Elementary Teachers or Moms w/ early Elem. kids

I have a question:

I dont want to be one of "those moms", but I really want to help one of my DDs in school.

Background: DD is in 1st at age 5 turning 6. Did not do K due to moving and cut-off dates. DD has a history of sensory concerns and 'shuts-down' if too much sensory input--the first thing she loses is hearing, she simply can not filter information auditorily when she overwhelmed. Her actual hearing is fine, she simply struggled to pull the 'good' noise (teacher talking) from the background noise. She has some other other health concerns (mild fatigue, gross motor troubles) but is academically very capable (fluent above grade level reader).


Problem: DD teacher wants her evaluated for ADD, suggested we talk with DDs Dr about it. I explained her history and the fact that she had two years of auditory listening therapy at age 3 &4 and sensory therapy through an occupational therapist. She also had occupational and physical therapy through the schools in preschool. In school she is not finishing her work, not following verbal instruction (not intentionally), and not paying attention (verbal information). She personally tells me school is too loud, she does not have enough 'time' to eat, finish stuff, etc. (she does have time). She is not answering material when I *know* she knows it (her phone number, her address, how to spell her last name, how to count to 100+, etc) and teacher sends home notes like "DD needs to know phone number, please practice it!" DD has known it for years and rattled it off as soon as I read the note.


What do you think? My mommy senses say it is sensory related , but it is very very hard to be objective with your own kiddo. Anyone with kiddos like this? Any teacher suggestions?


I have already approached the teacher since DD is expressing frustration about school. Teacher suggested we get her evaled/talk to Dr for attentional difficulties. I want her to feel better about school and do well. The teacher is not seeing DD share the information I know DD knows. DD seems to 'blank' or 'run out of time' at school to answer things and gets flustered.

Ideas??!?!? HELP!

 

Can you have her evaluated for sensory issues? We had my oldest evaluated at 3 and he has borderline issues (itchy clothes=no, loud noise=no) but still functions. He also has "performance issues" where he will not perform in front of a new group until he warms to them.

I would start with the guidance counselor. See what resources the school can offer you. IF the answer is nothing, talk to your pediatrician about a referral for a developmental psychologist who can help you by stating exactly what she needs.

As for your daughter, start role playing. Do you have a friend who can help by being the "stranger" who asks her question so that she freezes up? When she does, quietly give her help on ways to handle the situation.

I've found that role playing with my son about different school situations where he is struggling has helped improve his behavior, a lot.

 

My daughter occasionally still shuts down at school because she can't handle all the background noise. There were certain activities and times in the classroom where the kids could visit while they work and Sarah has a real hard time functioning at those times. I would be in there and she would tell me she just couldn't think because of the noise. I've also noticed that Sarah has started doing her homework at different times than Timothy because he wants to chit-chat and visit and she needs the quiet. She commented last week on how much easier things were to do when it was quiet.

Honestly, I'm the same way as Sarah. If there's a bunch of random noise, I have trouble focusing. Concentrated, meaningful noise doesn't bother me (I was in band). But the undirected chit chat of a room full of kids still drives me straight up the wall.

It almost feels like your teacher has made up her mind. I would probably talk to your dr. and mention your concerns and the teachers concerns and get some perspective. Maybe something as simple as your daughter getting to wear earplugs during non-instructional, just do work time would help. I feel like if I had thought of asking if Sarah could have worn earplugs during Tile Math (her most stressful time which did not include instruction) she would have enjoyed it more. She spent most of Fridays dreading Tile Math because of the random, undirected noise that just made it hard for her to think when she knew she had to get a certain amount of stuff done.

Marissa

 

Oh another thing (your reply jogged this) does your school offer a social group at lunch? Our guidance dept has "small groups" and one of them focuses on social skills.

Good luck, it is hard. Also, if she was PPD_NOS, you may be able to use that to get an IEP for her so the teacher backs off a little.

 

I wanted to add that the teachers figured out that Sarah really answers and "performs" better when it's one on one. I don't know how many people at school have told me how delightful she is once they get her off to the side where she can really just interact with them. She won't do things in front of people. It takes getting her off by herself for her to really come through. And they are always amazed at what she really knows.

And when Sarah gets home from school, it's off to her room for time by herself in absolute silence until she's ready to deal with people again.

Marissa

 

I don't know anything about senorty issues (I would never have even heard that term if it weren't for TS). But I do know a bit about ADD. ADD can look different in girls than boys and most people hear ADD and think "boy"

I suggest you read through this website http://www.addvance.com/help/women/girl_checklist.html and especiall this page http://www.addvance.com/help/women/daydreamer.html to familarize yourself with what ADD can look like in girls. One of my daughters is actually a blend of those three discriptions they offer--almost perfectly, and so was I at that age. From what little you have said, it doesn't really sound like you daughter.

Another thing you could do is try to phone or email the therapist you worked with in your old school district (assuming you had a good relationship) and ask her if she has any tips that you can do with your daughter to help her better cope in her new school.

 

My first thought as an SLP was a possible an Central Auditory Processing Disorder. It is commonly confused with ADD/ADHD. HERE'S a link to an informative article from ASHA. Honestly, I have a hard time when there are a lot of different noises going on. I get really overwhelmed, frustrated and feel like I'm crawling out of my skin at times. I wonder if you made a video of her being able to do these things at home while not having to perform if the teacher would open her eyes a bit more. It sounds like she had already made up her mind, which is sad. Maybe your Pedi can help with some ideas or maybe she needs a 504 for some modifications.

 

My son also has auditory processing disorder. We had a list of 'medical' causes to tick off before we tried the 'social' cause for his behaviour. We took him in to get his hearing checked to remove it from the list and the audiologist (sp?) pulled out the information about this disorder and it was like reading all about him. We took all the information he had and arranged an appointment with his teacher. She was awesome and followed through on almost all the help they suggested. Unfortunately we have to go over it again with each new teacher each year. Some teacher are great, some are not. The biggest help for him was the headphones. The teacher wears a microphone while teaching, so that the only voice he is hearing through the headset is the teachers. It also cuts down on the background noise that distracts him. Good luck. Sometimes the hardest part is just finding the right person to talk to.