/perpetual-soup-the-easiest-bone-broth-youll-make/
*hiding broth in everything (my kids complain about drinking broth plain or in soup, so it's hidden in anything that I normally would add water too and EVERYTHING tomato paste based) - this is a time saver because I spend less time fighting with them about drinking broth *blush*
*bulk cooking (I cook HUGE meals or double things and freeze them - when I make chili, I make about 5 to 6 gallons at a time and freeze them in old coconut oil gallons. I make 4 or 5 3lb meatloafs at once and freeze all but one on parchment paper and then transfer to a 2 gallon bag so that they are ready for the oven on busy days)
*crockpot
*eating mostly meat/veg/fruit/eggs so we have lots of "grab and go foods" (hard boiled eggs, precooked hamburgers, leftover meatballs, plain fruit/veg
*routine (I check kefir and kombucha once a day at a specific time, while I am making dinner, I check ferments and broth, on the weekends I try to replenish any ferments that will run out in the week, and I *was* juicing every morning upon waking up but this one has fallen to the way side - now that I typed that I will try to get back with it tomorrow morning).
*getting kids cooking - my dd and I made super easy meatballs with spaghetti sauce and broccoli for dinner
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Leslie, can you tell me more about the differences between LiPS and seeing Stars. My son is currently doing LiPS w/ his SLP. They have mentioned and considered Seeing Stars but everyone is still thinking LiPS is the best fit for him.
Can you tell me what the extra steps Seeing Stars adds? What children benefit most from adding those extra steps? Are the steps during all the lessons or at the end?
our SLP does 2 hours a week and I work at home with my son under their guidance 3 days a week. It's a lot of work but going really well so far. I am super pleased -- after almost 5 months we are seeing significant improvement.
The one thing that Lindamood Bell people said when contacted about our son is that his age (10) meant Seeing Stars would be a better match.
My son definitely isn't one that comprehension is an issue for. He has both "phonological" (auditory) and visual dyslexia. Gah. . . I hate those words because they mean different things to different people but his auditory processing issue is relative to sounds and not hearing differences between several of them.
I will wait to say more until you have time to answer. LOL
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I am considering getting my ds either an iPad or an e-reader. I am feeling it's time for him. He already has an iTouch so I am not sure an ipad would be worth it as the majority of apps can be had on both, right?
I'd like to hear from other moms who have BTDT.
I'd like the following
*the ability to change font/make larger words
*a reader that can highlight a word and "read" it for him- is this available in an e-reader? I think it's available on iMac
What else am I looking for?
Finally, would it be better to just use his iTouch and get a reader? It seems he might need a larger screen to read easier. Thoughts?
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My son is dysgraphic. If you are still considering Dianne Craft's materials, I can recommend brain gym. It is very similar and can be googled to learn :)
We use brain gym, Dianne Craft and HWT. I will be looking into using the above described activity - sounds fascinating!
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My two dds (10 and 8.5) have taken ballet since they were both 5. If I'm reading this correctly, I believe your dd is 7 years old? If so, that is really, really early to worry about her abilities! Speaking from my own limited experience, development in dance varies really widely from child to child. From what I've seen, read and what my dds' teachers have told me, it is completely normal for a child to not start really "getting it" until what I've heard called the "magic age" of 9-10. Some kids "get it" earlier -- but some may not, and that's totally fine! Kids' muscles, ligaments and bones all develop at different rates and sometimes that influences how coordinated a child appears. A tall, lanky child may have the "Bambi" thing going on for awhile, while a more "height challenged" child of the same age might appear to be a dance prodigy. By the time these same kids are in their early teens, things start to even out a bit because they have all mostly finished growing.
I just wanted to give you a little more encouragement -- this may not be as bad as you think. Talk with your dd's instructors about your concerns!
Oops. . . I didn't see this - I agree fully!
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I did studio dance for over a decade. Now, I teach dance and agree 7 is a hair too young to know yet. I think the true test will be the next year or so. I find that betw 8 and 10 is when kids typically become coordinated unless they are born with dancer's coordination. There are the handful of children that are really doing at 7 but that is just not typical.
