Posted by: Sandra314 Nov 29 2005, 09:26 PM

What type issues are you dealing with and and do you use any kind of special ed curriculum?

Posted by: Sandra314 Nov 29 2005, 09:49 PM

Medical Condition(s):
-Hydrocelphalus diagnosed after premature birth

-craniosynotosis (premature fusion of skull) 2 skull reconstructive surgeries Jan and Feb. 2001, diagnosed at age 2

-mild to moderate scarring of the liver, liver problems in which after testing indicated he has a metabolic disorder. diagnosed at age 10 months

-Deletion of the 2nd chromosome (chromosomal abnormality)
diagnosed at age 3

-Undescended right testicle and Hernia
Surgery this Jan 20, 2005. diagnosed this December 2004 at age 4.

-eye muscle surgery to correct v-exotropia on March 30, 2005.

-Behavioral problems, we are having Michael tested this coming year, We suspect he has a form of Autism (PPD or Asperger's)

Year in School: We homeschool. Doing pre-k
I do not use a purchased curriculum but I do work with Michael one on one tailored to his needs as a special needs child.

Posted by: carmatlock Nov 30 2005, 12:48 AM

My 6 yr old
**Autism
**Asperger's
**Pervasive Developmental Disorder
**ADHD

One of my 4 yr olds
**Pervasive Developmental Disorder
**(I suspect: Autism/Asperger's)
**Nystagmus
**Asthma

The other 4 yr old
**Pervasive Developmental Disorder
**(I suspect: Autism)
**Nystagmus
**Asthma


I have heard there are no Special Ed curriculums. . .but of course we are not in any area like Metroplex. . .I heard you just fine tune/tweak the current curriculum you like or that goes along with the child's learning pattern. You know what I mean like I know I am very visual. . .so I need lots of helps. . .if your child was visual, or whatever type way they learn best. . .go with curriculum that goes along with their learning "Style"--I thought of what I was trying to say!--yeah. . .


I used Alpha Omega and "I" loved it. . .of course there I go again. . .with my learning style. . .not his. . .he did not like it and I am not sure if it did not fit his learning style or if it was just the fact that twin bro's were getting to play and he was NOT. . .they were barely 2 when I started him at barely 4. . .but he is so highly intelligent. . .then now they are 4 and we have family school. . .of course the twins are learning 1st grade math but do not know the alphabet. . .but know what an angle is and big brother told them it was a corner and he had 4 in his room on his ceiling. I had not even thought of his room having angles. . .now WHO is the TEACHER??????? Even I get confused at times.

Today at lunch my mother was with us and she said something about next time we will do this. . .He looked at her and said Nanny what does next time mean. . .she hemmed and hawed around and finally spit out that next time meant when we were here again. . .etc. ....he looked at her and with a straight face said Oh you mean LATER????? I was in shock. . .where does this wisdom come from. . .WOW!!! He is 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He blows me away sometime.

Anyway, just wanted to answer so here is what we do.

I do Five In A Row. . .Weavers/Interlock(1st Grade/Pre-k - K). . .I read to them nightly. . .am going thru the Bible also. . .do a deal on Obedience. . .1st Grade and K Saxon Math. . .and whatever I see I like at the time! Since June I have read to them over 250 books.

Well I will go. . .need to go eat dinner and get myself in bed!

Car

Posted by: carmatlock Nov 30 2005, 12:54 AM

Oldest (6 yrs) is doing 1st grade work

Twins are toggling between Pre-K and K work. . .depending on which book we are in. .. they are doing K Math. . .and Pre-K Interlock. . .but it has such good Biblical aspects. They start off in Genesis 1 - 10 and the Weavers starts with the next chap in Genesis. . .so I did not want my kids missing this part of the Bible. . .it is very neat.

My 6 year old can read words like Librarian, Friendly, Disappear. He spells television. . .he asked us one day how to spell Television. . .we said T.V. he got real mad and threw a fit. . .said that was not how you spelled it. . .

Oh to be young and know everything. . .wouldn't that be nice!

Car

Posted by: Seeria Dec 21 2005, 03:28 PM

We're just getting started on homeschooling (love your CD btw Mrs Young) so haven't decided on a theory or curriculum as of yet.

