Auditory Processing Disorder and my son

**joyofsix** · 10-13-2009, 04:32 PM

Just a word on the homeschooling. I was really worried and low and behold it's not that hard. Like you, I finally figured out I was homeschooling anyway so why send him to school. :Hugz: For all of you who say schools must test, evidently the word hasn't gotten to our school system. I called them again today, just to see what they'd say and the principal again told me no such law exists.

**MaryCarney** · 10-13-2009, 05:24 PM

I PROMISE you there is a homeschooling group closer than an hour away from you!!! Go the the HSLDA website, find your state organization, and they can help you. Good luck, and keep us posted.

**zakity** · 10-13-2009, 08:45 PM

**hugs** You are already homeschooling him. Just take him out of school and keep doing what you are doing. It sounds like you are doing great with him.

And, I have a child with a central processing disorder. It makes life interesting to say the least.

And, you know, reach around and pat yourself on the back for me. Not every parent takes the time and effort that you are for your child. You deserve major kudos.

**AmyBoz** · 10-13-2009, 08:55 PM

Okay kat...I just checked in with one of my close friends who is a Speech Pathologist at our local public schools. Unfortunately, your principal is right. They do not have to test him if there is no problem showing in school.

So, your option is to stop helping him at home and let him do what he can on his own and let them see that he does struggle, or, as you said, look into homeschooling. You can also talk with his teacher and see if she will start, what we in NJ call the I&RS,(intervention and referral service) process to move toward testing.

**frugalwarrior** · 10-13-2009, 09:57 PM

My4littlebuffaloes- I don't believe this is correct. My DD went in at 10. They had monkeys w/ cymbols set up for younger children. They were in a darker corner and then lit up w/o warning. If the kid didn't react to diff frequencies. They could do diff. rates and visual non-verbal things. There was nothing to do w/ an IQ test that I remember.(9 years ago).

**NewLeaf** · 10-14-2009, 10:19 AM

I live in Virginia and schools here, I am told, do not have to accept a doctor's diagnosis. However, the school must test if it is requested in writing. My son was tested at age 51/2 for Aspergers and adhd by our school. However, he had already been diagnosed by 3 doctors and was on adhd meds. The school insisted that we keep him ON meds during the testing since he would be on meds at school. So naturally he tested barely adhd and barely Aspergers. Not enough for the special ed to help him. They refused to help him at all. No accomodations, no social skills help. Mainly because his grades are so high and his IQ is so high.

I am telling you this not to bring you down but to let you know that I am also going through a similiar problem. I am probably going to take him off of adhd meds (a med. "vacation" ordered by his doctor) right before he is tested again. The school will retest once every 3 years.

I have thought about homeschooling many times. It may come to that but for now I think he really needs the socializing of the other kids.

Try Wrightslaw.com. It may be confusing at first , but it may help you. If you can, try to find a licensed child advocate - check behavioral clinics for children. An advocate can come to the meetings w/you and speak up for your rights.

**MaryCarney** · 10-14-2009, 03:05 PM

The ultimate goal of soacialization is NOT to have a child who can interact well with his/her peers. It is to have a child who can interact appropriately with people of all ages. Think about it, when was the last time YOU spent an entire day interacting only with people who were your exact age??

Homeschooling accomplishes this much better than any artificial peer-segregated school. On a daily basis, my children interact with people of all ages and stations in life. It is a normal and natural part of their everyday lives.

The educational setting you choose for your family is entirely your choice. I would NEVER presume to tell you that you should or should not homeschool. But I wanted to clear up a common myth about socialization.

The Bible says,"He who walks with the wise will be wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm."

**Sassyclass** · 10-14-2009, 04:45 PM

I think AmyBoz is right. If all else fails, let him fail. They say his grades are good because of their teaching? Fine then let them prove it and when he starts to fail then you will have the proof you need. Document everything and I mean everyting. In the meantime you have all of these wonderful knowledgable people who will be here to support you. Hugs and many prayers.

Cat

**Daisygirl** · 10-14-2009, 08:26 PM

I would have a LOT of trouble letting my child fail because of the neglect and disinterest of the school system. Not passing judgement, just nothing I could bring myself to do.

Another note: when my daughter was tested an IQ test was a portion of the exam. Is it possible that testing is different at different facilities? Anyhow, they commented that DD9 was probably the smartest kid they had ever tested. They said most of the time it was the kids with lower IQs that got noticed for CAP disorder. It just underlines how right your child must be.

All that aside, without a sympathetic ear in the education system where you are, let's look outside the box. Is it affordable for you to get some extra assistance through an occupational therapist or tutoring from a special education teacher? Another thought might be to look into a nearby university. If they have a teaching program, the students are required to put in volunteer hours - an enthusiastic education student might really be helpful.

I really like the fact that you won't take no for an answer. That is a fine quality in a parent.

**Jamauk** · 10-17-2009, 06:12 PM

This is just my opinion, but it is *completely screwed up* that you would have to let your child fail, just to get the school to offer a test. What a serious blow to his confidence and self esteem that would be!

I've just started homeschooling this year. Yes, looking on the internet can be VERY overwhelming! But, in my experience, once you finally make the decision to do it ~ and you accept in your heart that its absolutely the best choice for your child. All of that overwhelming feeling seems to go away.

Do you remember when you were pregnant with your first child? How overwhelmed were you throughout those 9 months? Pretty freaky, right? And how about in the hospital before you went home? Oh Lord, they are going to let me take him HOME?!?! And then you got home, you just did what needed to be done and you worried about the rest later.

That's exactly how homeschooling has gone for me. We spent the first month just working on what NEEDED to be done (reading, writing & math). Now that we are finding our groove and getting into a routine, we're able to add more fun stuff in.

I'm happy to talk to you about it further if you'd like to PM me.

You are a wonderful mother and kudos to you for everything you are willing to do to make sure your child gets the best education he can.