Question

[PattiS]

We got Brandon's first kindergarten report card and since I"ve been in constant contact with his teachers none of the "unsatisfactorys" come as a surprise. But my question is and pardon my spelling, is it a charicteristic of an ASD child even though mild to be able to have an excellent attention span for some things that next to nothing for others. He also has ADHD.  But he can read all the time but doesn't want to go to group and have discussion, and when it comes to the coloring and writing activities he can't focas at all. I have to sit on him to do his homework and he still can't follow the directions even though I am sitting right in front of him.   I know not very many of you have experience with ADHD but it's amazing how similar both disorders are they overlap in symptoms and behaviors.  He is not on medication yet we are trying to make changes in the classroom first, but I'm afraid it's not working. Just need a little input.
Thanks

[Cindy]

I remember how confused I was at the inconsistencies in my sons' work.  Does your little guy have sensory issues?  If so,  group/circle time may be difficult because of issues of physical proximity: too much of a crowd, noise, smells etc, in addition to requiring communication and social skills that he may not have acquired yet.  Another thing to consider is whether he has challenges in central auditory processing.  Throw those all together with the ADHD and it's no wonder he's struggling.

His resistance to writing and coloring could be due to  motor skills deficits.  Have they done any evals in this area?  What method does his school use for teaching for writing?  Handwriting without Tears is great and has been the standard in all the schools we have attended.  Talk to the OT about it.

Not being able to follow homework directions is another tough one.  It has to do with  executive function.  They literally don't know where to start.  Either all the information is given the same importance or the wrong information is given the highest priority.  It's nothing concsious- he just can't help it.  I don't know about you, but I have never been any good at word problems.  I have the worst time figuring where to start- which of the info do I need to solve the problem and which is extra.  It's like that.

In many ways, IMO, our very high functioning kiddos are at an even greater disadvantage.  They excell in so many ways, but the underlying skills they lack are the ones the NT kids picked up/developed naturally. But they are essential to success.  It's nothing we consciously think of learning or doing so we don't easily seem them or know how to break them down into baby steps.

HTH

[PattiS]

Yes his motor skiills are 1 1/2 years below his age. I believe he does have sensory issues but I admit it's taking me a very long time to get that motor questionaire done it's so subjective that it's hard  I need to get that done tonight and drop if off tomorrow before his appt on Thursday. I am going to buy materia and we are going to try a weighted vest to see if that helps him to ground himself so he knows where he is in space.  He has had handwriting without tears we will need to do it again I think we will need to pay since our insurance won't. I am still up in the air about if we should keep him at this school they are trying very hard but I'm not sure if they're the best for him. They are willing to try anything but they have no experience with these kinds of issues. Well thanks I feel better Cindy sometimes I need to just talk to people who understand what we're dealing with. Keep you posted.

[Jen]

Great reply, Cindy! I really appreciated your last paragraph- yes, so often our 'high functioning kids' have struggles  purely because people think they dont need help...but as you pointed out, they dont pick up some very important skills like the other kids do. I cant count how many times I heard one principal say,'he gets straight A's, why are we servicing him?' Because if he could get A's and doesnt because of his disability, it must be affecting him educationally!
But i digress, I just wanted to pipe in and thank you both for your input.
Hope to see you back here soon.

[PattiS]

Well we're having another meeting with his teacher next week. Classroom stuff isn't enough and sadly no matter what book I give her he's doing ok but still can't focas and some days she can't get him to do anything. So we're going to talk to our psychologist about meds for him to see if it makes a difference. Either way I think we'll be sending him to public school next year, he can get more resources there then he can now.  The screening is going well but I think I need to talk to the director one on one and find out what they can do for him next year should we decided to put him in district. It hurts me to do this but we're running out of options we need to do what's best for him  I know he needs an aide all the time and at the private school it's just not possible, at the public it is. Know what I"M saying?