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Amber1279
08-29-2008, 02:19 PM
It is becoming more apparent to me that my DS, Anthony, has some special needs. Last year in Kinder he started in speech therapy at school, and I did see some improvement, but I think he regressed over the summer. He also seems to be stumbling over his words more often, especially when telling a story. It is almost like he can't form the words with his mouth to get them out.

Last year I expressed concern over his handwriting to his teacher and I feel as though it was almost dismissed. She just thought he was rushing thru his work and not taking his time. Nothing was put in his IEP though, and it really just got worse not better. Anthony still doesn't hold a pencil the right way and doesn't form his letters correctly. The best way to describe it is that he forms them backwards. For example to make an 'a' he first draws a circle and then puts a line next to it. Sometimes the line ends up on the circle, but other times it doesn't. It almost looks like 2 letters because there is such a gap. He does the same with almost all of his letters. At this point DD, Ellie (at 4 yrs) can write better that Anthony (at 6 yrs)

There are other things as well ... he won't snap his shorts or put a button thru a whole. He won't even attempt to tie shoelaces or a bow. He doesn't really color in the lines, it is more like scribbling. His drawings are always very basic. But verbally he can do the work. He can tell me the answer to the math problems without writing them and he can spell & sound out words ... he just won't write them.

Last year he also had a problem staying on task and this year it seems to be worse. His teacher has sent home notes a few times already and on Wednesday had to call me. He just flat out refused to work. He was just sitting at his desk and wouldn't do the writing assingment. He does it at home w/ me when I try to work with him as well. I had to ask for the after school care to do his homework with him because once we got home he would tell me he was tired and refuse to do work.

Most nights he is falling asleep by 8pm and then I still have difficulty getting him up at 7am. If he has gone to bed later it is almost impossible to get him to wake up and those mornings are the worst. He does still occasionally wet the bed at night and I am not sure if it is related to anything or not. He will go thru a period of having no accidents to nightly accidents with no clear pattern.

I did call and make an appointment with his pediatrician but I am not even sure what to ask them to do. I would really like some input on this if anyone has any.

Thanks for reading LOL

kscwgirl
08-29-2008, 02:23 PM
I taught 7th grade special ed for 5 years. First.. does he have an IEP? Either way, you need to ask the school to do testing. That will help a lot, and maybe get you a diagnosis, or what he needs help with. Your ped might be able to help with that as well.

If he's tired.. and sleeping that much, I would talk to your ped about that first off..

Let me think some more.. my brain is scattered right now.

ditzyscrap
08-29-2008, 02:25 PM
Well, some of those things are an age thing...like snaps/buttons, tying shoelaces, etc. Mason can only do snaps, but if they're hard he has to get help. The principal last year asked that we only do velcro shoes for up to grade 3 because many kids can't tie shoelaces. So, in those areas I wouldn't worry...yet. :)

Mason's writing is like that as well (though I think he holds the pencil correctly)...it takes time for these little minds to grasp these skills. :)

But, if you're worried about it, then the best thing to do is talk to your pediatrician or his new teachers.

Paula
08-29-2008, 02:28 PM
If he is sleeping that much, perhaps you should take him in for a sleep study. My son was a discipline problem (not saying yours is). He was VERY impulsive and very spontaneous. The teacher's never knew WHAT he was gonna try! LOL He was diagnosed as being ADHD and put on Ritalin from the time he was five.

Then, we moved to Reno and the insurance situation changed. And, we had to take him to a new doctor. The doctor recommended that we have a sleep study done on him. It turned out my son didn't have ADHD at all. He had sleep apnea. At his suggestion, we had a T&A done on my son and his problems disappeared.

I am a firm believer in sleep studies because in both mine and my son's situation - the results and impending treatments were the best things that ever happened to us.

Leila
08-29-2008, 02:52 PM
While some of the things you've mentioned are completely age appropriate, some aren't. I'd definitely get the school to evaluate him. Take it a step further though and speak to his pediatrician about getting him in to see a developmental specialist. I only say that because many schools test in such a way that many kids who do need help are found to be "not needy enough." Devin (almost 6) was tested exactly that way before his first year at the special education preschool. They simply focused on his greatest need at the time and chose to ignore everything else. JP (almost 9) was found to have NO learning difficulties by the school he attended in SC, when it's very obvious that he has several (he's now being tested privately and will be retested by the school here as well.) issues that need to be addressed.

ITA with Paula regarding the sleep study too. Devin never went through one, but many of his behavioral problems lessened or completely disappeared with the addition of sleep medication. (He had the opposite problem from your son, he simply wasn't sleeping.)

BrattyMeg
08-29-2008, 02:56 PM
He might need some occupational therapy as well as speech therapy. Definitely have him tested by the school...if the teacher or principal refuse to listen and test, then go higher up on the board. Every child deserves to have the proper channels for their education.

Good luck Amber!!