Do you want a dedicated e-reader, or a PC? I love my Nook, but that being said, the IPad might be the better choice for you. I think the biggest advantages for homeschooling a struggling reader are the larger screen and the ability to download free reading applications from multiple e-reader vendors (eg. Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Kobo, etc.) and then download books from any or all of them instead of being limited to one or another. For instance, Nook handles epub files (which public libraries use for electronic loans), PDF files, and B&N files. I got the Nook because I wanted to access epub and PDF and Kindle couldn't (at that time anyway - these products are constantly evolving :)). Nook and Kindle are not compatible. Kindle books are frequently the cheapest, and a number of times a book I've wanted to read has only been available on Kindle. Downloading all the applications on to one device gives you the widest choice of selections.

I never thought my family was "normal" but it just keeps getting worse and worse! :tongue_smilie: Yesterday I had my hearing tested for the first time ever. Turns out I have the identical pattern of hearing impairment as my son with CAPD (who was also having a follow-up hearing test) but I never knew it! :lol: The audiologist said that this type of similarity could be genetic and advised me to have the other kids tested. :tongue_smilie: I'm actually grateful for my husband's "normal" genes - who knows how much worse it could have been without them! :lol: I love all the inspiring responses on this thread! They're really uplifting! :)

:confused: Not looking to debate either, but I honestly don't see how a response addressing the second half of your post (your concern about a possibly "self-fulfilling prophecy") somehow detracts from your question. And I actually have "pondered the same questions you face". But I've also gone beyond the pondering stage and can now base my conclusions on direct experience, rather than a "big picture of society". In response to your "clarified" question: Some people may view IQ testing as a totally black and white issue ( I'm not one of them), and in a case where complete faith is invested in the accuracy of a particular IQ score, that self-fulfilling prophecy would certainly be difficult to avoid, wouldn't it? Some of my kids have been tested and some have not, and the scores have had no practical use in relation to homeschooling. However, direct observation of their abilities over time has been most helpful.

I found that book interesting as well. But I wonder about the accuracy of the data it's based on. Is an IQ score an accurate reflection of a person's ability? Sometimes, maybe. But not necessarily. There are so many variables that can influence the score. And so many intangibles that no test can measure. And even controversy regarding inclusion of processing speed as an appropriate component of such a test. This just raises more questions about the accuracy of IQ tests. The pupils whose teachers were "fooled" couldn't have done as well as they did unless they had the capability to begin with. A reasonable concern, I think. One of my kids has aspergers and her WISC scores are very low with deviations that make it impossible to calculate a functional IQ score. If these scores are accurate, then how does one explain the fact that she's breezing along at grade level? Another of my kids tests in the 98 percentile on achievement tests above his grade level, and is a strong student in all subjects, yet once again, no functional IQ on the WISC can be calculated. These glaring contradictions between the test and reality are really feeding my skepticism about IQ tests and the testing industry in general. When I was a child, I was given the Stanford-Binet, and according to the score I got, I'm a bona fide genius. Totally absurd - no way!!!! :lol: I suggest looking into these tests, what they include, how they are administered, and how they are scored before you make a decision. If you do decide to have your kids tested, don't allow scores to be a limiting factor in your plans, because in reality, these tests are themselves quite limited.

It can also be helpful to casually introduce something new, without any fanfare, a few times before you do any actual work in that area. For instance, while working on a math lesson, I might mention a new concept and show a couple of quick examples. No pressure, just a gradual introduction that takes away the "newness" before you even get to that particular concept, so when you do, it's already familiar. :)

Yes, I can relate to that. I used to blame intensity, constantly percolating mind and need for less sleep on a lack of mental discipline (and have spent years watching my husband snore while I lay awake thinking :)). What a relief when I found out it's just a wiring variation! :)

I wouldn't believe those scores are an accurate measure of his abilities. According to her scores, my Aspie daughter should be incapable of many things she actually accomplishes with ease. :lol:

Yes, I think so. :) My 5 yo was haranguing me last night about the cell phone and lap top she'll be taking to college when she's 19 (like one of her brothers). Talk about planning ahead - I didn't have the heart to tell her that the technology will likely be vastly changed or even obsolete by then! This week she's obsessed with geology, dragged a bunch of rocks home, and has ten books on the subject stacked up on her desk, along with a Webster's dictionary (which is above her head, to say the least! :lol:) Yes, one of my younger sons does this - using the rest of us as an audience. :tongue_smilie: He even sets up a podium and gives tedious, lengthy sermons. (We do try to limit this! :lol:) You've already gotten lots of great recommendations. My younger kids enjoy Hands-on-Equations, too, and we just started the MCT program (I'm liking it a lot, because it transforms a subject area which can be really tedious (for me - I hate it! :lol:) into one which is fairly engaging. :)) We also drag bags of books and dvd's home from the library every week - it's a painless way to keep them reading and learning.

