I Need to Test My 3Rd Grader to Rule Out Learning Disabilities HELP PLEASE!!

The Psychology dept. at Georgia State offers testing at a much reduced rate. You deal with a graduate student but also with a professional that over sees the testing a results. You meet with both. It's a great program and one I would personally recomend.

Please give LearningRx a call. ###-###-#### or www.learningrx.com They can test him and recommend a cognitive skills program that will help all the underlying problems he may have. It is NOT tutoring but BRAIN TRAINING. They have had students go through their programs and then be able to go off their meds. It is an amazing program! Give Kristen a call. She is the Director. If you are close to Kennesaw visit www.learningrx.com/kennesaw and go directly to the email link to ask questions. Their site is very imformative. My son will begin their program this summer. This is a super alternative. Hope this helps.

My son's Peds Dr. sent him to Dr. John Whitley off of Wheeler Rd. He had to go to him Ins to get approval to do the testing. That too more that a month. I spoke to them yesterday and he will be tested at Dr. Whitley's office on 03/18/08 at 8am.

Hi A.-

I'm a third grade teacher and I have LOTS of boys that sound like your precious one. I can definitely understand your concerns/anxieties/frustrations. The process within the school system does take a long time! If you are wanting to go through with this process, my advice to you is to be a pushy (in a friendly sort of way) as possible with the school's ILS or SST chairperson.

I'd love to give you more advice if you need it..just email me!

A.

A.,

I highly recommend Transitions of Augusta off Perimeter Parkway. My 4th grader is struggling like your son and they scheduled his testing before we left the office on her first visit. The staff and Dr. Turner are WONDERFUL! Give them a call!

T. A.

Hello,
It seems that a few ladies have given you great advice so far. Take them up on it by emailing them or seeing the people they sugguested. I had a daughter at that stage a few years ago. The public school can only help so much. They are so big and your child will get lost in the system unless you are there fighting for him or looking out for his best interest. We were in Cobb county schools. They told me that she would be on a long waiting list to wait her turn for help. About 6mos. Meantime she too would be having the CRCT test in about 3-4months down the road. There was not enough time for us to wait for her turn to be tested and than find totuors to work with her in time for the test. I was not about to set her up to fail before she even got a running chance. So I took her to a education pyschologist to have her tested. It was a 3hour test and evaluation. This doctor tests kids and tells you if they really are ADD or ADHD. I also paid to have her tested for Dsylexia. All in all, these tests ran about $800-900 without insurance. So all my testing was done in about a 2week period. She was ADD. They sugguested what the school needed to do for her while she was there, especially testing time. By law,They have to give her extra time to finish the tests. Also another room for quiteness so she would not be distracked by the other kids and their noises. For her, she has grown up or matured since then, she's now in 6th grade. We are also homeschooling her for a short while. She was doing much better when we moved her into a smaller classroom at a private school. I know that is not always an option for everyone. Also know, that some private schools offer scholarships (help with tution off) if you ask. Most people are not aware of that. Beginning in the 3rd grade or 4th, that is when alot of kids issues come to really surface. The lessons are harder and the kids are expected to be able to really focus. Generally boys take longer to mature than girls and these kids are very smart. Hope this info helps. Believe me, you are not the lone parent out there with this issue. V.

A.,

I am currently finishing my Master's degree in Special Education. First of all, no teacher should recommend medication. Teachers are not medical professionals! It sounds to me like the teacher is just looking for a "band-aid" solution. I think with a few modifications in the classroom, he may do better in the classroom. For example, moving his desk to a location that is less distracting. Also, using graphic organizers may help him become better organized. Testing for learning disabilities is a long and expensive process and I know it is frustrating for you and your child. I agree with you though, you should look at every option before medicating your child.

I went through this with my 13 yr old when she was that age. Her problem was that when she read a paragraph then had to answer questions about what she had just read, she couldnt do it...seems that she just couldnt retain the information...this may be true for your son also...I would suggest testing this. Instead of reading the section have him read a part of it then check the questions to see if they pertain to the section he just read.

In my daughters case, we did have her on meds but only during the school year...using the meds helped her to gain confidence in her own abilities, the older she became the less we used the meds and now she is completly off them.

