Comments on: Cumulative Cognitive Deficits http://special-needs.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/cumulative-cognitive-deficits Contains information on various special needs from the unique perspective of the adoptive parents of special children. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:07:41 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: susan in maine http://special-needs.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/cumulative-cognitive-deficits/comment-page-1#comment-818 susan in maine Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:33:58 +0000 http://parenting-sp.www.adoptionblogs.com/2008/03/19/cumulative-cognitive-deficits#comment-818 Having been through this with my son, now nearly 24, and going through it now with my daughter, nearly 10, I have some suggestions (if your friend is interested!)<br /> <br /> First, I would do a complete medical work-up, especially an eye exam and hearing test. My son was diagnosed with ADD between 4th and 5th grades, but that didn't seem to clear up all the learning and behavioral issues. Between 5th & 6th, we also found out that he needed glasses! If the child has a hearing or visual deficit, they are probably totally unaware because it either came on gradually or was always there. Additionally, these kids are less likely to want to display weakness, and saying they can't see or hear may be something that the child perceives as their fault. Also have a complete physical, including lab work, to rule out any underlying health issue of which you may be unaware. It's also a good idea to have your child evaluated for underlying psychological issues such as depression. Children can manifest depression, grief, anger, etc. in very different ways than adults.<br /> <br /> If the doctors assure you that everything is all right, then you proceed to the school. As a parent you have a right to insist on complete testing - DONE BY THE SCHOOL. The schools don't want you to know this, because it costs them money, but they have to do it. This will include IQ testing and achievement testing. Among other things, they are looking for whether or not the two tests have similar results. Don't be surprised if your child does not have consistent scores on the IQ tests, which are broken down into various categories. Raised-from-birth-still-in-intact-family kids tend to be pretty consistent, with an occasional peak or valley. Not so with IA kids.<br /> <br /> Do NOT allow the school to let your child get any further behind. Is it a struggle to take on the schools? Absolutely, but it has to be done.<br /> <br /> We as wealthy (and yes, but IA standards we are ALL wealthy) Americans forget how much we teach our babies and toddlers. Unfortunately these kids can miss some of the hard-wiring that happens at this stage of life, resulting in strange learning disabilities. Few schools have seen enough of these issues to have a good understanding of them - the parents have to really push it.<br /> <br /> If anyone is interested in more information or wants to hear more about my experiences in this, please email me at adoptionally@aol.com<br /> <br /> I see this as one of the biggest issues in adoption, especially international adoption. Many issues don't come up until years after the child has been placed. Adoption agencies aren't really a good resource for this - nor is that really part of their mission. Having been through this with my son, now nearly 24, and going through it now with my daughter, nearly 10, I have some suggestions (if your friend is interested!)

First, I would do a complete medical work-up, especially an eye exam and hearing test. My son was diagnosed with ADD between 4th and 5th grades, but that didn’t seem to clear up all the learning and behavioral issues. Between 5th & 6th, we also found out that he needed glasses! If the child has a hearing or visual deficit, they are probably totally unaware because it either came on gradually or was always there. Additionally, these kids are less likely to want to display weakness, and saying they can’t see or hear may be something that the child perceives as their fault. Also have a complete physical, including lab work, to rule out any underlying health issue of which you may be unaware. It’s also a good idea to have your child evaluated for underlying psychological issues such as depression. Children can manifest depression, grief, anger, etc. in very different ways than adults.

If the doctors assure you that everything is all right, then you proceed to the school. As a parent you have a right to insist on complete testing – DONE BY THE SCHOOL. The schools don’t want you to know this, because it costs them money, but they have to do it. This will include IQ testing and achievement testing. Among other things, they are looking for whether or not the two tests have similar results. Don’t be surprised if your child does not have consistent scores on the IQ tests, which are broken down into various categories. Raised-from-birth-still-in-intact-family kids tend to be pretty consistent, with an occasional peak or valley. Not so with IA kids.

Do NOT allow the school to let your child get any further behind. Is it a struggle to take on the schools? Absolutely, but it has to be done.

We as wealthy (and yes, but IA standards we are ALL wealthy) Americans forget how much we teach our babies and toddlers. Unfortunately these kids can miss some of the hard-wiring that happens at this stage of life, resulting in strange learning disabilities. Few schools have seen enough of these issues to have a good understanding of them – the parents have to really push it.

If anyone is interested in more information or wants to hear more about my experiences in this, please email me at adoptionally@aol.com

I see this as one of the biggest issues in adoption, especially international adoption. Many issues don’t come up until years after the child has been placed. Adoption agencies aren’t really a good resource for this – nor is that really part of their mission.

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