Is this laziness, resentment or ADD?

[lisabees]

DS is 13, hs for the first time. He has always been a struggling reader and we have quickly remediated much of that.

 

In ps they mentioned the possibility of inattentive ADD. In his testing, he scored low in his working memory and processing speed, apparently sign of ADD. But, when talking with the doctor, we found no other symptoms.

 

The teachers said he would drift off. His comprehension was terrible and he makes many careless mistakes. On the same page, he can write a word three different ways. He doesn't read the directions correctly, so many times he answered things incorrectly. In fact, in our hs, he can get 10% correct on a test because he just doesn't concentrate on the questions. Everything is too much effort - reading directions, looking up words in the dictionary. Never would he give even 70% of his effort.

 

Is this a lazy kid, who has never been accountable for his actions? Is this a kid who resents being homeschooled? Or should I try meds and see if it makes a difference? I am sad for him, because I know not what his future holds if he stays this way. :confused:

Edited October 15, 2009 by lisabees

[SonshineLearner]

I know that you'll get lots of hints soon. Some I've heard is to check his reading with a specialist. Dyslexia... eyes?.... and then at 13, he should get LOTS of physical work to do. I can't remember what famous person said that school didn't look good until digging lines for a while. (This was a long time ago... someone famous:-) Chopping wood, moving stones or bricks... something to make him work up a sweat...

If nothing is proven wrong, I'd run the family through "family phonics". (Like SWR or something systematic...)

Carrie:-)

[catalinakel]

I know that you'll get lots of hints soon. Some I've heard is to check his reading with a specialist. Dyslexia... eyes?.... and then at 13, he should get LOTS of physical work to do. I can't remember what famous person said that school didn't look good until digging lines for a while. (This was a long time ago... someone famous:-) Chopping wood, moving stones or bricks... something to make him work up a sweat...

If nothing is proven wrong, I'd run the family through "family phonics". (Like SWR or something systematic...)

Carrie:-)

 

:iagree: with what Carrie has said. Esp. having sight checked, and run him by a reading specialist. I will also run your post by hubby later. He is a master's in special ed. and has worked with lots of kids with this sort of issue.

[lisabees]

I know that you'll get lots of hints soon. Some I've heard is to check his reading with a specialist. Dyslexia... eyes?.... and then at 13, he should get LOTS of physical work to do. I can't remember what famous person said that school didn't look good until digging lines for a while. (This was a long time ago... someone famous:-) Chopping wood, moving stones or bricks... something to make him work up a sweat...

If nothing is proven wrong, I'd run the family through "family phonics". (Like SWR or something systematic...)

Carrie:-)

 

Thank you. Ds has gotten tested two different times. He was reading 3-4 grades below grade level. Remedial phonics quickly fixed that. Eyes have been checked.

 

I like the idea of physical work - with a dh out of town all of the time, lots can be done around here! :lol:

[lisabees]

:iagree: with what Carrie has said. Esp. having sight checked, and run him by a reading specialist. I will also run your post by hubby later. He is a master's in special ed. and has worked with lots of kids with this sort of issue.

 

Thank you for running it by your hubby. I would appreciate it! ;)

[Lori D.]

DS is 13, hs for the first time. He has alwyas been a struggling reader and we have quickly remediated much of that.

 

In ps they mentioned the possibility of inattentive ADD. In his testing, he scored low in his working memory and processing speed, apparently sign of ADD. But, when talking with the doctor, we found no other symptoms.

 

The teachers said he would drift off. His comprehension was terrible and he makes many careless mistakes. On the same page, he can write a word three different ways. He doesn't read the directions correctly, so many times he answered things incorrectly. In fact, in our hs, he can get 10% correct on a test because he just doesn't concentrate on the questions. Everything is too much effort - reading directions, looking up words in the dictionary. Never would he give even 70% of his effort.

 

Is this a lazy kid, who has never been accountable for his actions? Is this a kid who resents being homeschooled? Or should I try meds and see if it makes a difference? I am sad for him, because I know not what his future holds if he stays this way. :confused:

 

 

No expert here, BUT... the first thing that leaped to my mind that fits all the symptoms you listed was dyslexia, perhaps "stealth dyslexia". The trouble with reading, spelling the same word different ways, not comprehending directions... My suggestion is to FIRST -- and AS SOON AS POSSIBLE -- have your son tested/evaluated by a knowledgeable specialist for:

- dyslexia

- vision deficiencies

- vision tracking issues

- and possibly brain processing issues

 

It is critical to diagnose these issues as soon as possible so you can get your son the tutoring or therapy that will help.