I guess what I am getting to is even if they do put him on the medication it is not a forever thing...as he matures it will get easier and building up his confidence and a reward system will help him WANT to do better...

Hang in there
M.

We had our son tested for dislexia, too. It has been a difficult ordeal. One thing I would suggest is looking at some of the research about gluten-free diets and the benefit to children with autism. We did it with our son and have seen dramatic improvements in his focus and attention level. (He is not autistic) The diet has been a HUGE committment for the entire family, but I believe that no child should be on those meds just to make a teachers life a little easier! Wouldn't it be easier to teach if every child sat still and was quite all the time?

I would love to share our experience with you if you want. Let me know!

Good luck!

Hi A.,

I have had personal experience with the same thing except I homeschool so I didn't have the red tape and the waiting that you are having to go through. My daughter could not focus or read well and had a diagnosis of ADHD. Of course since I homeschool I had the luxury of not having outsiders tell me to medicate her. And I didn't... and it was difficult, HOWEVER, through a series of events, I removed the toxins from my home. I removed ALL the chemicals (not just cleaning supplies but toiletries also) and started noticing a behavioral change and also improvement in her reading. She was on grade level in 8 weeks. The ADHD diagnosis was also UN-diagnosed.

That may not be your little one's problem, however I did determine that the neurological damage that indoor pollutants cause can have serious and longterm effects. I completely detoxed my house and not only have we seen improvement in school work, but nobody gets sick anymore. I can't remember the last flu anyone had or even a sniffle. I now have a website www.go2harmony.healthyhometour.com. Feel free to poke around in there and see if your home is toxic.

The worst thing that can happen is you get a healthy home. If he still needs help, then there are natural routes. Omega 3s are good for focus and cognitive help and have similar results to Ritalin without the dangers.

I have story after story if you are interested in hearing more and I would be glad to help. Detoxing your home is quite simple and can be inexpensive.

Regards,

M.

Dr. Ona Graham in Columbus is who I would recommend. You have to have a physician referral to see her and it will take a couple of months to get in, but she was recommended to me by a top neuropsychatrist in Atlanta so she will be worth it. Go to your regular dr and tell him you want a referral to a psychologist.

As far as the school goes you have to tell them exactly what you want to happen and when you want it to happen. If you don't they will take their sweet ol' time. Don't be afraid to push them and nag them constantly. Believe me, they are used to it. Also some states can not even suggest ADD or medication to you. Check out the internet for laws about that.

We had problems like this when my daughter was in elementary school. You have to PUSH, PUSH, PUSH the school! My daughter had a learning disability, but we didn't know that initially. We just kept on the school and the county system to test her. Once that was done, they put her in an IEP (Individual Education Plan) that allowed her to stay in the classroom, but gave her "accommodations" based on her specific disabilities. (Extra time for tests, allowing her to write directly on the Scantron rather than transferring answers to a sheet where you fill in circles, etc.) The IEP is updated annually and goals are given each year. You have to make sure the school is adhering to the IEP. If they don't, you are allowed to file a "due process" to make sure they do. She has done wonderfully since being diagnosed and her grades have greatly improved! She now knows that she learns "differently" in certain areas, and that is ok. Her self-esteem has soared becasue she knows she can do it and compete. Her IEP and accommodations will be able to follow her to high school and college as well!

Hi,
When we had questions about our son a friend recommended a developmental pediatrician they had seen, and we found the experience to be very helpful. She did a medical evaluation, followed by testing to check his gross, fine motors skills, as well as his comprehension. I know she also deals with ADD.
Her name is Dr. Sonia George Bussey, practice is Woodlawn Developmental Pediatrics. ###-###-####. Very nice lady, my son loved her.

I would suggest going to a Psychologist and having him tested. My husband was recently tested for ADD and it really explains a lot in detail. My step-daughter has trouble staying focused, putting sentences together, and following directions. She is in the 4th grade age 10 and the school had us fill out a evaluation which is called the Connor's Evaluation, and her Mom took her to a family Dr. that put her on Straterra. She was a totally different child for the first two or three weeks but I feel that she needs different meds....they say this is a Non-stimulant drug and it may not work. I feel that a Psychologist can determine what type of problem your son has....this test was costly but well worth it. Good Luck, Mom of 3 boys and 1 step-daughter.

