Changes since starting IM

[Tiramisu]

Dd has completed nine out of fifteen therapy sessions with IM. The OT said after six sessions we may start to see changes. 

 

She had started doing math more independently recently, but in the last week or two she has started math before I asked about it or asked me to bring her the workbook so she could get started without prompting from me.

 

She prefers me to read science and history aloud, and she likes to do something else while I read (looking at pictures, painting her nails, etc.). This really irritates me because I feel she isn't focusing but she insists it helps her focus. So we can battle over this. However, I admit I'm seeing rather remarkable improvement in her level of interaction with me while I'm reading and her responses to questions, even though she's doing this other stuff. The OT is working on divided attention with her with IM, but the OT says she is also working on it at home just by the way we do things. I was seeing it as a negative but the OT thinks there are benefits to her being able to do this. Maybe she can attend to other stuff without really beind distracted by it? Anyway, whatever is happening, it seems positive in the day to day.

 

She has spent time cleaning twice at her own initiative. This might seem like nothing, but around here, it's big. Really big.

 

IM is being done sans med, but I did an experiment and gave her meds one day. The OT could notice it kicking in. Dd was objectively (as in scores) able to do perform better on activities which required sustained focus. At the same time, she reacted to things going on around her, and this did bring down her scores somewhat. This meant the overall scores kind of averaged out. I might see that as a kind of inattention but the OT still seemed to have a positive view of it in terms of being able to divide her attention, which she sees as EF.

[nature girl]

This is amazing, wow! The whole thing fascinates me...And now I want to see if our OT might be willing to try it. (Even being able to get Anna to help clean for more than 0.0005 seconds at a time would be a miracle. ;) )

[OneStepAtATime]

So glad that IM seems to be helping.

 

As for needing to do other things while listening, I know that with DD and DS they HAVE to be doing something physically to be able to focus on something being read to them.  Otherwise they spend their mental resources fighting to stay still and can't actually focus on what I am reading.  Sitting and listening, doing nothing else, just doesn't work for them.  If you read up on different types of learners, this is actually fairly normal for certain types of brains.  They need to move to think.  DD will paint her nails, play with the Barton tiles, sketch, play with clay, etc.  Then she will go outside to swing for a bit to solidify what I was reading or we were discussing.  DS will pace or play with Legos or bounce on his mini-trampoline or even splash around in the tub in his swim suit.  Is it distracting for me?  Yes.  Can it get irritating?  Yes.  But when I realized they really did SO MUCH BETTER with learning when they could move it hit me that just because that isn't the way I need to learn, it doesn't mean my way is better than theirs.  It is just different, KWIM?

[Tiramisu]

So glad that IM seems to be helping.

 

As for needing to do other things while listening, I know that with DD and DS they HAVE to be doing something physically to be able to focus on something being read to them.  Otherwise they spend their mental resources fighting to stay still and can't actually focus on what I am reading.  Sitting and listening, doing nothing else, just doesn't work for them.  If you read up on different types of learners, this is actually fairly normal for certain types of brains.  They need to move to think.  DD will paint her nails, play with the Barton tiles, sketch, play with clay, etc.  Then she will go outside to swing for a bit to solidify what I was reading or we were discussing.  DS will pace or play with Legos or bounce on his mini-trampoline or even splash around in the tub in his swim suit.  Is it distracting for me?  Yes.  Can it get irritating?  Yes.  But when I realized they really did SO MUCH BETTER with learning when they could move it hit me that just because that isn't the way I need to learn, it doesn't mean my way is better than theirs.  It is just different, KWIM?

 

Thanks for sharing this! :)

 

I like how your dd can go outside to to solidify stuff. I wonder if dd could do this or if it's something she could work toward. I've hesitated to take too many breaks because I may not be able to get her back on track easily. She also can hyperfocus a bit on the things she's doing on her own time and I wonder if that could interfere with time for processing whatever we've been learning about.

[Tiramisu]

This is amazing, wow! The whole thing fascinates me...And now I want to see if our OT might be willing to try it. (Even being able to get Anna to help clean for more than 0.0005 seconds at a time would be a miracle. ;) )

 

I really want to get my youngest to give it a try. I hope to convince her.

[PeterPan]

Misu, I've forgotten.  Does she do only sessions with the therapist or does she have homework as well?  And how many days a week?  

[Tiramisu]

Misu, I've forgotten.  Does she do only sessions with the therapist or does she have homework as well?  And how many days a week?  

 

Twice a week for eight weeks with no homework. Each session is an hour, and that's almost all they do, in many different variations.

 

I think the IM research I've read is that fifteen sessions is what's needed for IM. The OT mentioned reaching a certain number of *somethings* in the tens of thousands range.

 

I also think dd has met her initial goals but the OT keeps increasing the difficulty levels for divided attention. Dd can now tell when that's happening and ask the therapist about it.

 

The other thing is that the therapist is soooo encouranging and she is really boosting her self-esteem by making a lot of fuss over her successes...and giving her a candy reward after each session. Candy is this dd's love language, but I'm a little mean and don't get it much.

 

Anyway, she is cooperative going there and always comes out with a big smile on her face. After the session, we have routine of her calling home while I drive to ask if anyone there needs us to pick up anything on our way home. In the past, she would have been irritable doing this, because it always means holding on while everyone in the house is consulted, but now she's really calm and sweet about it. There's a noticeable difference. She also is calm when I'm talking to her while she's listening and talking on the phone. That's something that can drive certain people crazy enough to have a little meltdown but she can handle it well.

 

She just asked for me to bring her her math book again.  :001_wub:

[Heathermomster]

This is great news. I'm very happy for you and your DD.

[displace]

Sounds great. We're going to start soon too (if it's not cost prohibitive) :)

[nature girl]

Are you continuing to see any benefits, Tiramisu? OT is going to start trying IM with Anna in a week...I doubt it'll be more than 10 minutes or so once a week, but I'll try to supplement at home using Heather's method, if Anna will put up with it. Whether we can get anything beneficial from this limited trial is highly questionable, but I'll keep up with it if I can find enough encouraging stories.

[Tiramisu]

Dd is actually having a horrible day, but for another reason. However, I think the IM is continuing to help. Dd did a shadow day this week at a high school. She's in pre-algebra now, but she went to an algebra 2 class to visit. She said many students in the class couldn't understand the teacher's explanations but she could. She said, "I think my adhd is getting better." She was so proud of herself. When we recently talked about choices for high school, she said that she's not worried about the academic part of going back to school anymore. I think she discerns a difference in herself and it's really building her confidence. And after the IM sessions, I've noticed she's calmer for awhile. In a way it's similar to her response to her adhd med.

[nature girl]

That's amazing, wow! And how exciting for all of you!

 

The more I think about it, the more I realize it's probably crazy for us to even try now, there's no way Anna would put up with the program for more than 5 minutes, and she's not going to see any benefit from the little she'd be willing to sit through. But this does give me a ton of hope for later. :) I hope you'll keep us posted!

[Tiramisu]

That's amazing, wow! And how exciting for all of you!

 

The more I think about it, the more I realize it's probably crazy for us to even try now, there's no way Anna would put up with the program for more than 5 minutes, and she's not going to see any benefit from the little she'd be willing to sit through. But this does give me a ton of hope for later. :) I hope you'll keep us posted!

 

I'm sure they'd make it manageable because it's indicated for ADHD, but it's something to ask about. I suspect they would start with whatever level  or amount of time is manageable and go from there.