Does anyone have a child like this or any suggestions on how to handle/help him?

[Donna]

My 12yo ds is a very bright kid. He learns quickly when he is interested in something...right now, namely guitar (musicians comment on his ability constantly). He does math correctly but very slowly and has difficulty concentrating or focusing unless isolated from everyone else. He hates, hates, hates to read.

 

He never sat to listen to books read as a toddler (unlike his siblings) and began reading well around 6yo. When reading aloud, I need to remind him occassionally to read through to a period rather than word by word. He reads so slowly but doesn't make reading errors or substitutions. He comprehends better when he reads silently. I had his reading tested by a reading specialist when he was 3rd grade age and his reading was actually 1-2 grade levels ahead. He worked with a reading specialist all last year and she commented on how slow and disconnected his reading is but couldn't find anything that could be causing his dislike of reading or slowness/lack of focus. I recently had his reading level tested again and he was still about a year ahead with slight delays in comprehension and vocabulary 3 grade levels ahead (how, I don't know since he only reads when made to)...the tester said his comprehension decreased toward the end of the testing when he was obviously fatigued.

 

Getting this child to read is sooooo hard. He wants to try public school this coming year and I have him enrolled...hence the need for testing. I am very concerned that his lack of focus and slowness in working is going to severely inhibit his ability to do well in school. I don't have any idea how to help him. I've spent countless hours working with him, have him read to me regularly though it feels more like torture for him and me with all his complaints, and have tried to give him books of all kinds and on any topic he seems interested in but to no avail.

 

I worry that he has some sort of reading problem though no professional has yet to come up with one. I wonder if he has ADD (no way it is ADHD because he is not hyperactive...more like hypoactive...he's so laid back).

 

Any suggestions or ideas?

[Laurie4b]

My 12yo ds is a very bright kid. He learns quickly when he is interested in something...right now, namely guitar (musicians comment on his ability constantly). He does math correctly but very slowly and has difficulty concentrating or focusing unless isolated from everyone else. He hates, hates, hates to read.

 

He never sat to listen to books read as a toddler (unlike his siblings) and began reading well around 6yo. When reading aloud, I need to remind him occassionally to read through to a period rather than word by word. He reads so slowly but doesn't make reading errors or substitutions. He comprehends better when he reads silently. I had his reading tested by a reading specialist when he was 3rd grade age and his reading was actually 1-2 grade levels ahead. He worked with a reading specialist all last year and she commented on how slow and disconnected his reading is but couldn't find anything that could be causing his dislike of reading or slowness/lack of focus. I recently had his reading level tested again and he was still about a year ahead with slight delays in comprehension and vocabulary 3 grade levels ahead (how, I don't know since he only reads when made to)...the tester said his comprehension decreased toward the end of the testing when he was obviously fatigued.

 

Getting this child to read is sooooo hard. He wants to try public school this coming year and I have him enrolled...hence the need for testing. I am very concerned that his lack of focus and slowness in working is going to severely inhibit his ability to do well in school. I don't have any idea how to help him. I've spent countless hours working with him, have him read to me regularly though it feels more like torture for him and me with all his complaints, and have tried to give him books of all kinds and on any topic he seems interested in but to no avail.

 

I worry that he has some sort of reading problem though no professional has yet to come up with one. I wonder if he has ADD (no way it is ADHD because he is not hyperactive...more like hypoactive...he's so laid back).

 

Any suggestions or ideas?

 

I would get a complete evaluation by a child neuropsychologist. A neuropsychologist is licensed to do testing that a "reading specialist" is not allowed to do. S/he would start with the WiSC-IV, an IQ test, and also an individual achievement test. Based on what specific things you report and on the results of those tests, other tests would be given. You should end up with a solid understanding of how your ds's brain functions and what strategies are needed to help him. What you describe sounds like a signficiant issue, and you are wise to look for the source.

[Peela]

Or.....maybe there is nothing wrong with him at all and he just doesn't like to read? I mean, they will probably make up a condition with a fancy name for it soon enough, as soon as they can find a medication for it....and if you take him for more and more tests, someone at some time will most likely come up with some sort of diagnosis to pin his "problems" on.....but not liking to read, and reading less than brilliantly, may just be his personality uniqueness, not a pathology of some kind?

I am no expert of course, but my ds14 doesn't like to draw, and when he draws, it is sick figure stuff. If we lived in a community where everyone drew a lot, and well (like his sister) he might be considered to have a problem. But we dont, so it's not focused on.

 

Dont take me too seriously...as a mother, you might have an instinct that something is wrong....and that is more valid that anything. But also....not being excellent in all areas is human nature, and as homeschoolers sometimes I think we set such a high standard that kids who are average - who have weak areas- stand out as if there is a problem, wheras in school, they would just blend right in as part of the spectrum of abilities.

[fairfarmhand]

Does he specify if there IS a type of stuff that he'd like to read? Like the Sports page, or Nat'l Geographic or even the jokes in the Reader's Digest?

 

Or is it JUST ALL reading?

[Pippen]

I would get a complete evaluation by a child neuropsychologist. A neuropsychologist is licensed to do testing that a "reading specialist" is not allowed to do. S/he would start with the WiSC-IV, an IQ test, and also an individual achievement test. Based on what specific things you report and on the results of those tests, other tests would be given. You should end up with a solid understanding of how your ds's brain functions and what strategies are needed to help him. What you describe sounds like a signficiant issue, and you are wise to look for the source.

 

:iagree: I would want to look at all areas before deciding where to go from here. PS could do some testing, including the WISC, but it would take awhile and you would likely get a more thorough picture of what's going on with a neuropsychologist.