Hi A.. I would recommend finding a pediatric neuro-psychologist. this type of professional is very qualified to test and evaluate for learning problems. My now 9 year old granddaughter began having problems in school when she was in 1st grade. She was taken to her pediatrician who immediately wanted to put her on medication without any sort of evaluation. My son insisted that she go to a professional and get evaluated. She did and was diagnosed with ADHD. she is taking Adderall now during school days and it has helped her tremendously. She made honor roll this grading period and is very serious about her school work. Hope this is helpful!

I cannot offer any referrals or potentials doctors, but I am a Psych Major. I am nearly done with my degree. I can tell you from my experience it will be hard to find a doctor who will not take the shortcut and prescribe medication to your son. Besides medication you can try behavioral therapy which has been proven to really help children who have difficulties with focusing.

As far as testing, you may want to contact the Psych Department at GSU or Emory. Although the testing will not be free of charge, it will be much less than going to see a Clinical Psychologist. They may also be able to provide you with alternative therapies.

The last thing you want to do is medicate your child for ADD or ADHD. I wish my mom wouldn't have put my younger brother on medication at such a young age.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that places astigmatisms on those who suffer from disorders such as ADD and ADHD, especially young kids.

I would also suggest to keep your tutor. With time, I believe children learn how to do things on their own with out their tutor and in other environments (such as school). I was a tutor for 4 years and it makes a big difference for kids who have learning difficulties. Sooner or later, the child kind of "graduates" and is ready to be on their own.

If you would like I can find research articles for you pertaining to ADD and alternative therapies.

Hope this helps!

T.

A.,

Sorry, I can't recommend a doctor or anyone to help you with your testing. But I do recommend that you ask to have your son tested for Central Auditory Processing Disorder. It can look like ADD and often occurs with learning disabilities. A child with Central Aud. Processing Disorder has difficulty focusing on the important sounds (such as his teacher's instructions) and difficulty tuning out the unimportant sounds (such as background noise). Kids with this are highly distractable and may appear to have ADD. I hope this helps. You could talk to his school's speech therapist about this possibility and about how to get him tested.

C.

HI- I have been down this road- Almost exactly as you describe with my son. We used Dr. Dana Weinstein at The Center for Psychological Development. She used the testing the school did and looked for "holes" in it and then did a bunch more testing of her own. She really was fantastically helpful- My son is doing great and we are at peace about the whole thing at this point. But the school system is not supposed to ever diagnose a child - ever ! Even the results on the testing need to be assessed by your pediatrician. Good for you for advocating for your son! The many acronyms that the school uses can be mindboggling and knowing your rights and what you can expect from the results is confusing too. Receiving "Special Ed" services in public school is not a life sentence. My older son grew out of his similar challenges. The school should tailor a program for your son to meet his needs specifically- accept no less.

Hi I see you have received alot of responses. I am just wondering have you had your child tested for Central Audiologic Disorders. That is sometimes misdiagnosed as ADD, it would be something to think about if you do not want to have to put your child on meds, and still gives you a chance to get an (IEP) for your child. This is a disorder where they tend to hear what is being said to them but they are not hearing it somewhere between them hearing it and the processing of what was said it gets jumbled. They can seem very much like they have ADD. My oldest was misdiagnosed with this and actually ADD, but the things they did for her helped her out trememdously until we discovered that some of the things they were doing for her were not working very well. That testing is something you should be able to get thru your school but if not I would ask your dr.

Hey there A.. Without going into much detail, you may want to look into a woman named Kay Ness. She has worked with so many of my friends' children and they have experienced MAJOR change in their children's school performance as well as behavior. Her methods, from what I understand, are a bit outside of the box, but you can't argue with success. She offers an approach that avoids labels & medication. She evaulates the whole child to help you discover the root of his problem. I've got five children (2 boys,3 girls) and would readily take any one of them to her if needed. Don't let the school label your son and put him in a box they define for him. They just love to label kids without thinking of the long term effects of doing that. I'm not saying schools are bad, they just do a rotten job of recognizing and valuing the individual and seeking to meet the individual needs of the child. There is a root cause of your son's lack of attentiveness - could be diet related, sleep issues, etc. Look for the root and you'll find your answer. Allowing the label of ADD to placed upon a child, especially a boy, is a steep and slippery slope. I wish you the absolute best! You can find her by googling her name.