 

Once you have a diagnosis, equally important will be for you (or whoever is the primary homeschooling parent) to research what curriculum will best fit a student with learning and/or physical difficulties, and also how to best DO school. For exampleP

- short, 20 minute bursts of learning with 10 minute physically active break

- or do the work which requires the most mental effort when the student has his best concentration period of time each day

- do literature/reading aloud together, or use books on tape

- work alongside him and train him into good learning/study habits (example: "This is how to look up a word in the dictionary" -- do the steps while describing; now do a word but have him tell you what the next step would be; now have him look up a word, while you are there; now have him look up a word solo, but with you nearby and handy to assist if needed.)

 

 

Also take into consideration that he is 13yo and is going through big physical / hormonal / emotional changes as an adolescent. You can help his ability to focus and his mood/attitude with a few lifestyle changes:

- cut out as much sugar (soda especially!) from his diet as possible (can have a very depressive effective on hormonal teens)

- cut out foods with dyes and lots of chemical preservatives and go with all natural and fresh foods with a short ingredient list (many people are very sensitive to these and they can dramatically affect thinking and mood)

- make sure he gets regular aerobic exercise of some sort (30-40 min. at a time, 3-4 days a week) to wear off excess energy, depression, or anxiety -- he will be able to sleep better at nights, and will be able to focus and concentrate better during school

 

 

Start with what you changes you can make at home and get some testing to rule out (or confirm) possible learning/physical disabilities. If nothing helps, also take into consideration any difficult or stressful events in his home life (divorce, death, serious illness, or emotional issues in immediate family, extended family, or close friends); a recent move; a church split; a new child in the family; struggling to make friends; even the move from a school building to being at home -- all these situations can really stress a person and shut them down.

 

If there are no physical or learning issues, and no major stress factors to cope with, and if change in diet and exercise are not helping, then you may be looking at *just* an attitude issue, and a good counselor may be of help with suggestions at that point for getting back on track.

 

BEST of luck, as you work through this difficult time WITH your DS! Warmest regards, Lori D.

[Verity]

What kind of kid is he in general? Does he have an attitude or is he generally willing to do his share of chores. Is he forgetful in general, impulsive? These are just a few of the kinds of questions a doctor should be asking before anyone makes a diagnosis. There are a dozen different reasons for a child who writes words differently on the same sheet of paper or who doesn't read well. Just from those examples I wouldn't necessarily jump to ADD, though I know more school teachers do.

 

Here's an example: when you go out of the house with him does he get easily distracted? When he was younger did you have to keep an eye on him 100% of the time in a parking lot because you knew he wouldn't notice the car coming towards him?

 

The examples you give on his academic performance sounds more like a visual processing issues or Non-verbal Learning Disorder. I would suggest looking more in that direction and talk to your pediatrician about getting some evaluations.

[ondreeuh]

I sent you a PM :)

[LizzyBee]

Spelling the same word 3 ways on the same page is a classic sign of dyslexia. Remediating reading doesn't "cure" dyslexia; it just remediates one of the many ways dyslexia affects those who have it.

 

What do you observe when you watch him read? Does he complain his eyes are tired? Do his eyes water? Does he track smoothly across the page or are his eyes jumpy as he tracks? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, I would have him checked by a developmental optometrist. A dev. opt. checks for more than just visual acuity.

 

That said, most dyslexia is caused by auditory processing problems rather than visual processing problems. If you speak to him without any visual supports, do your words seem to go in one ear and out the other? Even though his reading has improved, is he still working very hard to sound out words? Can he break words into sounds to figure out the correct spelling, or at least the correct order of the phonemes? Or does he seem to hear "whole words" rather than the sounds that are put together to make the words?

 

For low working memory, as well as visual and auditory processing weaknesses, you might try some sort of cognitive skills program. Brainware Safari is a computerized program that might still be available from the Homeschool Buyers Coop for much less than the regular price. There are others that are not computerized, but I don't know much about them. Maybe someone else will post some info about them.

 

For reading comprehension, I think REWARDS is the program I've heard good things about. Maybe someone who's used it will post some details about it.

 

My ADHD kid doesn't have slow processing speed, and my slow processing kid doesn't have ADD. I wouldn't assume ADD based on the slow processing speed.

[siloam]

The teachers said he would drift off. His comprehension was terrible and he makes many careless mistakes. On the same page, he can write a word three different ways.

 

Huge red flag here. That is one of the symptoms for dyslexia. I personally once spelled which 4 different ways in the same document, including witch, because none of them "looked" right.