Isn't it? Exhorbitant costs and not enough long-term studies to ascertain effectiveness (a real sticking point if the costs entail significant financial sacrifice for the family). Regarding Lexia Cross Trainer, I didn't realize they weren't selling it any more (bought it a few years ago). There are other visual and cognitive training software programs on the market, though, and even games designed purely for entertainment apparently have a positive impact on visual processing and hand-eye coordination. I used to think that my kids were wasting their time when they played games like Halo, Medal of Honor, etc., but studies indicate these games help improve processing as well as entertain. :)

Several years ago, my then five-year-old was writing everything backwards (complete mirror writing). Then his writing morphed into a combination of letters written in the proper direction mixed with reversals. And his numbers were full of reversals. I was really freaked out, particularly by the mirror writing, and was bracing myself for another dyslexic student in our homeschool. But a year later, he was writing everything correctly, and now, three years later, he's reading at a high school level. A certain amount of reversals are not necessarily cause for alarm at that age. Another helpful program is Lexia Cross-Trainer for visual processing. My 5 yo is able to operate this program on her own, as well as the Lexia Primary Reading program. Lexia uses research-based instruction techniques and we've found this software to be really effective. Yes, absolutely. Are you seeing a therapist who specializes in APD's? That can really make a difference. Good luck. :001_smile:

Same here. Two of our kids had the same problems - they were fearful about descending even short stairways - would clutch the wall and proceed very slowly. Were reluctant to ride bikes for fear of tipping over. Had trouble with reading, writing and fine motor tasks. We had their eyes checked and were told that while they needed glasses, their prescriptions were very low. Clearly, there was a lot more going on. :D

Yes, and by the time ds was diagnosed at 10 yo with CAPD and impaired hearing in one ear, he was already reading at grade level, so expensive therapy wasn't even recommended by the evaluator at that point. Visual processing problems improved over time, as well (for example, he went from not being able to make the letter "p" without the parts of the letter being on different areas of the page to fairly legible printing). His speech improved immensely over time as well. We used a variety of programs at home: LiPS (which I think really helped his speech), Seeing Stars, Visualizing and Verbalizing, Earobics, Lexia reading software, and Handwriting Without Tears. I'm not sure he would benefit from VT at this point, since the only letters he mixes up from time to time are "e" and "i", and since they don't look alike, the confusion appears to indicate more of a mix-up in the "linking letters to sounds department of the brain" :) rather than a visual processing problem. In retrospect, I'm glad we didn't feel pressured to pursue expensive therapies since he's had good results without them (leaving us with more $$ to pay for expensive orthodontic work which has definitely improved his speech clarity).:) My 5 yo may be having difficulty with the sound/letter connection - I'm still watching and waiting, but with the family history, it wouldn't surprise me. In the meantime, I have her working on the Lexia reading program and it seems to be helping a lot. I wouldn't be inclined to put a 5 yo through intensive, expensive therapies, because at that age, they're practically still babies, and I think it would be difficult to achieve the best possible results for your money with a child that young. I would tend to take a more gentle approach and see how she developed in the next year or two and then consider more intensive intervention if still needed. There are so many excellent programs you can use at home, and things can change dramatically from year to year. Just our experience! :)

That's great news, Sheryl. :)

I read your list, and I think he could be on the spectrum, but various behaviors could also be caused by SPD, depression, anxiety (or he could be on the spectrum and have other things going on along with that). I suggest you find a highly experienced child psychiatrist who specializes in the above issues, because with the family background of depression, etc., it will likely require some expertise to sort it all out. Good luck! :)

I agree with you, OhElizabeth - focusing and convergence problems can be identified and remediated, and for people whose reading problems are the result of these issues, VT is a wonderful thing. There are also brain imaging studies which appear to indicate that the "visual processing" problem for many dyslexics is "a mismatch between seeing the letter and connecting it to the sound it represents or vice-versa", something that vision therapy can't correct. The high frequency of auditory processing problems among this same group is notable as well. So not everyone is going to benefit from VT, and I suspect that's why there are negative as well as positive reviews from people who've tried it. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111010.php http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/hd/news/625018.brain-scans-shed-light-on-dyslexia.htm

