Anonymous wrote:We had our 8 year old son tested this summer due to concerns about ADHD and learning disabilities. No surprise, he tested off the charts for ADHD (inattentive subtype) but also got a diagnosis of DSM-5: 315.2, Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Written Expression. It sounds like it's semi-related to dyslexia - he cannot translate his thoughts into written expression.

Does anyone have experience dealing with this and/or have recommendations for us for the best types of tutors and help we can give this guy? Any good books out there?

Thanks in advance.

Kudos for getting the assessment, OP.

Not sure where you are located, but I'll mention a few things. For tutoring support, try ASDEC. Lab School of Washington and Kingsbury in DC can offer tutoring for the physical writing (OT) and the organization issues (which are related to executive functioning). These schools as well as Siena offer summer camp programs too.

Your kid may need things like a pencil grip, slant board, or paper with wider or raised lines. An OT can help with this.

For organization help with writing, sometimes physical aids are helpful. For example, Braidy is just one example to help kids structure stories, e.g.,:
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0853/7592/files/SGM-A-complete-story.png?2218675547065812449
https://ps682taots.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/braidy-e1416332584726.jpg?w=735

Lab and other SN schools offer lecture series that are free and open to the public:
http://www.labschool.org/Page/outreach/Lecture-Series

Lab specializes in ADHD and language based disabilities (what they call differences), however, even if your kid isn't on the spectrum schools like Auburn and Ivymount offer speaker series too. Many kids with autism also have ADHD. Many kids with language LDs also have ADHD. There is a lot of crossover how executive function works (or doesn't). So sources of information can be helpful even if it doesn't meet your kid's exact profile.

CHADD offers support groups and online informational webinars.

I also like Ann Dolin's book on Homework Made Simple. She's in VA and I believe also offers executive function tutoring.

If you decide to make a change to public school and need an IEP, check out Wrights Law for the how to:
http://wrightslaw.com

If you decide your kid needs to attend a specialized school, this group does a SN school fair every fall at AU:
http://www.exceptionalschoolsfair.com/about-us.html

That also sounds to me like dysgraphia. You may want to look into treatment for that as well. Unfortunately, I'm still sorting through our own dysgraphia diagnosis, so no tangible advice other than to include that in your research. Good luck!

My DS who is 9 and in 4th grade has a similar diagnosis since he was 7 and in second grade except he already had an ASD and a developmental coordination disorder from the developmental ped since he was 4 in addition to the ADHD, combined type and problems with written expression found by the Neuropsych eval.

Our DC charter had the OT teach him to touch type in second grade and provided him with a laptop, use graphic organizers, etc.

Anonymous wrote:He gets 70 min per week of specialized instruction in writing - a SPED teacher working with him 1:1 or 1:2 (in class). SPED teacher is to provide specialized phonics instruction and the support of a spelling dictionary.

He also gets OT (has low muscle tone) 3 hours per month (have you checked this? Our son's is mild but definitely has finger weakness) and speech therapy (pragmatics and phonics) 2 hours per month.

Have you had a speech-language evaluation? And an OT eval? Those established the need for us. I expect the more comprehensive eval this fall to find inattentive ADHD.

We are at a DC charter. Very disappointing to hear that MCPS is so reticent to provide help. Even if your son doesn't have other issues, inattentive ADHD means that he can't just 'do it if he tries!' Blah.

Wow -- that's great! I'm the one that posted about MCPS. We have both the private OT eval (although that one's pretty old at this point) plus the full private neuro-psych.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. We haven't done an OT eval. but one area where he tested very very low was, interestingly, a motor coordination test having to do withholding a pencil. The neuropsych. basically said we had bigger fish to fry and to focus on the adhd for now.

Does he have any other fine motor issues - cutting food? Doing buttons? Scissors? if so I'd recommend an OT eval. Our insurance covered it but for the co-pay. In our case, we thought all the hate for writing was due to fine motor issues but it turned out he also had language issues (phonics/spelling), despite being a very good reader.

He is ok with buttons and scissors. He is a slow and deliberate and messy writer. He loves to draw, though.

Anonymous wrote:OP again. We haven't done an OT eval. but one area where he tested very very low was, interestingly, a motor coordination test having to do withholding a pencil. The neuropsych. basically said we had bigger fish to fry and to focus on the adhd for now.

Does he have any other fine motor issues - cutting food? Doing buttons? Scissors? if so I'd recommend an OT eval. Our insurance covered it but for the co-pay. In our case, we thought all the hate for writing was due to fine motor issues but it turned out he also had language issues (phonics/spelling), despite being a very good reader.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I will check out understood.org - thanks! His issue is with language/idea organization. I'm hoping that treating the ADHD will be a help. We're in a Catholic school so I'm a little concerned about the resources available to him.

For idea organization, the SPED teacher uses a graphic organizer with him. Actually all the kids use them but he gets closer attention and support as he does this.

OP again. We haven't done an OT eval. but one area where he tested very very low was, interestingly, a motor coordination test having to do withholding a pencil. The neuropsych. basically said we had bigger fish to fry and to focus on the adhd for now.

He gets 70 min per week of specialized instruction in writing - a SPED teacher working with him 1:1 or 1:2 (in class). SPED teacher is to provide specialized phonics instruction and the support of a spelling dictionary.

He also gets OT (has low muscle tone) 3 hours per month (have you checked this? Our son's is mild but definitely has finger weakness) and speech therapy (pragmatics and phonics) 2 hours per month.

Have you had a speech-language evaluation? And an OT eval? Those established the need for us. I expect the more comprehensive eval this fall to find inattentive ADHD.

We are at a DC charter. Very disappointing to hear that MCPS is so reticent to provide help. Even if your son doesn't have other issues, inattentive ADHD means that he can't just 'do it if he tries!' Blah.

OP here. I will check out understood.org - thanks! His issue is with language/idea organization. I'm hoping that treating the ADHD will be a help. We're in a Catholic school so I'm a little concerned about the resources available to him.

11:25, can you tell us more specifically what your IEP says about the help in writing? And what school system you are in?

MCPS has repeatedly refused to give our son any assistance there, despite documented diagnoses. They keep saying his writing is "within the range" and that he could do it if he just tried.

My son is v similar - we are evaluating him this fall. He already has an IEP with help in writing. Have you looked at Understood.org?

Many good resource there.

Is the issue his handwriting or language/idea organization? My child has trouble with the latter (certainly related to executive functioning deficits that are part of ADHD) and we've just started working with a tutor. Graphic organizers help a lot too.

No real advice, but my son was diagnosed with ADHD with some minor reading/writing issues. Once the ADHD was treated through medication, his reading and writing became significantly better. You may find things improve once you address the major issues. We use a language arts tutor but its really for organization and homework help than anything specific.

We had our 8 year old son tested this summer due to concerns about ADHD and learning disabilities. No surprise, he tested off the charts for ADHD (inattentive subtype) but also got a diagnosis of DSM-5: 315.2, Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Written Expression. It sounds like it's semi-related to dyslexia - he cannot translate his thoughts into written expression.

Does anyone have experience dealing with this and/or have recommendations for us for the best types of tutors and help we can give this guy? Any good books out there?

Thanks in advance.