Special Needs Adoption, Adopting Special Needs

01/04/08

The Age of Reasoning

Posted by : Julie in Parenting Children with Special Needs Blog at 02:41 pm , 400 words, 425 views
Categories: Learning Disabilities

Ok, after a day full of word problems, all I want to know is…when is it? When is LuLu's Age of Reasoning? UGH! Word problems are the bane of my daughter’s existence. Just like writing a whole composition, word problems require her to use logic and organizational skills she doesn’t have. Even though she’s extremely good at math calculation and understanding how to work the actual math problems, she just can not pick the details out of the word problem to save her soul.

Yes, I understand that this is truly a reading comprehension problem, and that LuLu has CAPD. For example, when it says that Brian took five fewer minutes than Kelly to finish a problem, LuLu kept trying to subtract five. Fewer means subtract, she kept reporting. But we had Brian’s time and not Kelly’s; so I had to find another way to get her understand.

“Who is faster at this project?” I kept asking. Finally she was able to tell me that she understood Brian was faster. “Ok,” I said, “Then is Kelly going to have a smaller number as her time than Brian does?”

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She looked at me like I was crazy. “NO!” So then I had to explain to her the logic of the way the sentence was written. I’m still not sure she understood it or would be able to work the problem again if asked; but we moved on.

Of course, if she gets the answer wrong, especially more than once, her frustration level skyrockets and she starts to whine, fuss and eventually cuss and rage. And with all the noise going on, there’s no way any actual logical thought can be formulated in her head.

So, I continue to wonder, at what age will she have “reasoning”? Will she ever be able to work word problems? Will she ever be able to understand any situation that the facts are clearly laid out in front of her and repeated several times until she understands?

And if she isn’t able to develop this reason, what’s next? Spelling all the words right or doing all the math calculations correctly has little value if you don’t understand why you’re doing them or how to use the information, does it?

GRRR…it was a rough day at school…glad the weekend’s here!

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7 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Julia Fuller [Member]

· http://special-needs.adoptionblogs.com/

My Lyn is the same way. She is 14 now and still can't figure out story problems. She has never understood rhyming either. For some reason the words don't sound similar to her.

Permalink 01/04/08 @ 16:11

Comment from: nancyderen [Member]

It is very possible as kids get older for them to learn to compensate for their weak areas and focus on learning how to use the specific skills they need for daily life, even if the weaknesses remain. Many, many bright people with autistic spectrum disorders and other neurological impairments are never able to do word problems, but can still learn to use money, make change, comparison shop, budget, figure out tips and tax, etc. Usually by age 14 schools will focus more on what the kid needs for success in life and less on the general academics, but if there are areas where the skills truly aren't there, it can be appropriate to focus more on life skills at a younger age. We don't need to learn word problems to live a productive life. Some kids actually do better when skills are applied to real life than on a worksheet.

Permalink 01/04/08 @ 17:27

Comment from: fenyimom [Member]

Is 12 bigger than 5? Is it because there are two numbers in 12 and only one number in 5? But if I add up the 1 and the 2 in twelve that only is 3, and is that bigger or smaller than 5? ............ I can't even go into the ones place, the tens place, and the hundreds place. It might as well be Linear D.

Permalink 01/05/08 @ 03:49

Comment from: Kelly [Member]

· http://fost-adopt.adoptionblogs.com

We hate word problems too. Our kiddo is a visual learner and must be able to "see" the problem. I think word problems should be outlawed. Everyone hates them. By the way, of course Brian will do the problem faster than I will. I suck at math!!! :)

Permalink 01/05/08 @ 09:39

Comment from: psych114 [Member]

My sister adopted from Vietnam 30 years ago and also diagnosed with capd, remains a very concrete thinker. Her comprehension for reading and math and other tasks requiring higher order logic remains very weak. However, it's amazing what she has been able to accomplish despite these difficulties. She has raised well behaved happy kids, sustained job employment, and maintained a home. She needs extra help sometimes and usually knows how to get it. Sometimes her little system falls apart and there are consequences but she always manages to get back on her feet again. She's a survivor, always has been.

Permalink 01/06/08 @ 05:44

Comment from: condo-mom [Member]

It's good to her from parents and sibs of adult adoptees with some of these issues -- because, like Julia and Joy, I honestly cannot see how my daughter (also 14, also with fasd indicators) is going to make it in the real world. In life, information is not always presented in the same way, and even planning your errands in order requires some logic work. Joy is fine with math facts and calculating, but anything with more than 3 steps and she falls apart. How is it she can understand each invidual step perfectly -- and consistently NOT understand them in sequence? Well, very honest friends have told me that I am a very complex thinker, and has it ever made me a happier person? Unfortunately, I don't truly believe that happiness (or the pursuit of it) is the highest thing we are called to. -- Rachel

Permalink 01/07/08 @ 11:21

Comment from: Toni-EvinNRobsMom [Member]

As soon as I started reading this topic my heart sank. Robert & I usually have to go over word problems at least 3 times before he gets it (which I'm not always sure that he does) or I have to break it down for him. I just wonder how much this will affect him right now & in the future. I just have to keep praying that he'll continue to make progress, and cross the "adulthood" bridge when we come to it.

Permalink 01/07/08 @ 16:44

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