Our 9 year old daughter has Autism, dx'd at 18 months as severe. Our 7 year old son has PDD, ADD with sensory dysfunctions and severe speach delays.

Posted by: carmatlock Dec 21 2005, 06:51 PM

Welcome Seeria to the forums. Just wanted to pop in and say hi and let you know we are here. Feel free to ask anything. I may not have the answers but between all these wonderful women and the Internet we can help you out.

Carmen
PS I need to find my CD. . .I have lost mine. . .a needle in a hay stack so to speak. . .so if I can't find it. . .I may be re-ordering. . .haha

Posted by: carmatlock Dec 21 2005, 06:55 PM

My twins have some sort of Sensory Issues as well. I forgot about that. I think they all have a bit. . .oldest rubs the crown of his head across the floor the length of the Living Room. The twins just don't like touching anything at all. . .or anything touching them.

And they both have to have something in their mouth. . .one sucks his finger and the other walks around with a blanket hanging out of his mouth. Don't know what that is called. . .

Sorry
Forgot
Carmen

Posted by: kpmom Dec 22 2005, 09:56 AM

Sandra, my 11 y/o son Kevin also has a chromosomal abnormality...partial deletion on chromosome 2 and partial extra piece of chromosome 22.

He has numerous behavioral and learning issues because of this.

We use as our guide The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills.

Posted by: carmatlock Dec 22 2005, 06:22 PM

Praying for Christmas at our house to be a happy time. . .We just found out that at the beginning of December that oldest age put him in a different "insurance carrier" and I did not know they had taken him off the twins policy. Therefore now I have 2 more days of meds that control some of his outbursts and attitude. . .and no ins for oldest and I called today to call in prescription and see if I could get refilled and how much it would be. $119.00 and dh is off work due to surgery last week. . .so don't know how "bad" Christmas may get with oldest off his meds. . .and that was just ONE MED.

Anyway, just wanted to vent. . .hoping we have a good time. . .haha

Carmen

Posted by: alisonamsb Dec 22 2005, 10:03 PM

Hi Carmen,

I just read about your dilemma with the ins. and prescriptions. Have you contacted your DS's dr.? They often have samples specifically for this. His regular dr. might not, but he mighgt know where to get some to tide you over until you get the ins. thing straightened out. I would try calling earlier tomorrow, as I'm sure alot of the dr.s will take off early tomorrow for the holiday.

alison

Posted by: Sandra314 Dec 22 2005, 10:23 PM

Eileen,

I have never meet another parent that has a child with a deletion of the 2nd chromosome. We have been told that Michael's other medical issues and behavioral/learning delays maybe due to this delection. We were also told that they could not tell us if he would grow into adulthood or have children of his own.

What if anything have doctors told you?

Posted by: kpmom Dec 23 2005, 09:46 AM

Sandra,

The doctors pretty much gave us the "I don't know" answer as well.
In Kevin's case (*not* nessecarily your son) it's become apparent as he's gotten older that he'll need help all of his life. When it comes to these deletions, there seems to be almost endless possibilities for outcomes. I believe it's because the individual genes affected vary from child to child. The genes on the 2nd chromosome that are affected in Kevin's case are probably not the same one's that are affected in your son's case. I *think* that's why doctors don't have definite answers. Not like Down's Syndrome , for example, where the outcome is more predictable (although, even with Down's there is alot of intellectual differences from child to child).

How old is your child?

Posted by: carmatlock Dec 23 2005, 11:08 AM

The Pharmacy said they could give me 5. . .I picked those up last night. . .that was all they said they could give by law. . .I was grateful. . .and they were free. . .but I have also gotten his Rx's there for a long time.

So I told them once I got ins straightened out we would be back to get the whole order. . .thanks for the help.

God must have whispered in the pharmacist's ear.

Carmen

Posted by: hsmomma Dec 24 2005, 02:03 PM

Hope everything goes well for you and your families, Ladies. One day it will be a time when "no resident will say I am sick".

Posted by: Sandra314 Jan 11 2006, 10:10 PM

Michael is now 6 years old.