I would talk to the teacher and find out what will happen. Are her friends moving up? Does the teacher feel your dd is falling behind? I would take into consideration the problem with Ester Maria shared because it is a very valid viewpoint :( .
There are so many dance options outside of a studio. My dc dance through musical theater. Lots of the kids aren't "great" dancers as they are usually singing and dancing. They also take "for fun" classes through the recreation dept.
My special needs ds' is VERY uncoordinated and I have been startled to see how much dance is helping him w/his brain therapy and coordination. We put him in a low key class that doesn't perform and he LOVES it. He's been off this session and I am keeping him out another and just today I promised to start teaching him myself cuz he misses it :) For him, it's the dancing itself - the rhythm in his head and he doesn't care if it's with people or not. So I know that is very different from what your dd is going through -- but I'd still talk to her because she may want to dance even if its not with friends :)
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If you'd enjoy having them along, take any of the kids with you who enjoy the beach. And do it more often. That's absolutely ABSURD that you can't go to the beach just because one dc doesn't like it. That's like saying I can't each chinese because my dh won't. It means I leave him and take someone else with me who will!
Sometimes the man gets in sort of a naiveté thing, because he's not with the dc all day. An afternoon with them might chill that out. ;)
Sometimes you only have to remove one person from the mix to have the rest settle down and be do-able. Is there anything your oldest could go to one day a week to give you guys some space? Might be something to look into.
I totally agree - if your oldest and your dh don't like the beach, ask them where they WANT to go and send them while you relax in the ocean - it sounds lovely by the way :)
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:grouphug: I have been there, and am there at least once a week.
I hold out for Wednesday and thursdays when I take a dance class and teach a dance class - it's like music to my heart and soul to be doing something for me (and on thursdays I even get paid LOL).
I also stopped feeling guilty for having to flee the house or kick everyone out. i am drained and exhausted most of the time and at least once a week I cry "I can't do this anymore" at which point dh usually kicks me out of the house :giggle
This is a TOUGH TOUGH road and it's NOT for wimps
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Just bumping this up. CYT Milwaukee will be doing Godspell winter 2011. Justin Parks is directing and we are getting SO excited.
Check out our blog
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We were first GFCF as well as many other things (20+ food allergies under our roof), then SCD, then back to just "allergen free" and now on GAPs.
Each change has caused significant fatigue. Detoxing is HARD work and defintely the extra calories will help espeically in fats. If after a few weeks, she is still super tired!
FWIW, GAPS is a great healing diet VERY high in fats - we eat TONS of eggs, coconut oil, and avocados.
Another great fat is Fermented Cod Liver Oil. It is SUPER great brain food for our SN kids as well :)
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Interesting. It looks like the CTOPP that he mentioned to me is a more specific test.
My son has taken CTOPP 3x's now still without a formal diagnosis *sigh*
2 times from the SLP, once from the NP.
The rest of this, I am reading with interest. Makes me wonder how they choose their tests and I am going to pull out ds' paperwork to compare to that nice list you posted Michele! I am unsure beyond CTOPP what he has actually taken. I only know he's taken that because he just retook it this fall at the SLP before they started LiPS.
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We itemized until we realized almost all of our providers would discount us due to our finances or my son's diagnosis. ;)
How I itemized.
spreadsheet with the following tabs
*log of appointments (and location - usually they just repeat over and over so I can quick calculate mileage)
*payments, dates, check #'s
All insurance statements
Check stubs for payment.
I rubber banded the whole thing and put it in a file with my taxes.
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Well, I walked into speech/LiPS therapy today to an answered prayer. We had been trying to get educational psych testing done at the same university ds does LiPS and speech. It would be WAY cheaper than any other option. They had previously said it was "out of their expertise" BUT the SLP advocated for us to get it done since it's standardized tests that any psychologists can do. AND they changed their minds so he should be able to get it all done there :) :) :) :) They actually have a student working WITH our neuropsych so they are making an exception for us. At this point, it looks like they will speak to our neuropsych (after we sign a release), get him re-evaluated where necessary and get us a detailed LD report (he has other issues "undiagnosed" as well at this point -- issues that showed up but aren't documented basically).