[JVA]

I would definitely get him to a developmental optometrist. He could have a vision issue going on. The exam is usually fun for kids and they can evaluate how he is seeing. Vision therapy is very effective and can really change lives. Trust me.

Check here for one near you:

 

http://www.covd.org/Home/LocateaDoctor/tabid/69/Default.aspx?adv=1

 

Hope this is helpful.

[EKS]

I would get a complete evaluation by a child neuropsychologist. A neuropsychologist is licensed to do testing that a "reading specialist" is not allowed to do. S/he would start with the WiSC-IV, an IQ test, and also an individual achievement test. Based on what specific things you report and on the results of those tests, other tests would be given. You should end up with a solid understanding of how your ds's brain functions and what strategies are needed to help him. What you describe sounds like a signficiant issue, and you are wise to look for the source.

 

:iagree:

 

Also, be sure this person has experience with twice exceptional kids.

[Parrothead]

I agree with a lot of what Peela said. Could the focus you have on his not reading be what is holding him back from exploring on his own?

 

Yes, reading is a wonderful thing, but some people just don't like to do it. Can you ds read well enough to go over reports, fill in paperwork and take care of office stuff when he is old enough to work? If not, yes, get him some additional help. If he would be able to hold a job with what reading ability he has then maybe you should consider backing off just a bit, and let him go with this where he wants to.

 

Then again, if he is going into PS they will want to put a label on it, send him to special classes and get their fair share of reimbursement from the state. So you might want to really aggressively tackle this before PS starts.

[mcconnellboys]

He sounds a lot like my older son, who has auditory and sensory processing problems....

[Pippen]

He sounds a lot like my older son, who has auditory and sensory processing problems....

 

 

I was thinking auditory and/or language processing problems too.

 

Donna, what's his speech been like? Were there any early delays or are there currently differences (such as frequently repeating the beginning of sentences)

[Donna]

I was thinking auditory and/or language processing problems too.

 

Donna, what's his speech been like? Were there any early delays or are there currently differences (such as frequently repeating the beginning of sentences)

 

He developed speech early like his brother and sister. Said his 1st "real" words (not mama, dada, or baba) at 10 months and spoke in 2-3 word phrases at 12 months. He was speaking very well by 16-18 months old.

 

I do know that he is a visual-spatial learner and I have been able to tailor most of his learning toward his strengths there making science and history very hands on...using a lot of manipulatives early on in math.

 

Thanks for all the recommendations. A neuropsych appointment in our area would take 6-9 months...I know because I work with kids in early intervention and see it all the time. It might be faster to go through the school though I know they have their own timelines as well. I really don't want a label slapped on him and him to be given meds...one of the reasons I began homeschooling is that my oldest was so bored in preschool that he was a nightmare for the teacher and I could just see them trying to call him ADHD though he was fine when he was really learning.

 

There is nothing that he likes to read. He likes to look through guitar magazines and music equipment catalogues but not sure how much reading he actually does. He doesn't complain when reading plans for models or experiments or reading instructions for equipment he own. He is very creative and good at problem solving...always inventing so I thought some biographies of inventors would interest him but no. He says fiction is fake so why bother reading it. He says other reading is boring. He just doesn't seem to read and "see" it like a movie in his mind.

 

He reads well enough to survive in life but I don't think he works quickly enough in any area to do as well as he might do in school. It is not as if we spend all our time focusing on his lack of reading. I don't even expect him to be excellent at it. I just worry about how he will do in school. Every subject at home is like pulling teeth...just takes so long unless he has the house to himself or some outside motivation to get it done more quickly...his motivations tend to be difficult to find as well.

 

He really wants to try school so I am inclined to let him this year and see how it goes. Maybe all my worry is for nothing and he will rise to the occassion.

[zaichiki]

I'm only going to repeat stuff you already know. :)

 

Siblings tend to be within 10-15 IQ points of one another. Reading should come easily to an HG child unless there is a reason. HG kids can function above grade level, but still be compensating.

 

I have a gifted child with dyslexia who reads 2-3 grade levels above. She definitely has dyslexia, though (dyseidetic), and it impacts all of her reading, spelling, and writing in all subjects. She, unlike her siblings, didn't like to listen to me read aloud all that much when she was little. She reads now, and loves to listen to me read aloud, but until this last year it was like pulling teeth.

 

I felt something was different with this one: I thought reading should come more easily to her knowing what I did about her IQ level. I'm really glad I followed up. We were able to remediate some of the issues and lessen some of her frustration. It made reading more enjoyable, so she reads more often (more reading leads to easier which leads to even more reading which leads to even easier and so on).

 

I agree with the poster who said "neuropsych." After all, if it is nothing, no harm done. If it is "something," wouldn't it be nice to know you might be able to help in some way? Oh, and the schools usually look for kids to be achieving at grade level. It's rare for them to handle 2E identification well. If he's "at grade level" the school won't see any issues.

 

In general a child who avoids reading is avoiding it for a reason.

[celticmom]

Does he read music when he plays the guitar? I have very poor vision and if my perscription needs updating it is most obvious to me when I am trying to read music. If he has no problem reading music that might mean that vision problems are less likely.

[Donna]

Does he read music when he plays the guitar? I have very poor vision and if my perscription needs updating it is most obvious to me when I am trying to read music. If he has no problem reading music that might mean that vision problems are less likely.

 

He reads music very well in both tab and regular note music. I have had his eyes checked by a developmental opthalmologist about every other year...it's been 3 years since his last appointment.