HFA/Asperger's son maybe not actually a lefty- need rec for handwriting OT ASAP

[Anonymous]

Son who is now 9 I thought was always a righty when he was learning to write, but somehow his OT when he was 4 labeled him as a lefty. He brushes teeth with his right hand, throws sometimes with right, Bats with right, eats with left. When he first started printing, I always thought his right hand looked better. Now it seems his handwriting has declined, even since the spring. His father is a lefty, I am a righty. His sister is a righty. Many lefties/ambidextrous on his father's side. When I just had him write a sentence with his right hand, it looked more evenly spaced than left hand. I need a really good OT recommendation who specializes in handwriting. The homework that he has completed this week looks atrocious and I'm worried that something else is happening macro-picture-wise. It is completely jumbled,tilting, disorganized, and he is spelling things incorrectly, including his name and simple words. Usually he is a great speller. When you ask him to recite one of the words he misspelled, he will say it correctly, but he writes it incorrectly. Example: even-->evean. Mom-->Mod. He's also confusing his words when he speaks. There may be something else going on as well, but he really does need a good OT to intervene to help him with the writing he has to do for school. Suggestions for Rockville/Gaithersburg/Potomac area?

[Anonymous]

Have you looked at Treatment Learning Center in Rockville? We saw Shirley Anderson for OT. She is super observant and notices tiny things that floored me even after the first session. We didn't do writing specifically with her but we loved her. You could ask if she does writing try another of the OTs there. Our sessions focused more on fine and gross motor muscle exercises instead of sitting with a pencil.

[Anonymous]

If you're noticing sudden regression in handwriting and spelling, you need pediatrician, STAT. An OT might be good for solving the problem, but you need a doctor to figure out the why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're noticing sudden regression in handwriting and spelling, you need pediatrician, STAT. An OT might be good for solving the problem, but you need a doctor to figure out the why.

OP here- is there something specific you are thinking about that needs to be addressed STAT at pediatrician? Stroke?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're noticing sudden regression in handwriting and spelling, you need pediatrician, STAT. An OT might be good for solving the problem, but you need a doctor to figure out the why.

OP here- is there something specific you are thinking about that needs to be addressed STAT at pediatrician? Stroke?

I'm not a doctor, so I wouldn't begin to guess, but sudden cognitive decline seems scary and warrants at least a call to the doctor.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PPs--call the ped. They may want to do a scan to check for brain tumor or other problem--it's very unlikely, but my brother did have brain cancer a few years ago (totally fine now! In remission so long it's considered cured!) so I am sensitive to the symptoms you mention.

[Anonymous]

Yes, please call the doctor ASAP. It might be nothing, but sudden changes in cognitive status and loss of skills can also be something very serious.

[Anonymous]

OP here. He had a brain MRI in March with contrast to try to find the source of an endocrine problem. Nothing was found.

[Anonymous]

The way you described it in your post, it sounded more like a neurological issue than an OT issue.

I have a son whose handedness has never been clear, and he's ended up as a lefty. Still, I think at a certain point you just have to go with whatever the choice was. The even spacing with his other hand could be because he's forming letters more deliberately. The decline in handwriitng and garbled words are more concerning and weird.

[Anonymous]

My brother is a lefty who only writes with his left. Does everything else like eating, throwing a ball, etc with his right. Works for him, he is also a surgeon and an excellent artist.

My husband is a lefty who writes with his right. Everything else he does with his left. His handwriting is terrible but it doesn't matter bc he never writes anything by hand but his signature. He is a lawyer.

I would have your son learn to type ASAP. My son with ASD was taught to type when he was 7 in second grade by the OT. Prior to this he has had OT since he was 4. Handwriting is over rated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brother is a lefty who only writes with his left. Does everything else like eating, throwing a ball, etc with his right. Works for him, he is also a surgeon and an excellent artist.

My husband is a lefty who writes with his right. Everything else he does with his left. His handwriting is terrible but it doesn't matter bc he never writes anything by hand but his signature. He is a lawyer.

I would have your son learn to type ASAP. My son with ASD was taught to type when he was 7 in second grade by the OT. Prior to this he has had OT since he was 4. Handwriting is over rated.

My DH and brother are probably both on the spectrum or very close even though neither has a diagnosis but they are old.