Visual/Motor Processing Disorder

[jenn-]

I think this is where we are going to find ourselves at the end of all the testing with my son. He seems to be having a breakdown between looking at a sheet of paper, processing the information, and writing it back down. This really showed during his WISC-IV test. What are we looking at for a future? Everything I have read so far states that it is not an official learning disorder. Does that mean there will be no accommodations when the time comes? Can you think of any curriculum that would help him out? Overall he is a smart cookie, but takes FOREVER to get his work done. We were actually expecting an ADD diagnosis (like his daddy has), but that was cleared by his testing.

[Splash]

My son has this along with some other issues. We never got a formal IEP or 504 plan written up for him but when he went to public high school I just talked to teachers and councilor before classes started and told them he needed to type all work. Honestly we had a few teachers give us a hard time until they saw for themselves the vast difference in what he could produce. His handwriting is finally legible but still laborious. For math he ended up doing at home as they couldn't or wouldn't accommodate. He needs to either talk it out or a scribe. Not sure what label this would fall under but maybe it is part of his developmental dyspraxia or ADHD labels. I did have neuropsych evaluation to back up my requests.

[Lecka]

My son has this among other issues and I am havin him tested for "disorder of written expressions (maybe).

 

Slow processing or visual processing are also things. But I don't know how they go as far as school. P

 

I think he will be able to get a 504.

[wapiti]

I'd first see a COVD optometrist for a developmental vision eval to rule out vision issues and potentially an OT for an eval for SPD. Depending on the exact problem, there may be quite a lot that can be done to improve the situation.

 

Did the WISC show slow processing speed - how were those two subtests?

 

We were actually expecting an ADD diagnosis (like his daddy has), but that was cleared by his testing.

 

This is an example of why testing can be so helpful!!

[jenn-]

I'd first see a COVD optometrist for a developmental vision eval to rule out vision issues and potentially an OT for an eval for SPD. Depending on the exact problem, there may be quite a lot that can be done to improve the situation.

 

Did the WISC show slow processing speed - how were those two subtests?

 

 

 

This is an example of why testing can be so helpful!!

 

 

I don't have the breakdown exactly. The doctor wants to do an achievement test to see if we might be dealing with a hidden LD before giving me all the papers. The doc reported that his auditory processing was fairly average, but his visual processing was way below normal. He explained it as the part where they have to look at a couple of shapes and decide whether those same shapes are in the line and where there is a key up top and the kid has to copy down the symbol to the correct number. That said, the kid supposedly outscored even the doc on the Lego building parts and scored either in the average range or slightly above average for everything else.

 

I don't think we are having vision issues. His reading is fine and sees the regular ophthalmologist every year since he is in glasses. Not really sure what SPD entails, but so far the visual/motor information I see is spot on what he has issues with.

[Tiramisu]

We did not get the developmental coordination disorder label, but the neuropsych recognized weaknesses and made the recommendation for extra time in her report.

[nitascool]

We have seen a regular opt. for years with my son and never was told there was an issue outside needing glasses. We finally got a VT evel. from a specialist and found that he does have a treatable vision problem. My son reads and does math well above grade level so that is not always a good indicator of visual problems.

[herekittykitty]

Well, if it's visual processing you are concerned about, personally I would see a COVD, even though you've already seen an ophthalmologist. The COVD will check for convergence and tracking problems, where an ophthalmologist won't. My son had many of the symptoms you describe, had 20/20 vision, but had massive convergence insufficiency. In the end, it's one evaluation appointment that is often covered by insurance, so I say why not do it. If nothing else you can rule these issues out.

 

Also I would get an OT evaluation for visual motor processing. You could go to OT to work on visual motor things, or perhaps try some things at home. The book "Developmental Dyspraxia" has a lot of home OT exercises. Critical Thinking Press also makes some Visual Perceptual workbooks.

 

What you describe also sounds like low processing speed to me. I would think you could get accommodations based on that. Also it sounds like he is much better at 3D tasks (legos) than 2D (print).

[jenn-]

Thanks for the continued responses. Looking up Developmental Dyspraxia made a big difference in hunting information down. He definitely matches a lot of those warning signs. I will check into the book and workbooks you suggested as well. I am still going to hold off on the COVD for right now. The nearest one is almost 100 miles away. If his testing doesn't reveal anything helpful, I will turn there next. I just really don't see any issues with his vision work right now.