Posted by: MrsE Feb 21 2006, 12:27 AM

I know I'm jumping in kinda later here but.....

My oldest (5 years) seems very likely to be ADHD (as are my husband and I)

We aren't using any special curriculum but he is very auditory and learns much better through hearing things read to him or on videos, CD's, tapes, etc. He remembers almost everything he hears, if you can get his attention long enough for him to hear it!

He is very active and highly distractable but very bright as well.

My second son is speech delayed slightly. He just turned 3 and only started using sentances a couple of months ago, before that he was only using single words. He always pauses between words in his sentances. He lisps and most people seem to have a hard time understanding him.

I am just starting to look into what I can use to help him, I really don't know. His Dr suggested sending him to speech therapy right away so that he would be ready for school but I would really rather find something I can use at home. He's going to be homeschooled so I feel that there isn't a rush to "get him ready for school".

My youngest seems pretty "normal" so far, he is 6 months old. Actually, so far he's doing everything earlier than his siblings!

Posted by: kidchaser5 Feb 21 2006, 08:22 PM

How do they test/diagnose for SID? My step son's Dr. mentioned him having it, but I don't think he was ever diagnosed. He did have real issues with not wanting to be touched, and he is still uncomfortable, but it's not as bad as it used to be. He also has major picking problems! He always picks at nothing, but eventually he has a scab, and it never goes away because he keeps picking it! So now, he has tons of scars all over his arms, and elsewhere too. He also hates to look anyone in the eye, I mean you have to tell him to do it, and even then its only for a second, then back to the floor again. Isn't SID a form of Autism? He has habitual tendencies the Dr. said. He also makes this noise in the back of his throat(this is a new one) all the time. The Dr. said to ignore it, because telling him to stop will only remind him that he's doing it in the first place. He is also on 30mg of Adderall XR for ADHD(compulsive). He does have moderate speech problems, but is currently at grade level and passing. He lives with his mother, and she doesn't always seem very motivated to find out exactly what is wrong! It's maddening sometimes because we are always having behavior issues(especially if we are not there like in church for instance.) Once diagnosed with SID, what is done to help?

Ok, I originally was going to tell you about my daughter Summer. She has Dyslexia, and I just wanted to tell you about a Math program I use called 'Math-U-See'. I love it, and she does very well now that we are using it. I got it at our home school fair we go to every year. The website is www.MathUSee.com if you want to check it out! It is very easy to use, and I only wish I would've learned math this way, as it was always really hard for me

Posted by: alisonamsb Feb 21 2006, 09:47 PM

A possible option might be to have him evaluated by a private speech therapist through your insurance. The therapist will be able to give you details regarding his weaknesses and strengths and strategies to help him develop his speech and language skills. I am a pediatric speech therapist and I have parents request this occasionally. Some parents requests monthly consults so that they have someone objectively assessing their child and giving the parents new ideas and goals for the next month. It doesn't work with everyone but it is a viable option for HS families who already work with their children.

While it's true you don't have to "get him ready for school" these preschool years are very important for speech and language development. It is much easier treating these problems at a young age. Unresolved speech and language problems can hinder literacy development: sound awareness, grammical rules, etc.

Obviously, it's fine to take a wait and see approach when the delay is mild but if it is more significant, it's best to address it early.

Hope that helps.

Alison






There are several professional who can diagnose SID: occupational therapist, neurologist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician. An OT is probably the best source for evaluation and treatment though. Every child with SID presents with different symptoms but there are general categories that most fit into: hypersensitive/hyposensitive to touch, sound, motion, visual stimuli, body awareness.

Some professionals place SID on the Autism spectrum continuum. But most view it as a separate condition that often coincides with Autism. When children are very young, SID can look alot like autism. That's one of the many reasons why there's been such a large increase in autism rates in that past several years. When the SID is treated appropraitely, language and social skills begin to emerge and it becomes obvious that autism is not the issue. Of course, that's not always the case. There are many children with autism and SID together. However, many professionals these days are linking the two together: if signs of SId are present, then the child must have autism as well. and this not true.

hope that helps.

alison