Warmly - J.

Hi A.,
I don't know of any doctors/psychologists in the area that can take care of the testing for you BUT as far as school if you want to look into some accomodations for your child you can always ask your principal or guidance counselor about a 504 plan to get him through until testing is completed.
Hope that all goes well,
L.

A.,

When my oldest (now 21) son was in elementary school he had many of the same problems. I took him to a psychiatrist who gave us some paperwork to fill out and then put him on Ritalin. He complained of severe stomach aches so we discontinued it. We decided to have him evaluated by another psychologist who worked with the Genesis Christian Counseling group. Unfortunately I can't remember his hame but I was referred to another counselor by him for myself later and her name and number is:
Linda C. Wright
Genesis Center for Christian Counseling
5676 Roberts Drive
Atlanta, GA 30338
###-###-####
If you call this office, you can tell them what you're looking for and possibly get his name and number, or schedule an appointment with Linda - she's a very good counselor and may be able to help you, or refer you. The man we saw did not work out of this office, he worked in Norcross out of the Greater Atlanta Christian School. My son went through a bunch of tests and we discovered he had a learning disability, not ADD.
Good luck to you! J.

The Medical University of South Carolina (in Columbia) has the best diagnostics facility for childhood developmental and learning disorders in the state. I don't know if you have to have a referral for an appointment, but you could try asking your child's pediatrician or your family doctor. It generally takes a while to get an appointment, but if you ask to be notified in case of a cancellation, you may get in sooner. From what I have been told, these people are ridiculously thorough. Good luck!

Hi, I have 2nd grader who struggles with concentrating and staying focused. He is not ADD. We find that the fewer distractions around him the better he does. We homeschool and he does really well with the one on one interaction. Is it possible for you to school him at home? There are hundreds of curriculums out there that will help you give him that one on one instruction that it seems he needs. I hesitate to put kids on drugs to control their behavior just because I feel it teaches them at an early age to depend on a drug to modify their mood. Which can later in life make them a higher risk for drug abuse. If you can I would try homeschooling.

M.

My son went through the exact same thing in 3rd grade. My ped did a test and concluded he had ADD and put him on Concerta. I took him off after a month because the side effects were worse than the problem. I later found out that in order to get a proper eval, they have to get a complete screening by psychiatrist. Sooo, that's what I'd recommend. Find a child psychiatrist that will perform the complete evaluation. He may have signs of ADD but could be nothing, could be something else. I don't agree that popping a pill is the magic answer. I'm sure part of it's age. 3rd grade is such a transition year as the kids have pretty high expectations. My daughter is in 3rd grade now and I see her struggle too. good luck!

Don't fall for the ADD thing - unless it's been correctly diagnosed by atleast 2 psychologists...the side affects of these meds can be awful. The public school system is very hard for boys - they don't sit still like girls do and it's hard for them to focus...it sounds like the tutoring helped - why not stick with it? Ask what programs the school has for needing one on one help - they should be able to accomodate. If not- I would see a developmental pediatrician and a psychologist- if they determine ADD then you can explore your options...you should also try to see if there is anything underlying that is affecting his school work (social problems, low self esteem, diet etc...) ADD and medication isn't always the answer - it's just an easy bandaid to teachers and pediatricians who dont want to put the time into seeking the real issue!
Good Luck
If you need some names of developemental ped's and psychologists -let me know .

I have 3 boys of my own and have struggled with the same thing with my 6 year old....it is NOT ADD - it is more of a personality thing with him - which we have to try and work with every single day...still don't have an answer for him, but working with him all the time.

Hi A.,

When ruling out things, consider your child's nutrition. Does he/she get plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, omega threes, whole grains, etc.? I've learned that diet has a big part of helping with attention, behavior and focus. Check out Dr. William Sears' web site for some of his recommendations www.askdrsears.com. I am a Juice Plus+ representative and have one of his DVD's that tells how he is able to help children manage their behavior with diet. There are some books out on this as well. You can learn more through his web site and www.takejp17.com.
I think that you are going in the right direction to rule out and get to the heart of the problem. Meds are prescribed too quickly usually putting a band-aid on the problem instead of fixing the problem.