 

I am a diagnosed visual dyslexic through the Irlen Institute when I look at your typical white page I at times have a terrible time reading it. The white spaces will be glaringly white and letters around the white spaces look like they are shaking (the filters do help, but I never did get the glasses). I also do the typical skip words, use the for a, he for him and transpose I am as Am I in a sentence. Have you had your ds read aloud recently to see if he has any of those issues? I also can't trace a straight line without going off of it more than three times (I might also be dysgraphic). When I am really stressed I have been told I "zone out" as well. It is me trying to mentally organize and figure out what to do next. Also if he is having recall problems he could be freezing, because he knows he should know the answer, but he can't remember it. I do this all the time with names. I can go to introduce a person I have known for 20 years to someone I don't know and I can't remember the name of my friend to save my life.

 

Though realize that if he is really dyslexic that VT won't cure it. Also many schools don't recognize dyslexia at all, and if they do they only will if it is beyond a certain degree. My issues are mild enough that I wasn't tested in school. I had testing done my own in college because of reading difficulties I had then.

 

Heather

Edited October 15, 2009 by siloam

[lisabees]

Thank you all so much for your thoughts. Ds was tested in ps and at the Bryn Mawr College's Child Study Institute. A friend's son is severely dyslexic and she highly recommended the place.

 

Ps, of course, doesn't recognize dyslexia, so they suggested meds. They weren't willing to help improve his reading and other academic difficulties, so that is why we now hs.

 

The Child Study Institute diagnosed him with mild dyslexia and possible inattentive ADD (only because of his low working memory and processing speed; he did not fit the ADD profile otherwise). He has never had problems with being hyper - he's very calm, never forgets anything and has an incredible spatial-visual memory. He is a really good kid. He does, though, ask questions incessantly. Things that have nothing to do with what we're doing.

 

After we remediated his reading, I really thought I would see improvement by leaps and bounds. He just fights anything that takes effort.

 

I know that being hs is much different for him. He is no longer passively learning like he did in ps. His brain always has to be "on". He is working hard. But, the simplest things seem so hard.

 

So...dyslexia. I figured since he was remediated so quickly in reading, he couldn't have dyslexia. I figured it was sight-word induced. So, I took that "diagnosis" off my radar.

 

Language never came easily for ds. He couldn't recognize the alphabet until he was 6 1/2, he had speech problems, he can't get simple math facts.

 

Thank you for listening to my rambling. And thank you for your experiences and suggestions. ;)

[Julie in MN]

He has never had problems with being hyper - he's very calm, never forgets anything and has an incredible spatial-visual memory. He is a really good kid. He does, though, ask questions incessantly. Things that have nothing to do with what we're doing.

 

After we remediated his reading, I really thought I would see improvement by leaps and bounds. He just fights anything that takes effort.

 

I know that being hs is much different for him. He is no longer passively learning like he did in ps. His brain always has to be "on". He is working hard. But, the simplest things seem so hard.

 

So...dyslexia. I figured since he was remediated so quickly in reading, he couldn't have dyslexia. I figured it was sight-word induced. So, I took that "diagnosis" off my radar.

 

Language never came easily for ds. He couldn't recognize the alphabet until he was 6 1/2, he had speech problems, he can't get simple math facts.

 

I'm curious how he does orally. How would audio books & discussion compare with reading & writing? My youngest is a different child than your son, but I've found he really is unable to learn well by reading or writing or sitting still. We work on that & build those muscles, but we can still learn lots just like the ancient Greeks -- talking it through, and letting him be on the move rather than in a desk.

[LibraryLover]

Heather, what type of remediation were you able to get for yourself in college? One of my children is dyslexic, with auditory issues rather than visual ones. We still struggle a bit with it and I often wonder what more we could be doing. Any recommendations?

[siloam]

Heather, what type of remediation were you able to get for yourself in college? One of my children is dyslexic, with auditory issues rather than visual ones. We still struggle a bit with it and I often wonder what more we could be doing. Any recommendations?

 

It allowed me to request all overhead work in writing, and ask for some additional time to do assignments, specifically for one class where the teacher expected you to read, comprehend the material and do the exercises in the book BEFORE the lecture. :blink: That was the class that was killing me because I couldn't read and comprehend fast enough get the assignments done, despite spending the majority of my time on the class. Most of the rest I passed by recording the lecture and listening to it multiple times, but that wouldn't be an option if your child has auditory processing problems.

 

I wish I could be of more help.

 

Heather