A Little Good News :)

[shinyhappypeople]

12 yo DD tested as having very low working memory (I can't remember the percentile... 4% something like that).  Her forward digit span was 3 on the WISC IV.  This is something we worked on a little bit early in Vision Therapy, but I saw zero progress. We're doing a lot in VT that is not directly eye-related, but apparently there's a purpose behind it all because yesterday, on a whim, I shanghaied  DD  and asked her to repeat back some numbers.  

 

Keep in mind, we haven't worked on this *at all* since last September (week 1 of VT) and when we did work on it we saw absolutely no progress.  She was hitting a brick wall.  Her max was 3.  Period, end of discussion.

 

Well, yesterday - despite being distracted, wanting to get back to what she was doing, and strictly humoring me - she got up to SIX digits (forward).  SIX while distracted.  OMG, that's about AVERAGE.

 

:party:

 

Nobody rain on my parade.  I know digit span isn't the end-all, be-all of working memory, but it's progress, and I just want to celebrate it :)

 

Oh, and in late December she miraculously gained automaticity in most of her addition facts, and the sub facts are solved a LOT quicker.  Seriously, I am totally in awe of this kid.  +/- 1 or even +/- 0 used to take her a full 5 seconds to solve as of November.  I actually dropped drilling for awhile just to regroup, because what I was doing wasn't working.  Now... it's (mostly) instant.   :svengo:  

 

That's all.  Just wanted to share my happiness with some mamas who understand :)

[prairiewindmomma]

Awesome!

[PeterPan]

That's fabulous!!!!!  

 

So tell us more about what your VT place has you doing!  They're all different, so it's interesting to hear.  :)

[Guest]

nm

Edited February 11, 2016 by Guest

[EKS]

That's awesome! I wonder if it is because she is now using her visual memory more?

[shinyhappypeople]

That's fabulous!!!!!  

 

So tell us more about what your VT place has you doing!  They're all different, so it's interesting to hear.   :)

Oh gosh, we've done *so much* and we're not done yet.  In addition to vision/focusing/text exercises, the COVD uses metronome, and has DD work on balance and vision, crossing the mid-line, 3-D, pattern blocks, visual spatial work... and a lot more that I know I'm forgetting.  I have a very thick binder filled with VT activities.  

 

I think the idea is that DD's CI isn't just an eye issue.  It's a whole brain, whole body issue, so her COVD involves her whole brain and body in the program.  There's a LOT of physical activity, she's not just sitting trying to focus on stuff.   She doesn't use any screens (computer, etc.) during VT at all.

[MistyMountain]

That is awesome! The better digispan and improved math facts show it is making a difference! My dc have working memory and processing speed weaknesses and I hope to at least improve the working memory. I do think improving what someone can hold in their head especially while distracted can make a big difference in difficulties. My youngest has not been tested yet but I know she has a big weakness in working memory. I did a computer program with my middle child and saw improvement but I was hoping to improve it in other ways that do not feel like work to them.

Edited January 14, 2016 by MistyMountain

[PeterPan]

That's awesome! I wonder if it is because she is now using her visual memory more?

That would be my guess.  They've probably taught her to visualize as a memory technique.  So she could listen to the digit spans, visualize them, and bam recall them.  Definitely a good thing!!  :)  

[kbutton]

:party: 

 

I'll party with you!!! That's awesome. Your VT sounds a lot like ours. It was life-changing for my older son and is making some serious changes so far with my littler one. So, no rain here, unless you want to consider it some gentle encouraging showers that i am confident will come to water those flowers of progress in your DD's garden. 

[imagine.more]

That is amazing!!