D. R.

I have always thought hat kids need to learn in their own way but that is next to impossible in a school setting. I had several boys whose Mom's were clients of mine who got great results giving the boys a b-complex every AM before going to school. They even paid attention to days they forgot and found the boys came home with trouble on those days. They were able to focus better. Now I am not a health care professional (I am a wellness consultant) and this is from my own study but there are so many natural things that can help don't feel that once he is diagnosed that meds are the only option. You might even want to try a few things while you are waiting on results. I would be happy to share more if you are interested. I have info and articles I have collected and probably a CD or two as well. I personally will only use organic whole food supplements. Using synthetic supplements is risky at best (again in my opinion) and sometimes can make things worse if they react to the chemicals in the product. Might I also suggest that you try cleaners with no chemicals if you haven't already. Some kids (especially ones prone to be ADD ish seem to be more reactive to chemicals. I hope some of this helps.

Sincerely,

K.

You should certainly have him tested in both the school and with a psychologist. I'm not sure what area you live but there's a great psy. in the Myrtle Beach area. The office is called McCarty Associates ###-###-####). Speak with the office manager (Carol) who is very helpful. My son went through a lot his 1st grade year and they were able to get him on track AND give me advise on dealing with the school. Dr. McCarthy wrote one letter directed to the Principal and within 2 months they had completed a full evaluation of my child. He was placed on a 504 plan which a team of psychologists and teachers develop for his specific needs. This plan eliminates the need to be pulled out for resource. Please let me know any questions you have. It has taken me 2 years of battling the school and figuring things out. I'm happy to help!
S.

0Hi sweetie..I can so empathize with you..Our daughter is ADD.. After waiting around for her teachers to actually say..maybe she should be evaluated..I insisted..In NY though the school evaluates and you also give it to your Dr..Our Drs. gave us the paperwork for the schol to fill out and return..But when returned, the end result was also based on what we, as parents, see and feel, as well.In NY, there is no charge for this, unless our Drs billed our insurance company..They are providers of our insurance. ) Actually, it cost us nothing at all, except for the co pay for her prescription. The schools are funded deliriously wonderful and for any testing, counseling etc...is provided by the district/ county / state.. I know it in not like that here though, so I do not know the procedure.. They are accomodations with any and every child..whatever they could need in Nassau county and especially so in our Long Beach school district..Our taxes are higher ( much ) but we have the most AMAZING educational services there that you can imagine. We are extremely disappointed with the services the schools are able to provide here in Horry county..Most of the older folks who know the difference have asked us to make it more known..so there can be a change for the better and better funding to provide many services that are not available here..So that children would consider moving here with THEIR grandchildren..Tough call I guess for parents here..Higher taxes for higher educational and emotional/physical services and transportation for all students.... We must be spoiled in NY..I dont know about other states but our educational services are excellent, where I come from. But you do get what you pay for..
Our daughter is a good eater, always has been of healthy food..( she prefers milk water, or orange juice over soda and crap most times, loves veggies and meats ) To respect the Foods option...there really may be alot of truth there, but that did not apply to us. Of course, we were also Meds as a "last option "...I really really regretted that..I felt badly that she "suffered" or I guess you can say, was held back, longer than she could have been, had I not been so afraid of the "meds" option, but you dont know until you know..Our Daughter had a tutor for almost 3 years ( $ 60 a week ) but responded very well..Once she was diagnosed, and she really is a "classic" ADD child ( problems focusing, therefore problems holding on to information..Organization...little to none unless we were right there.( or the tutor was ).. Once she was put on meds..Concerta first, at the lowest dose to start...eh..not so good..slight change but she got how can I say..agitated easily..Frustrated easily..after just one month, we switched to adderal..Again, the lowest dose..What a difference!! In just 2 months, the tutor was not necessary,her grades tests and projects improved, her ability to retain information and focus was much improved, and her self esteem and confidenceas well..She was smiling alot more.. BUT, after about 2 months, it seemed like her body got too "used to" the meds..and the meds werent working as well..The Dr. put her on 15 mg. instead of 10 and she has been back to "herself"..We had taken her off the meds ( she didnt "want" to take them anymore and was fighting us ) for a few months..We then moved here from NY over last summer..I was again getting the focus and attention words from her new teacher , who never knew she had taken meds to begin with.. So, we put her back on..15 and the teacher wrote to me and let me know in just 2 weeks how much she improved and she could even tell when she missed her meds for 3 days straight ..( I was away and didnt know she "trashed" them instead of taking it ) It is supposed to be a 12 hour med..but for us, consistantcy tells all..We give her meds 7 days..as her Drs. recommended..She is so much happier..After her first 3 days on her meds this Sept..she came home and said and I quote " Mommy my medicine is really working, I was SO INTO science today!" She was very excited and happy about it..I know now if she misses any she becomes so frustrated so easily and gets mad at me for anything..So, obviously, when I am not traveling, we make SURE she has her meds every morning with her gummy bear vitamin! Please dont feel guilty about meds..My daughter is a much happier person..When my nephew was young ( he is 19 now ) and was put on meds for the same thing..He called my Mom ( Granma ) and told her in a very excited tone how happy he was..." Granma , I can even read now!! " . So please...dont listen to people who may not have had a good experience ( some times it takes time with the right dosage and timing before you give up..)..Please let us know how you handled things and how they worked out..Good luck..By the way, my daughter was in 2nd grade when she was tested..and started her meds in 3rd grade..She is now in 5th.. So, even with the adjustments of moving ( out of state) new school and new friends and life, she is handling things beautifully..Without her meds...I honestly dont think she would be doing as well, or be as happy during the adjustement...

