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Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities
Testing for LD (or maybe ADHD Inattentive Type)
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Anonymous
| My child tests well in certain areas but, according to the WISC, has low working memory and processing speed. He's in GT now and I am really seeing that play out. He understands the concepts but cannot master basic math facts. I am interested in testing for a possible LD. I have a feeling I have a 2E child. Does anyone have any recommendations for such testing? Would it be educational testing or would I go to a medical doctor (like a psychiatrist)? Thanks! |
Anonymous
| We're in the same boat and I don't know what the right answer is. My 3rd grader has ADHD (primarily inattentive) and with executive functioning deficits (slow processing speeds/poor working memory, etc.). The executive functioning deficits are considered by the school to be a LD. As he's gotten older and his ADHD managed with medication, it's been increasingly difficult to determine if his learning challenges are because of the ADHD or LD. His general/spec ed teachers and I have talked about it and we think it would be incredibly difficult to tease them apart. It also probably wouldn't matter because we'd still have to address both and it really wouldn't matter if it was ADHD or an LD. So, I guess my advice would be, at the least, test for ADHD because medication can improve the symptoms whereas medication doesn't do much to improve executive functioning. I know you're new to this and haven't struggled with the idea of medication yet but when dealing with ADHD, medication is an option in the treatment plan. It is not an option when dealing with just a LD. You need to know what you're dealing with and what you're options are. So, my advice would be to at least test for ADHD and to identify someone who can work with you on a multi-modal treatment plan. |
Anonymous
| FWIW. I've always suspected that my DS was ADD as he was unable to pay attention in class. I never medicated. I'm happy to report that maturity and the transition to middle school made all the difference. He is getting good grades and loves his classes now. His teachers are reporting no problems with attention. |
Anonymous
These kid of posts bother me. It's a General Parenting response. You suspected your DS had ADHD because he was unable to pay attention in class but you didn't get him tested and everything turned out okay. ADHD is much more than paying attention in class and if your DS is doing well in middle school then it's highly unlikely he has ADHD. Some undiagnosed ADHD kids do fine in elementary school but most struggle in middle school because of the increased academic demands and expectations of organization and time management. With ADHD, parts of the brain mature more slowly than in 'normal' brains - up to 30% more slowly. Cognitively, a kid with ADHD may be advanced but many other areas lag behind. ADHD is much more than attention and if that's your only symptom, it's not ADHD. Oh, you say you didn't use medication with your DS but why in the world would you even consider medication if you didn't have a medical diagnosis? |
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks so much for your response!! Any recommendation for where to go for diagnosis???? |
Anonymous
| Where are you located? |
Anonymous
| No Va. |
Anonymous
| I'd check to see if your DC might be eligible for one of the ADD studies at NIMH in Bethesda. We found it to be extremely valuable, you get a written report. We had several docs participating so a very nuanced look at DC. The wait times are short and it's free. Google on their site and give a call to see if it may be an option, our experience and that of a few other families we know has been excellent. HTH. |
Anonymous
|
NP here who wasn't even following this thread til now.
Our son was just referred yesterday for ADD/ADHD testing by his pre-k teachers so I came on here to read. I just contacted the NIMH study people. Is your DC currently enrolled in this? Do you know what is entailed? Our son is 6 yrs chronologically/4.5 developmentally. Thank you. |
Anonymous
OMG...hypersensative, are we? The only difference between my DS and a diagnosis was an apt, which I did NOT make because I am opposed to doping my kids. So, chill out...I'm allowed to post my experiences here as well as you. And just because I didn't get a medical diagnosis doesn't mean that I don't know what it is or what symptoms are displayed. My son still demonstrates many of the symptoms, but maturity has helped. |
Anonymous
Who gave you the 4.5 assessment? Untreated ADD can cause development to lag but it sounds like your DC may already be under the care of a Dev Ped? The best source of info on any of the individual studies is the study itself or the NIMH website. The testing is basically the same as what would be performed privately or by a school district. Depending on whether your DC qualifies and what the initial testing shows, some studies offer to perform a MRI, which you can decline if you wish. |
Anonymous
| Responding to 11:36 and a NP on this thread ... I agree with the poster to whom you are responding. A child with ADD has a complex set of neurological deficits that go far beyond merely failing to pay attention in class. If you only knew how hard the unmedicated ones try to pay attention ... it is like asking a near-sighted child to try to see the blackboard just a little harder. I am glad your child is doing well in school, but please save your judgments regarding "doping kids" to yourself as you have no idea what you are talking about and thus should not be posting on the special needs forum at all. |
Anonymous
This would likely be a haul for you but we see Dr. Chuck Conlon in Bethesda (we're in Alexandria). He's highly regarded and my kids love him. There are a number of threads with information about him. If you search on his name in this forum you can also probably get some other NOVA care providers. I posted a couple weeks ago about a speaker at the last NOVA CHADD meeting (which you might think about joining or at least look at their website www.chadd.org) who I was very impressed with. http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/132072.page. I've also heard good things about Dr. Joseph Balzarett 703-893-8585 who is in Vienna. Good luck! |
Anonymous
She's not hypersensitive, just tired of ignorance - I use "ignorance" deliberately because you obviously have chosen to ignore the vast amount of peer-reviewed research available about the importance of diagnosing ADHD and multi-modal treatment. "I am opposed to doping my kids" tells us just how little research you've done and how biased you are. Anyone who knows the reserach would never use such perjorative language even if they chose not to medicate. No one can dispute the efficacy of medication for the treatment of ADHD. Your experiences are valuable only as lessons on what not to do. |
Anonymous
stop trying to be two different people. It's obviously the same poster. |