Data points such as the following (as well as the cost) are the reasons we've been hesitant to pursue VT: "In 1998, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus issued a policy statement regarding the use of vision therapy specifically for the treatment of learning problems and dyslexia. According to the statement: "No scientific evidence exists for the efficacy of eye exercises ('vision therapy')... in the remediation of these complex pediatric neurological conditions." In 2004, the American Academy of Ophthalmology released a similar position statement asserting that there is no evidence that vision therapy retards the progression of myopia, that it improves visual function in those with hyperopia or astigmatism, or that it improves vision lost through disease processes." http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Vision_therapy Other neurological problems such as CAPD (which we are also dealing with) can't be completely cured or fixed, only accommodated, and from what I've read, certain brain-based visual processing problems fall into the same category, so that may help to explain the mixed reviews you see on VT. In Don McCabe's book about his dyslexia, he decribes various natural approaches that strengthened his abilities - playing cards with his grandfather, wallowing around in the lake until he figured out how to swim in his own way (a crossing the midline activity), etc. So if you can't afford VT, don't feel like you're ruining your kids' futures - there are other things you can do to enhance processing. :001_smile:

Do you think he has autism because of the eye contact issue alone, or do you have other concerns? "The key defining symptom of autism that differentiates it from other syndromes and/or conditions is substantial impairment in social interaction (Frith, 1989). The diagnosis of autism indicates that qualitative impairments in communication, social skills, and range of interests and activities exist. As no medical tests can be performed to indicate the presence of autism or any other PDD, the diagnosis is based upon the presence or absence of specific behaviors." http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_whatis_PDD A red flag is "substantial" and "qualitative" impairment in these areas, possibly due to impairments in cognitive and affective empathy. Simon Baron-Cohen calls it "mindblindness". http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc/staff_member.asp?id=33 My daughter is very high functioning at this point and has always been very social (has had to learn not to behave intrusively, make excessive eye contact in social situations, etc.). She is the opposite of withdrawn, and by all appearances is a typically functioning person. But like opposite sides of a coin, mindblindness can lead a person to be either socially withdrawn OR as in her case, to suffer from an innate lack of understanding of social boundaries and appropriate social interaction (and thus hanging around with the little kids is preferable to her because they are easier to interact with). Unless you are seeing this type of problem along with other DSM-IV behaviors in sufficient number required for diagnosis, I wouldn't necessarily assume he's on the spectrum.

I think you're right - if the underlying causes aren't addressed, progress will be really slow. I didn't realize cyberschools operated like public schools, with IEP meetings. I never had much luck introducing outside assessments at IEP meetings when my daughter was in school - they simply disregarded them. There's no effective way of relaying info people don't want to hear and don't legally have to address. Bringing your brother as an advocate hopefully will help. What tests did your neuropsych administer to diagnose the visual/spatial processing disorder? Just curious, because my son's report only lists one test, NEPSY-II Arrows Subtest under visual Spatial (his score range says "borderline", whatever that means). I have two children with this problem, and they've progressed because we've done the types of things that KarenAnne recommends in her post (not through a vision therapist, but on our own with vision therapy manuals, karate, swimming, balance board). Plus I had them read a lot, despite the fact that it was so onerous, and they gradually improved over time. So my son with the "borderline" score on the arrow test gets 98 percentile on achievement tests. I have no idea how to interpret this, or what he's seeing or not seeing (he does tend to skip words, reverse things and put decimals in the wrong place). I really sympathize with you - this is a hard problem to deal with. :crying:

I'm so sorry. You're in my prayers today. Only God understands the purpose for the challenges we face. Give your troubles to Him and try not to worry too much about the future. Ramona is right on - it is so easy to horribalize the future, projecting all kinds of terrible outcomes that will probably never happen. I was actually doing the same thing in the middle of the night (11 yo son, so many challenges). Try to take things one day at a time for now. Give yourself a day off if that helps, and then try to regroup. Concentrate on the positives and count your blessings. For instance, imagine how our kids would have fared if we were living in a time when the medications and educational programs which are so helpful to us now weren't available. I also have several children who are very stubborn and high-strung, and yes, they wear me out. But God made them that way for a reason, and it helps me to remember that when I'm on my last nerve. :) I'll be praying that things brighten up for you soon. :) To quote one of my favorite saints, Padre Pio: "Pray, hope and don't worry"!