You've gotten great advice so far!! But I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. Last year when my daughter was in 1st grade we lived in a different town then when she had been in K. Let me tell you, that was the worst school experience I had ever had with her so far!!! There was no communication with her teacher about how she was doing in class. She was behind in Math according to them and I wanted to sit with the teacher after school and discuss it because my child had no problems with what I gave her at home to do. I never had that meeting, the techer kept avoiding me and telling me I could come in during the day when she taught math and sit in!!! And like you, she never brought home papers that showed me what they were doing in class and how she was doing it!! And hardly ever any home work except for spelling words and math and I didn't understand half the math either because it was this Every Day Mathamatics and it taught in circles, it was confusing to say the least. But buy the end of 1st grade, she couldn't even subtract because they didn't really touch on it in class. We moved (oh the joys of military!!) back to where she had started going to school for K and she is doing great in the 2nd grade. Her teacher is available to talk about any concerns before school, after school, email, phone, etc! And if we would have had to stay any long where she went for 1st grade, I would have homeschooled till we moved from there!!

So, just so you know, it may not be just your son who has a prolem. It might either be his school or his teacher this year.

Good luck and I hope you find some answers soon!
~S.

A., I am a mother of 3 kids - two boys 12 and 8 and a 6 yo girl. I am also a former elementary school teacher. So I come to this subject as a mom and someone with classroom experience with students - some of whom were medicated. We even had our son tested this summer regarding our concerns and were given the medication suggestion as well. But I simply refuse to go that route as I have experience with students who truly needed medication to function and just being distracted and careless, as my son certainly is, are not justification for medicating him.

I urge you to exhaust all options before going to medication, as the side affects, both physical and emotional, can be pretty serious. It sounds like you want to explore other options first. I have recently been doing research regarding my 8 yo son who's also quite distractable, and often extremely moody/belligerent. I have found loads of research confirming that preservatives, artificial flavorings, colorings and sweetners in foods can cause these attention and behavior issues. You may want to explore this topic and discuss it with your pediatrician too. We are seeing some definite improvement by controlling our sons diet more carefully. I've also found that providing for lots of outdoor play after school seems to help him when it's time to focus on homework. He's been sitting at school so long he needs to work out the tension before her can concentrate.

Check with your son's school to recommend a psychologist for the testing. They can provide a good list to start from. And I would go with a recommendation from another parent whom you trust. I cannot recommend the Dr. we used as there were some issues with her business practices when we were trying to get our final report from her and it wasn't pleasant to resolve. I will tell you it's an expensive process to pay for on your own, and insurance often doesn't pay for much of it. But the peace of mind in getting the results can be worth a whole lot. The full testing will probably take 4-5 visits to complete, but you'll come away with a really comprehensive look at his abilities and suggestions for addressing his specific needs.

I wish you the very best as you work to help your son.
C. E.