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| Wed, 08-30-2006 - 5:16pm |
Hi.
Stephanie has epilepsy (hopefully temporarily) and saw her neurologist yesterday. She had an EEG and was so fidigity and restless that they couldn't get a sleep reading, but for her being awake, she had a normal EEG and she did last year as well. Therefore, doc thinks her seizures maybe we over (we hope and pray). She takes two medicines three times a day and she will be weaned off one in the next 10 weeks and we will see how she responds to that.
However, the doc saw her and us and by viewing her and knowing her history (not to mention all the previous doctor visits to pyschologists and psychiatrists per neurologists recommendation), doc feels she does have ADHD tendacies, but she feels her major problems are autism - Asperger's and anixiety issues. She will treat both with medicine. She wants to start her on strattera to help her concentrate better. Then she wants her to get tested for auditory processing problems and see a speech therapist. She wants us to continue occupational therapy which I feel is helping and discontinue the psychologist which I feel isn't really helping. He is helping us deal with this, but isn't helping Stephanie. Dr. feels Steph isn't maturing for her age and is intelligent, but has trouble communicating.
My question, has anyone had auditory processing testing and if so, what is it like. Does your child see a speech therapist and how is that working? Any similiar symptoms with your children? I don't know how to deal with the dx but I am glad we have more answers. We'll see what therapist does.
Thanks.
Debbie

We 'sort of' had auditory processing testing done on DS (5 in Oct). I say sort of because they really won't do the testing on kids until they are 7 or so. Basically we went to the University clinic (Towson Univ in MD which has an excellent program) and they did a few hours of one on one testing, testing vocabulary, hearing, comprehension etc.... DS was too young for full testing but the docs didn't think his focusing issues where processing related, more maturity as he tested very high on the comprehension/vocab etc...
Basically, if a child does have CAPD, they teach the child to make modifications, there are some classroom type modifications to be made but no meds or anything like that. there are some computer program type therapies. We bought this one but haven't begun it yet.
Earobics
http://www.earobics.com/parents/
we plan to use it for DS and DD when she gets a little older, hopefully. A SLP friend of ours said its a great tool for all kids as it teaches them to focus on what they are hearing and tuning out the non-essentials which is especially helpful in the classroom.
Well, full auditory processing eval comes from an audiologist. HOwever, our lovely school district likes to do some regular speech and psych tests to screen for APD. Then they will do the interventions if they agree that the child has an APD but they balk at doing the full eval. Still haven't had it done.
The district totally accepts that Mike has APD and have tried earobics for him at school. Took forever for him to comply and then the disk fried the computer, lol. He gets lots of the usual interventions for it (preferential seating, visuals, gain attention prior to giving directions, have him repeat directions, etc)
The district has just agree to test him with what is called an FM trainer. It is a device the child wears (like a hearing aide) and the teacher wears a mic thing. It cuts out the background noise. There are a few different types.
Also, I found the listening program helped him quite a bit. I want to do it again and am working on it, but it doesn't have scientific evidence so the district won't back it anymore.
I am also trying to get the district to pay for music therapy because I think it will help Mike with this. Wish me luck. That one is a long shot.
Lastly, I am taking him to the pediatrician and am going to try to get a referral to an audiologist for a full hearing test.
Cait has auditory processing issues too but hers seem more of the typical aspie variety and she does ok with modifications (checking for understanding, preferential seating, etc) so we stick with that for now.
Renee
Hi!
My oldest son has a Dx of ADD-nos, but has CAPD tendencies and also most AS traits. We can't get the district to do the testing tho, they just use preferencial seating, oral and written directions, gaining his attention before giving instruction, copies of the teacher notes or another student who takes good notes (this year we're trying a study skill class in high school-- so far it's GREAT!). He also takes strattera. We have found that the maximum dose does a lot for him, it works with the part of the brain that works with executive function. Our Dr told us that it really works well for about 50% of the kids that try it. It took 2 months to build up enough in his system that it really works. Your Dr should ck for liver function while your dd is on it. The positive on this one is that it's not a stimulant which often does not work for kids w/ ASDs.
Our son also worked with an OT and ST in elementary school to learn how to listen and cope in the classroom.
We've used Earobics w/ our 2nd grader-- she has learning differences and break apart sounds in words, so far it's been good for her.
Betsy