Not sure if I should let it go and skip attempting to get his dyslexia linked to his cancer to get therapy paid for. Quite honestly, our insurance is wonderful in what they will pay for but horrible if they think they shouldn't pay for it (even when they are wrong). They tried to stop paying for ds' chemo when a nurse consultant told them that "no child should need chemo that long" That was a battle; can't imagine what this one would look like.
Regardless of medical codes, there is starting to be significant information out there about "acquired dyslexia" (I think there is other names for it as well). WHich basically indicates that a brain injury or neurological injury can cause dyslexia. THIS is what we believe my son has. The NP has been very helpful in spite of not being able to "diagnose" ds officially beyond OHI. He offers to do whatever we need done and we really liked him a lot. Very supportive of our homeschooling effort :) And wiling to talk to whomever we need him to. I can call again if I need to but wanted to get advice here cuz it's the best place I know to get this type of advice :)
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What is OPGTR (I keep thinking orton gillingham but can't make that work with the letters :tongue_smilie: )?
I haven't done barton or AAS but I have a friend using AAS that REALLY likes it. She said they also have All About Reading so now sure if that's an option or not. I have heard people say AAS is enough for reading and spelling so I am curious to know more about All About Reading but haven't looked into it yet :).
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Jodi, I think I have the GAP book here. I will find it and read it again. If I remember when I got it we were following the SCD with success and didn't want to stray.
I have had others suggest a homeopathic practitioner. Again, how do you find one that is good.
Thank you for your reply.
I got a referral from a friend for the homeopath - I would probably start by googling classical homeopath in your area or start asking around at the health food store.
GAPS is pretty similar to SCD except you add TONS of broth, ferments, juice and do supplements. I've heard from a modd standpoint that these things are VERY important and some switch from SCD to GAPs when they are not seeing the mood results they wanted. We did SCD last fall and flunked out :P Today, it's been 4 months on GAPS and we have a long laundry list of things it's helped.
Oh and I have both anxiety and depression (and it manifests itself in rage often) and GAPS has really helped me with this :)
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If we can get the dyslexia linked to chemo, not only with our insurance pay for a 2nd eval but they will pay for all his therapy because it would be medically related. Our SLP (university) is trying to get a functional MRI where he'd be able to read and see the brain activity. This may pinpoint an area of his brain that was damaged while on chemo and help us determine more focused brain therapy. On top of that he has ride side body weakness which is often linked to acquired dyslexia.
We have a long list of accommodation recommendations already from the neuropsych. I actually realized after posting this that ds goes back to the neuropsych again so I could just wait it out until then and lay all my concerns on him then. He will have to go every 3 years because childhood cancer survivors have significant long term affects of chemo including learning issues. He wouldn't need any accommodations until after his middle school visit almost certainly so it could be an issue not worth exploring.
I have all the data indicating his learning issues. He has taken CHOPP through the SLP and they have confirmed his delays in those areas.
I plan on calling the neuropsych but want to be organized in my presentation of "why" we are starting to want a diagnosis. He's already told me he would help us if we want to pursue formal diagnosis. It's more a matter of "do we need it NOW? or do we wait until he's closer to college?"
Is it common for colleges to require additional recent testing for accommodations? Is this true for the SATs as well? If so, we may as well wait until that's closer. I thought we needed an early paper trail specifically indicating dyslexia. I have binders worth of paper trails from different therapists documenting his learning struggles. Just no paper from a neurpsych or educational psychologist stating dyslexia yet ;)
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We had a neuropsych eval in January for my ds. He was diagnosed with all sorts of things. BUT because he was referred for medical issues (post chemo and post concussion), the neuropsych said he was unable to diagnose him with dyslexia or our insurance company would deny the claim. However, he said that ds is dyslexic. We've been treating him as such since then.
However, he's entered LiPS this fall at his SLP because we are struggling to remediate the audiological aspect of his dyslexia.
