Do dyslexics have slow processing speed and working memory too?

[lisabees]

DS16 just texted me from school - he thinks he wants to try meds. He has always been very hesitant after hearing about friends' experiences. But - we will go to a clinic which specializes in ADD to get a diagnosis. He has reached a low point in his grades and his self-esteem.

 

When ds was tested in 6th grade, he had a slow processing speed and low working memory. They suggested inattentive ADD, but his issues showed up only in school. He has incredible time management, NEVER forgets where things are and is very organized. Seriously. He is better than the rest of the family put together - it's an ongoing joke. He just has trouble learning. He says he has a terrible time focusing.

 

So, here is my question. Would an ADD specialist know enough to say it is not ADD, but just the dyslexia? And why is it that most kids I know with ADD actually excel in school?

 

So many questions...

[zenjenn]

I'm no expert, but both my husband and daughter are dyslexic. Each has their own *issues* that I do think are related to dyslexia, but they don't have trouble with focus or memory in general.

[LizzyBee]

Even though all dyslexics process language differently, I think the specific weaknesses vary from one person to another. My mildly dyslexic dd has slow processing speed, but her working memory is fine; and my more severely dyslexic dd has a fast processing speed but very low working memory.

[MomatHWTK]

For my child the ADHD and the processing speed are separate issues. Will you be seeing a different doctor than in the past? A second opinion might do you well. Keep in mind, if it isn't ADD that doesn't mean the doctor won't be able to help and offer coping skills or behavior therapy to your DS.

Here's a class about ADHD that I found to be very good:

https://www.coursera.org/course/adhd

[wapiti]

There are a number of LDs, or even nothing specific, that can involve low PS/WM. I would hope the ADD expert is a psych/neuropsych who also has significant experience with a wide variety of LDs and doesn't see nails everywhere just because he's holding a hammer.

 

He probably needs updated IQ testing anyway.

 

From your brief description and his obvious strengths in areas that are usually quite problematic for people with ADD, the only other angle that I might wonder about is vision.

[PeterPan]

You could also have some misconceptions about ADHD inattentive.

[lisabees]

There are a number of LDs, or even nothing specific, that can involve low PS/WM. I would hope the ADD expert is a psych/neuropsych who also has significant experience with a wide variety of LDs and doesn't see nails everywhere just because he's holding a hammer.

 

He probably needs updated IQ testing anyway.

 

From your brief description and his obvious strengths in areas that are usually quite problematic for people with ADD, the only other angle that I might wonder about is vision.

 

 

For my child the ADHD and the processing speed are separate issues. Will you be seeing a different doctor than in the past? A second opinion might do you well. Keep in mind, if it isn't ADD that doesn't mean the doctor won't be able to help and offer coping skills or behavior therapy to your DS.

Here's a class about ADHD that I found to be very good:

https://www.coursera.org/course/adhd

 

 

Thank you. I guess I need to understand how to search for the best "expert". A neurospsych is what I am looking for?

 

 

 

 

Even though all dyslexics process language differently, I think the specific weaknesses vary from one person to another. My mildly dyslexic dd has slow processing speed, but her working memory is fine; and my more severely dyslexic dd has a fast processing speed but very low working memory.

 

 

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

 

You could also have some misconceptions about ADHD inattentive.

 

 

Ah - I am sure I have misconceptions. That's why I have so many questions!

[PeterPan]

Sorry, I'm just being sort of brief today. It's very possible to see over-compensating going on when the person has EF weaknesses. So instead of being sort of moderately and occasionally messy and disorganized like a normal person, he might go over the top and pack 3 months early for trips and have lots of systems that keep everything in place. So in that situation you have someone with an EF weakness who is compensating and goes over the top to keep things together.

