Central Auditory Processing

[Kiwi Phil]

May 2005 I raised this issue as young Hayden was thought by a Specialist Teacher to need to be tested for Central Auditory Processing.<br /><br />Here is the outcome, for those that repsponded to the origonal post.<br /><br />The Speciatist Teacher wanted him to<br />1. See a Paedeotrician - whose report said he was "a normal kid with a country background" - no further action unless something changed.$140.<br />He actually said to the iwfe, can't understand why he has been referred to me.<br /><br />2. The optomitrist, said he had to have glasses to help concentrate on writing and reading - $180, but there was nothing wrong with his eyesight.<br /><br />3. A Speech Therapist, who had him visiting for 1 $50 per hr visit a week. After 6mths I felt all he was actually doing was English (verbs,nouns,writing etc), so i pulled the pin on her to her objections.<br /><br />4. A Hearing assesment (private) - everything 100%<br /><br />5. A Central Auditory Processing assessment, $200 for private, but went Public. It took 10mths for the appt, and another 2 for the report.<br /><br />Conclusion: <br />The report was some 7 pages of technical jargon and at the end the conclusion was:<br /><br />Hayden has trouble carrying out instructions when more than 2 are given to him at one time. If he experiences such difficulties he is to ask the teacher to repeat the instructions and write them down so he can work through them.<br /><br />We are left shaking our heads. We have done this great circle at some expence and gained nothing, because there is apparantly nothing to gain. <br />The Paediatrician was correct right at the star.<br /><br />We are left wondering just what is going on in our education system.<br />The Specialist Teacher recieved the report and is going to 'action' it.<br /><br />As a side note, <br /><br />a)I have got hin a Tutor at $35 for 1.5hrs, per week, to assist him, and he thinks that's great. (mind you, and don't mean to offend anyone -ie ladies - but i wonder if his level of concentration hasn't something to do with her great looks and low cut tops - I am serious - )<br /><br />b) he was to go to a Private Secondary school next yr (goes to a private primary now). As we have a good public seconday close by we have suggested if he goes there, we will pay for a Tutor for him from the money we save. At the moment he thinks that a great idea, but has a year to change his mind.<br /><br />Cheers<br />Phillip<br /><br />-

 

[PW2]

Re: Central Auditory Processing

I don't recall the original problem, but I would assume there was some sort of learning/behavioral problem that originated all of this?<br /><br />Has it improved?<br /><br />I can tell you from vast experience that dealing with a "special needs" child and the professionals who are there to help (mostly well-intentioned folks) can be a very difficult minefield to navigate.<br /><br />First fundamental rule of thumb: Above all else, use common sense, and listen carefully to the kid.<br /><br />2nd rule: Take whatever the professionals tell you with a grain of salt, and in the immortal words of Ronald Reagan, "Trust, but verify"<br /><br />3rd rule: Very few "solutions" are completely right or completely wrong. This is where common sense comes in.<br /><br />In my case, my daughter lost most of her sight at age 5. In school she resisted learning braille until grade 6, when she lost a good share of her remaining sight, and not learning braille was no longer an option.<br /><br />We put her in the Wa St school for the blind for grade 7, where they did an excellent job teaching her braille, but a shaky job with everything else. I spent a lot of time at that school, and could not get her out of it fast enough.<br /><br />Ever since, it was a constant battle with professionals. I can't tell you how many pros took me aside and cautioned me that I was expecting too much from her, I was putting too much pressure on her, and that she would hate me forever, and that I should leave it up to those that know what they are doing!<br /><br />I feel reasonably sure had I took their advice, she'd be selling pencils on a street corner somewhere.<br /> <br />Instead, I got to attend her graduation from the engineering school at Oregon State University, where she earned a software engineering degree.<br /><br />And we get along great today.<br /><br />Good Luck!

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Central Auditory Processing

I feel your pain guys. My 10 yo daughter has terrible eyesight. We get new glasses every 6 months and its still not really soon enough. I'm convinced she will be blind by graduation time. She is EXTREMELY smart, and that isn't just her dad saying it. However she is bored with school. She just decides to goof off instead of doing her work. Her progress reports will show everything 95 and up and then there will be several 0's. Everyone is upset over it but nothing is working. When she was born she was a big girl, as she grew up she stayed that way. Never fat except as a baby, always tall. She would be 3-4 inches taller than classmates. I had to tell that to tell about the other daughter. Steph just turned 4. At 2 the doctors wanted her tested for musclular dystophy (sp?) because she was so small. I said it wasn't happening, just didn't think it was necc. Went to a different doc a month ago for RSV and now he wants her tested also. SO..... She gets tested sometime this month. I still feel against this. She is the same size as tons of kids her age. I'm only 5'8, my moms 5'3, dads 5'6, moms dad was 5'2, wifes mom is 5'3, wifes grandmother is 4'11. Lots of shorties in my and my wifes family. I guess we really are trolls.

 

[PW2]

Re: Central Auditory Processing

There is lots available in adaptive technology for vision impaired students. It is generally lots cheaper now than in the early days when I got to buy a bunch of stuff for my daughter. (About $14 k at the time)<br /><br />You have to do a fair amount of individual research on what is best for your situation--we were able to spend a bit of time in Ontario at their school for the blind in Brantford where they had virtually everything that was available on display for trial use.<br /><br />Blindness is not a disabling handicap unless you allow it to be, and blindness is no reason an otherwise bright student cannot succeed at school (Or in the real world).

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Central Auditory Processing

PW2. Yes, he is slow in Maths and English, and was spending part of each day in a class with the Headmaster. <br />Of the 14 boys in his class, 11 were with the Headmaster. <br />When these extra lessons ceased, un-be-known to me, all the boys asked if they could continue with the Headmaster, as they enjoyed his lessons. He was 10, that was the 1st male teacher he had ever had. <br />The Tutor believes his difficulties lie in comprehending instructions in subjects he dosn't enjoy. Yet put a book on the Titanic in front of him and he won't leave it alone till he has most facts memorised. Same goes for irrigation/pumps/running his own Nursery. He has a obsessive passion for these.<br />So we know we have a problem, we know he is not alone with it, and we know he is good in areas he likes.<br />He has been taken to Sunday Flea Markets since he was 6 weeks. He now serves customers and his product knowledge is excellant, and he never complains about the 4am start.<br />So I am not to worried. We will work with it and he will be OK.<br />Plywood, if you don't mind me asking, in ignorance, how does your blind daughter work as an Engineer. That is one tough degree, and I can not imagine how a person can work in this area without being able to see a project or its materials. That is an amazing achievement.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[jtexas]

Re: Central Auditory Processing

Has he been evaluated for ADD?

 

[PW2]

Re: Central Auditory Processing

It is an amazing achievement. She is an amazing girl. And incredibly hardworking.<br /><br />With Microsoft OS, there is a keyboard stroke for every action that you can perform with a mouse.<br /><br />And an amazing screen reader produced by a private company.<br /><br />And a professor at Oregon State U that has developed a new software program for dealing in math and sciences (Funded in part with federal grants)<br /><br />She gave a adaptive presentation to fellow Microsoft employees the other day--they scheduled her in a room that seats like 60 people, and it was standing room only--a half hour presentation with the Q&A lasting better than 2 hours...<br /><br />In answer to your question, I don't know how she does it, but she does it and I am proud of her.<br /><br />Good luck with your son!