how to figure out how your child learns

[Anonymous]

Hi, I have had a neuro psych evaluation and an auditory processing evaluation for my son. He has PPD Nos, and is 7 years old. He has a moderate receptive language delay, auditory working memory problem, attention issues, motor planning problems, fine and gross motor deficits and some sensory processing issues. Some days he has it all!!!

O.K. so everyone says ASD are visual learners, and he is too- to some extent. He is not a "let's look at this a few times and learn it" visual learner. He is more like let's keep this poster up for six months for you to see the United States and figure out the gist of the states. He knows our state and neighboring states, but it is not like he know s the entire U.S.A. now. He does not have a photographic memory at all. But once something gets into his long term memory, it is there. But it seems to take a long time for information to be stored in his long term memory.

I believe he has a much better probability from learning with his eyes than from what he hears. But sometimes, he is not sure how to put the information from his eyes together. For instance we were doing occupation cards, and I was really surprised he had so much difficulty. He immediately knew the ones he knew. But the ones he was unsure of, he got so anxious. He takes anxiety meds b/c his is severely anxious and sensory defensive. Anyway I have been working with him on these occupation cards, and how he should look for clues. We look at what they are wearing? where are they in their job? (a store, office, outside, etc.) what are they holding? are they in a uniform?

So basically he learns from his eyes, but does not interpret all that he is seeing. Is there a better way to teach this? How do I improve on his speed and accuracy? Repetition? Or maybe there is some brilliant program out there that has helped your child?

any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

Also he shuts down if I talk to much, and he is really sensitive if I am not enthusiastic. So maybe a program that is really fun?

Thank you

[Anonymous]

With my son's psycho-educational testing, his learning style was included. It's not part of your report?

[Anonymous]

OP,

What exactly are you trying to help him learn? More than just ASD kids can be visual learners, and I'm not surprised if he has APD that he would have difficulty with tracking information only given orally.

Hands-on activities are good, like manipulatives for math. Linda Mood Bell method might be good if he's a struggling reader.

[Anonymous]

The idea that people, especially children with SN have one of a few fixed learning styles is very very outdated. In reality a child's learning style would be something like this "Billy needs tactile and proprioceptive input to organize himself before learning, but can often be distracted when this input continues during learning activities. He learns best when there is a visual component to his lessons to help hold his attention, paired with clear verbal content that is both written and spoken. He benefits from working with pieces of a concept in isolation before applying them in context, and responds well when information is organized in a way that makes patterns and relationships clear (e.g. graphic organizers, if then statements . . . )".