 

I'm not saying he does/does not have EF problems. I'm just saying that you don't have to *look* adhd or act a certain way to have it. There are lots of profiles all getting the label adhd all being thrown together because of the DSM, and they really present very differently. Girl and boy adhd present very differently. Impulsive presents differently from inattentive. In fact in the Coursera course I'm watching (which you might like to sign up for, it's very good), the doc suggests impulsive and hyperactive ought to be broken apart because they're so different. He gives numerous case studies to show how the labels can present over the ages. It's amazing HOW DIFFERENT the people are. So you can't assume what it should look like.

 

Even the EF questionnaires are skewable to my mind. I've filled them out tons of times in the past few years, and every time they're different, depending on how frustrated I am, how strongly something is bothering us, how school is going, etc.

 

Yes, neuropsych is what we used.

[lisabees]

 

I'm not saying he does/does not have EF problems. I'm just saying that you don't have to *look* adhd or act a certain way to have it. There are lots of profiles all getting the label adhd all being thrown together because of the DSM, and they really present very differently. Girl and boy adhd present very differently. Impulsive presents differently from inattentive. In fact in the Coursera course I'm watching (which you might like to sign up for, it's very good), the doc suggests impulsive and hyperactive ought to be broken apart because they're so different. He gives numerous case studies to show how the labels can present over the ages. It's amazing HOW DIFFERENT the people are. So you can't assume what it should look like.

 

Even the EF questionnaires are skewable to my mind. I've filled them out tons of times in the past few years, and every time they're different, depending on how frustrated I am, how strongly something is bothering us, how school is going, etc.

 

Yes, neuropsych is what we used.

 

Elizabeth, I will be certain to sign up for the coursera course. Thanks to you and the PP for recommending it.

 

I don't discount that ds has ADD inattentive. We have just never seen it in more than one place - school. He is extremely visual-spatial, so he always remembers where things are. He's a very practical about life. I've never told him to do his homework. He has always been ready to go to activities, baseball, and work on time. He is dressed with water bottle and bag in hand. I never have to remind him about anything. I don't know anything about EF - I'll have to do some research, for sure!

 

Please tell me how to find a good neuropsych!

 

p.s. DS just told me he's been thinking of homeschooling again. That's how desperate my social boy has become!

[PeterPan]

Well since you've also thought dyslexia, I would google your state name and dyslexia and neuropsychologist and see what pops up. That's how I found ours. I just googled until I saw the same names popping up in multiple locations. Sometimes peds put their referral lists online as pdfs. You'll find docs listed as speakers for state or local dyslexia meetings. Compare the lists you get that way with local sources like your VT doc or OT.

[cdwise]

When I began to suspect that my son was dyslexic, we purchased some Barton packages, and when I became confused about whether or not he truly had dyslexia or Asperger's (eventually diagnosed with both), I called Barton and they were very helpful. Susan Barton spoke to me personally. I was wanting a dyslexia evaluation, but when I explained that I was also worried that there were Aperger symptoms, she was careful to explain that I was not a candidate for a "simple" dyslexia test, but that I would need full neuropsych evaluation. This was the recommendation of an earlier pedagogical psych that I had seen, so to have this repeated helped me come around to the idea of full testing (and committing to the time and cost of it), and also it helped get dh on board. Barton recommended the neuropsych that we acutally ended up using. She may not have a specific recommendation based on your location, but it can't hurt to try this route. She is extremely experienced with dyslexia issues, and I think travels around the country, so...look up the website and give them a call. They certainly recommend dyslexia testers or probably could help with a neuropsych.

[Tiramisu]

You did not mention any auditory problems but slow processing speed can also be related to a type of auditory processing disorder, and that can look a lot like ADHD inattentive. My dd has a type of CAPD that is highly dependent on the noise level in an environment, so she functions particularly poorly in a classroom or school setting. She also has a harder time at home over the years as the size of our family has grown. If your ds is an only child or if you have a small family of quiet children, he wouldn't necessarily have problems at home. FWIW, my dd with CAPD never felt she had an auditory problem. When they have a processing problem they are stuck within how they process and can't necessarily see what the specific problem is unless it's brought to their attention and they have time to reflect on it. This may be totally urelated to your problem, but it's something to think about.