Questions about "listening inventory" - long

[amarie1]

Assessment was given to my DS at school as part of his IEP review. In the profile section of draft IEP this is what was written:

"




I have requested a meeting so I can understand what it means. He has an IEP that focuses on writing/organization and he has a dx of ADHD/anxiety and he is borderline PDD. School said that they were concerned with his listening, focus and organization. He is twice exceptional and on lots of meds (intuniv, risperdone, and celexa). I've asked school to review how the information is being presented and feel that if his anxiety was reduced at school he'd listen better. I don't know if I am fooling myself and should back off on the push for the gifted side of his education. Any insights.

Thanks in advance.

Anne

[LandB]

Hi Anne,

I don't know anything about this particular test (I am sure that others will chime in if they do), but I wanted to say "wow," it sounds like your son's school is trying very hard to understand and to help him -- which is great! What a relief that your perceptions of your son, and his teacher's perceptions, were not far apart. I hope that enables the school to be a real partner in figuring out how best to teach him. I think that having a meeting to find out what the school would do with this info is a great idea.

Has he had psych testing for auditory processing, etc.? That might give you more info that could help with classroom accomodations.

Others here are far more knowledgable about gifted education than I, but I do hear over and over that sometimes attentional problems are actually boredom in talented kids. With a receptive classroom teacher and school, you may be able to find the right balance of challenge and support for your son.

Lisa

[amarie1]

We feel very lucky that the school

is so cooperative and that DS has a number of people on his team that truly want him to succeed. I just don't want to increase his meds if there are modifications that can be done within the classroom/home that will improve his listening. Some of it is boredom and some of it is inattention, just not sure how much and when. Thanks for reminding me to stop and smell the roses.

Anne

[justour2boys]

I'm with Lisa... Has the school screened him for Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). As a Mom to an APD DS, I would strongly recommend this testing.

-Robin

[AmandaG]

I think you might want to pursue another ed psych evaluation. Your ds sounds extremely similar to mine - mine ds had a 'borderline PDD and ADHD traits' diagnosis at age 7 which was refined into a disgnosis of Aspergers when he was almost 10yo. Although it is the specific issues your ds faces which are always of more concern than specific label they give that constellation of issues, I found having one clear diagnosis was very helpful for the school to know how to best support and help him. For example, the 'ADHD' like behaviour might not be because he cannot focus, but rather becaue underlying anxiety issues hinder his ability to focus, or causes a level of discomfort which he attempts to resolve through self stimulating or OCD like behaviours. The motor skills issues might get better with practice (like scissor practice) but they will materialize in other situations unless addressed more comprehensively, or they might not really be fine motor problems, but rather visual processing or visual tracking problems that manifest as cutting or printing problems.

It sounds like you have a great support at school, so I would certainly ask if more assessment would be something they are prepared to assist you with and see if you can't get a more clear snapshot of what sort of issues he is having in every realm, and see if all those viewed together don't make for a more clear picture of what actually your ds is dealing with and how to most effectively help him in the school setting.

Amanda

[amarie1]

Thanks for the replies

He has had various psych testing done (educational via school and private) and a neuropsycholigical testing - private, ADOS, VMI, OT, half dozen Conner's etc. but nothing specific (that I know of) for APD.

I'll speak with the ST about additional assessment for APD, she is a strong supporter.

He definately has anxiety issues that impact his ability to learn and focus and he is now maxed out on the level of Celexa he can take. And it's interesting because all of the stimulant meds for ADHD make him crazy and the Intuniv / Tenex work only so so. He wasn't nearly as hyper before taking the meds as he is now (as demonstrated when we switched him over). Next summer we are planning on trying to wean him off of everything so his therapist can see what he is like "clean".

Thanks for the information, I will start learning more about APD and see if maybe that is the key.

Anne

[angeleena]

It sounds like the school is pretty supportive. That is amazing. It seems like more and more people are talking about schools that won't do anything.

I wish I knew something but I don't.

I do know tenex makes my girl extra spacey. She is almost drugged after her 2nd dose of the day but otherwise she is climbing the walls without it.

I wonder if you could give the tenex/intuniv at a different time of the day...like ella's doc said it takes a few hours for the intuniv to really kick in and then it does strongly.

Angi