schools for a bright kid with slow processing speed

[Anonymous]

I would suggest posting your inquiry on the DCUM kids with special needs forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my child exactly. GT/LD massive discrepency with processing and other scores (verbal, etc). Hit a wall in 5 - 6th grade. I never in a million years would have thought she had any form of ADD or ADHD. Guess what, she was thoroughly tested at Stixrud and is inattentive ADHD. She is now on low dose concerta and is a happier child and is working to her FULL potential… meaning processing speed has improved tremedously. She is now in middle school at one of the challenging all girls schools in the area and doing extremely well. While some people are telling you this profile does not = ADHD inattentive, I am another person telling you there is STRONG correleation with this profile (it also inlcudes anxiety which has been much reduced by her abililty to actually work at her ability). Once you address the learning profile you will likely see that your child is able to be successful at many academic institutions. Good luck and check out Stixrud

Agree. I'm a PP. Both kids (different sex) hit a wall around 5th and 6th grade and unfortunately had traditional, punitive teachers at the time. Everything seemed normal up to that time then suddenly homework is more onerous, takes more time, Johnny now hates school, grades start to falter, etc. Yes both ADHD-inattentive.

[Anonymous]

Field, definitely. And I would try it first and if you don't see a huge difference, then go ahead and get the testing done. Testing is expensive and really just leads to a label (IMO). Field gets all kinds of learners and helps them blossom

[Anonymous]

Reviving this post. My DS is very similar to OP's (high scores except very low processing speed) and a recent ADHD diagnosis. I don't think he would qualify for an IEP, but for those who tried the 504 route, was it successful for middle school? Debating whether to try the public middle school for a year or just go the private route.

OP if you are still checking, curious to know what schools you plan to look at.

[Anonymous]

Educational testing is one thing that can help you get a diagnosis, but a developmental pediatrician might be a good idea as well. Auditory processing and/or visual processing can be a real problem that would warrant OT work, and does not always come out in the base battery of testing performed by some educational testers. I also think McLean, Field, Burke and possibly Bullis (depending on the diagnosis) could all be good options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you Jeff for removing 8:39's snark. The SN community appreciates it. We are all trying to find our way with crippled children and need help, not judgment from someone who hasn't walked a mile in our shoes.

That's an odd comment for someone who claims to be non judgmental. My kid is a lot like the OPs (and yes she has ADHD in addition to slow processing speed and various other issues) but I don't consider her crippled by those challenges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this post. My DS is very similar to OP's (high scores except very low processing speed) and a recent ADHD diagnosis. I don't think he would qualify for an IEP, but for those who tried the 504 route, was it successful for middle school? Debating whether to try the public middle school for a year or just go the private route.

OP if you are still checking, curious to know what schools you plan to look at.

My DS has ADHD diagnosis and slow processing speed--also very bright. He has gone through public middle school and done very well with the accommodations provided through a 504 plan. He gets time and a half on tests and is seated toward front of room. These types of accommodations are usually very easily enforced because there is no grey area. If you need something else, sometimes it gets challenging depending on the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you Jeff for removing 8:39's snark. The SN community appreciates it. We are all trying to find our way with crippled children and need help, not judgment from someone who hasn't walked a mile in our shoes.

That's an odd comment for someone who claims to be non judgmental. My kid is a lot like the OPs (and yes she has ADHD in addition to slow processing speed and various other issues) but I don't consider her crippled by those challenges.

I dont' find it odd at all. These disabilities are on a spectrum. Some kids ARE crippled by their disability if it is more severe. And PP did not claim to be nonjudgemental. Glad your DS is highly functioning. Not all of these kids are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my child exactly. GT/LD massive discrepency with processing and other scores (verbal, etc). Hit a wall in 5 - 6th grade. I never in a million years would have thought she had any form of ADD or ADHD. Guess what, she was thoroughly tested at Stixrud and is inattentive ADHD. She is now on low dose concerta and is a happier child and is working to her FULL potential… meaning processing speed has improved tremedously. She is now in middle school at one of the challenging all girls schools in the area and doing extremely well. While some people are telling you this profile does not = ADHD inattentive, I am another person telling you there is STRONG correleation with this profile (it also inlcudes anxiety which has been much reduced by her abililty to actually work at her ability). Once you address the learning profile you will likely see that your child is able to be successful at many academic institutions. Good luck and check out Stixrud

Couldn't agree more. We are in the same situation, except we tested our DS at age 6 so he didn't "hit the wall" but we were able to address the ADHD situation early and before his self confidence was affected. He is in middle school now at a challenging all-boys school now and thriving.

[Anonymous]

OP -- not sure if this has been explained above (didn't see it on quick review), but you need the assessment if your child will need extra time due to slower processing speed. Schools noted above at this age are usually relatively flexible, but by high school and for standardized testing you will need documentation from third-parties re need for any extra time for testing. Some kids do not meet diagnostic criteria for ADD, but still has slow processing speed. You need to sort out what the issues are -- meds help with some, but not others.

[Anonymous]

So glad to have found this thread - we're about to have DD assessed but also need to schedule a WISC for admission purposes. Her WPPSI (for K) was all 99s, but a much slower processing speed... so many of these descriptions sound like her. Do others find WPPSI and WISC experiences to have been similar? Her ERB was miserable, so the WISC makes me nervous.

[Anonymous]

Answer to 11:31, Yes, and it is more complicated. Some kids tested over a number of different years will perform differently on processing speed. Ours is always slower than would be expected with the cognitive testing, but sometimes it tests slower and other times tests dramatically slower. Sometimes one battery of testing paints a clear picture, but sometimes it can leave one equally confused as before the testing and only over a period of years does any pattern possibly emerge. Note - possibly. Kids change over that time, so interpreting trend lines is not easy.