IEP eval (possible ADHD) - relatively low Verabl and VMI(?) skills

[Anonymous]

We're in the process of getting my K son an IEP based on his impulsive and inattentive issues in school and at home. He had speech delay as well and was getting speech therapy two years prior to last year (at K). We just got back a couple of assessments done by the school Psychologist.

What stood out in the reports was that he has 'considerable variability in his performance across domains of the WPPPSI.' In short, his Verbal Scale score was apparently lower than the others. We'll get a chance to talk to the school about the eval in a couple of weeks, but I wonder if it is 'expected' or 'normal' for children with speech delay to show lower ranking in the Verbal area.

In addition to Verabl, there's this "VMI - Visual-Motor Integration" assessment (need to self-educate on this...) that showed even lower than Verbal, percentage-wise. And I'm curious if others have similar 'disparities' between some of these tests and if they indicate ADHD one way or the other.

TIA!

[Anonymous]

I know that I was told that big differences between subtest categories often were an indication of a learning disability.

However, my son -- who had a gigantic difference between the highest and lowest subtests -- is not showing any LD issues and is now in 4th grade.

My daughter -- whose scores were pretty even across subtests -- is the one with the LDs.

So it's just a red flag, I think, not necessarily a predictor.

W

[Anonymous]

If the VMI's are low you may want to get an eval from a pediatric developmental optometrist. They can really help with the school related issues that can result from a tracking issue. My oldest son has similar issues, verbal and VMI- but he was very high in the logic and reasoning. He is starting UMD honors/scholarship in the fall. Treat the deficits, but focus on the talents. I wonder how many of us would have had disparities if we were tested and retested as much as our kids are!!

[Anonymous]

Kudos to you for getting started so early!

We went through the IEP process last year with my DS (now a first grader) who had been diagnosed a few months prior to K with expressive/receptive speech delays as well as SPD (primarily related to visual/motor integration, planning and coordination). He, too had variable scores on the WPPPSI but it should not be used to diagnose ADHD or learning disabilities. It's just one data set that can be used to show differences between intelligence and performance. In our case (and it sounds like yours as well), it showed that our DS was not performing at the level he was capable of performing. It could not tell us why there was a discrepancy.

If attention and impulsivity are already problems for your DS, you might want to pursue an evaluation with a developmental pediatrician/psychiatrist. We did and DS does have ADHD. It's not uncommon in kids with ADHD to have up to a 30% developmental delay. Their brains mature in the same was as "normal" brains do, it's just slower. So, if your DS is 6 but has a 30% delay in parts of his brain, in some areas, he may not be performing much better than a 4 year old.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2007/brain-matures-a-few-years-late-in-adhd-but-follows-normal-pattern.shtml

Our DS still has a mixed profile but because of pull out services, he is performing at grade level in reading and math.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP here. thanks for the posts.

I spoke with the Psychologist and she said Verbal score and speech delay are not related.

Treat the deficits, but focus on the talents.

This is a great advice I hope I'll always remember. Thank you so much.

[rleedc]

It sounds like you are all on the ball early with your DC. Awsome! My family is just coming to terms with our 10 yeatr old's issues. Can anyone suggests a school to address auditory processing issues for a 10 year old in DC or Maryland (private or public)? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

OP here - just thought I'd give a quick update. DS did get ADHD 'recognition' (sorry for lack of a more appropriate word) through school psychologist, and will have an IEP for services.

Also, the OT and Spec Ed teacher who tested him have had no concern at all of his VMI. So I guess he just wasn't testing well for the psychologist on the VMI part.

So the only relatively low score he got was Verbal, which really is not a surprise to us.

to the immediate PP: we're in VA so don't know anyone. But good luck to your search.

to PP on 05/17/2010 10:48: great link to a fascinating study. thx much! we don't want any more tests on him for the time being but might try NIMH later this year.