I don't see any mention of "neurologic" tests on our report. The rest of the tests were given, plus we had to fill out a CHAPS.

My son is similar to yours, although his dyslexia has been more severe. Here are some suggestions that might help you. For grammar: Winston Grammar http://www.nestlearning.com/winston-grammar-precious-memories-ed-resources_s420.aspx?utm_source=MSN&utm_medium=MSN%2BPPC&utm_content=Precious%2BMemories%2BEd%2BResources%2B-%2BPhrase&utm_campaign=Curriculum-Series%2B-%2BPhrase No-Glamour Grammar - I use this workbook as a supplement. http://www.linguisystems.com/itemdetail.php?id=10059 I've decided to give MCT for language arts a try as well, because it's supposed to be integrated, which works well with his right-brained learning style. Spelling: All About Spelling - lots of fans of this program on the WTM boards. My son is using LiPS and Angling for Words at the moment, which work very efficiently in his case. http://rlac.com/store/Angling-for-Words-Series.html Also, he uses Seeing Stars software for sight words. Math Facts: While he was learning those, I wrote them out on large flashcards, color coded like Dianne Craft recommends, and had him arrange them in order. To make that link between 6 X 4 and 4 X 6, I placed them on the table side by side, pointed out how they are alike, and if necessary, showed him with manipulatives at the same time until the connection sank in. I like the On Cloud Nine math manipulatives from Gander. They are expensive, but really big and colorful, which I think helped with retention. Also, I continue to rely heavily on a wipe-off number line with negative and positive integers up to 20 that came from the Rainbow Resources catalog. Another program we've been using is Hands-on Equations, a manipulative-based program. http://www.borenson.com/ I've found that well-matched curricula are important, but even more important has been finding the most efficient teaching techniques for his learning style. HTH! :001_smile:

I really sympathize - it can be quite difficult and expensive to get this testing done. If you think the problem is mild and you're already seeing improvements with your new regimen, it probably wouldn't hurt to defer testing. We had one child tested (his problems were more than mild) but no follow-up therapies were recommended because we had already gotten over the hump with reading issues (using LiPS, OG programs, etc.). We have a formal diagnostic report which provides a list of accommodations we were essentially making already. We're having another child tested now, because he's a teenager and college is looming. If he does have CAPD as suspected, he'll need to be aware of it. Regarding Balametrics, we've used this off and on for over eight years, and we've seen a great deal of improvement, particularly with vestibular issues (sometimes comorbid with CAPD) and motor coordination. We've tried to establish a "therapeutic lifestyle", and Balametrics has been only one of the tools, so I don't know how much credit to attribute to it, but having poured over a vast array of therapeutic materials, I have noticed that the exercises in this program are consistent with others I've read about in vision therapy and motor skills development manuals.

People with this diagnosis are highly unprofitable risks for insurance companies because of the comorbid conditions that often accompany it, combined with the current trend towards overdiagnosis in order to gain coverage for therapies, etc. This is definitely an important consideration when weighing the pros and cons of a formal diagnosis. (My daughter, for example, has required psychiatric medications for the past decade). None of us can predict the future, but obviously the potential exists for insurance companies to refuse to provide coverage (as Rhonda has already experienced). Fortunately, an Asperger's diagnosis isn't required for OT or other therapies. If insurance companies are required to cover every unprofitable risk, they'll ultimately go out of business and then we'll all be required to submit to government medical mandates. As someone who was formerly dependent on military medicine (a microcosm of substandard and rationed government healthcare at several duty stations, particularly at the larger bases) I think our kids will be even worse off if that happens. :tongue_smilie:

Thanks, Ladies. Efficiency and an integrated approach are great selling points. :) I could conceivably use this if I combine a couple of my kids together to save time.

It depends on what your goals are. The label is mostly useful for defraying therapy expenses, because some are often at least partially covered by insurance. If you have already recognized her strengths and weaknesses and are addressing them, it might not be worth bothering to pursue the official label. Also, if she only has certain "traits", she might prefer not to be labeled in the future. My dentist has traits, without a doubt, but that hasn't stopped her from leading an apparently well-balanced and successful life. :)