Because ds has the long term diagnosis of "OHI" which is other health impairment because he's a cancer survivor, the neuropsych doesn't feel a formal diagnosis is a necessity. I am beginning to believe we need a formal diagnosis. It is so much clearer and succinct to handle accommodations in the future and to explain to people.
AND on top of that, several therapists feel ds has acquired dyslexia from his neurological injury while on chemo. I am reading overcoming dyslexia right now and it's actually listed as a type of dyslexia. I can't help but wonder if I can fight for the current neuropsych to redo his report with the understanding that it is a medically acquired condition?
Any thoughts or advice?
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My biggest thing in being able to balance and wear all my hats is to give myself a night out EVERY week starting last fall. I went back to tap dancing which I have always loved since I was 4 years old. Now a year later, I tap dance one night and teach dance a second night so I have 2 nights a week for me and I get paid for one of them.
That keeps me "charged" for the rest of the time.
My dh has really stepped up his assistance. No longer is it assumed that I am home full time so I do the cooking, cleaning and household chores. He does as much or more than I do on weekends and when he's home at night (he ROCKS).
Overall, I have also lowered my standards on my house. Although I am CONSTANTLY trying to minimize the clutter - as Michele said, less is BETTER.
I have come to grips with simple meals. We are on a very special diet and so all our food must be from scratch. A typical meal for us is meat, vegetable, broth and fermented veggies. DOn't care if we have chicken 3 times in a week and hamburgers two times. Just as long as it's nourishing and on the table.
I also decided today that from this point forward we are taking wednesdays off with the exception of therapy at home (physical, and speech and language). We will do extended practice sessions on those but the rest of the day will be fun and delight driven learning like board games, field trips or going to the library :) Mostly because I am exhausted and need recharging to get through the rest of the week ;)
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My son has been diagnosed with 2 types of mood disorders as well as SPD and several learning issues. For his mood disorder,we have treated him with the help of a classical homeopath and now he is on the GAPs diet (Gut and Psychology Syndrome). He also has several food allergies and the diet is also helpful for healing those. He didn't get IgG testing but my daughter did - she was diagnosed with over 20 food allergies and 1/2 are gone thanks to the GAPs diet (all three of my children and i are on it).
I highly recommend both a homeopath and GAPs. I could have written your post about my ds almost a year ago. Now, he's in a hugely different place. It's a super rough place to be. We all felt like we were constantly walking on egg shells. NOw, it's not perfect but MUCH MUCH better.
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I am definitely not being argumentative, because I think what you are doing for your children is awesome. However, do understand that Brain Gym is a complete scam. There is a ton of scientific research that completely refutes everything the originators of the program claim. It is well known across many special needs forums ( as well as through scientific journals) that the program has no real merit.
I think the other activities are great...just don't rest a lot of hope on Brain Gym. :grouphug:
I disagree completely.
I'm Brain Gym does not work for everyone but after only 6 weeks of brain gym, my son was able to skip for the first time in his life (at the age of 9yrs 2 mths). I had tried teaching him several times (I am also a dance instructor) but I couldn't teach him to save my life until brain gym :tongue_smilie:
That said, he has neurological damage due to medications so this could be the exception to the rule. I learned about Brain INtegration thearpy from A homeschool mom who had a huge amount of success with her son. I took the manual with to my son's OT eval only to find out she had already dug out a lot of info on brain gym to give me. it was an answer to prayer and has helped our son make a lot of progress the past 9 months.
He isn't "healed" or "cured" but it's REALLY helped him a lot!!!!
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In my post above, I missed the entire 2nd page *blush*
I highly encourage brain gym or brain integration therapy. It's helped our son ALOT!
Readers for dyslexic kids (who needs lots of practice)?
in The Learning Challenges Board
Posted · Edited by SonshineMama
I am looking for reader ideas. My son DOES NOT do good with a lot of opportunity for guessing.
So far we have most success with
Alphabet series
All about reading readers
I am basically looking for LOTS of books geared towards kids with dyslexia to reinforce the concepts he's learning. He's doing a GREAT job using recipe for reading after spending the year in LiPS working on his phonological issues. But he needs a lot of fluency practice to build speed.
Thank you for your recommendations.