[hoofbeats]

Hi everyone, I was hoping I could run something by you and see if you think I should follow any of this up?

My youngest daughter is a very happy child who is doing average to just above average at school, she has just turned six and is in grade one.

She has a history of ear/hearing problems (many sets of grommets) but at present we seem to have this under control.

She is a very watchful child in as much if I ever loose something I know she will know where it is. Friends wise she has one close friends but tends to stand back and watch rather than participate.

Here are the things that are niggling at me.

Physically she has a really dodgy gait. It is really quite wobbly and she falls over a lot. When she runs she sort of throws her legs around. Hard to explain

If you ask her to do a list of things she becomes confused and cannot remember them.

Today I placed some biscuits for her on the post of the gate. She was standing about 1 metre from the gate, and I told her there were biscuits for her on the gate and pointed at them. She couldn't find the gate. Even though I was pointing she was looking all around. Eventually 3-4 minutes later she spotted them. This is not an unusual occurrence.

If I speak quickly she gets confused with what I have said. She often confuses what I have told her, with what day it is actually going to happen.

The teacher told her the other day to come to my table. And so she went to her own table, because the teacher didn't say come to my desk.

She often says silly things in a conversation. This is hard to explain, because I know she is young, but they are not silly as in hahaha, they are silly as in, out there odd not pertaining to the conversation at all. iykwim

She is very eager to please, so it is not through naughtiness or laziness that any of this is happening.

Her eldest sister has ASD, but she does not present with any of the meltdowns or extreme anxiety that her sister does. She sleeps well, and does not show any sensory issues either. Her sister is only newly diagnosed so I am not sure if this could be a different presentation or something totally different, or if I am totally over reacting all together.

ETA - Since typing this I have been thinking a lot about it, and I wonder if she is not hearing properly. Apart from the wonky gait, it would sort of explain most of it.
WDYT?

This post has been edited by hoofbeats: 16/04/2012, 10:53 AM

[baddmammajamma]

Hi hoofbeats:

Anyone who knows me on EB knows what I am going to say...but if I were you, I would most definitely get things fully checked out based on what you've shared.

You & I both have girls with ASD, so we can appreciate how much it means to have some insights and answers about their "wiring."

Your little one might be dealing with some sort of processing issue or something of an entirely different ilk. It's better to get it checked out while she is still relatively young.

Do you have a good developmental paed who was involved in your older daughter's diagnosis? If so, that might be a great professional to consult, as well as loop back with the audiologist you've been working with (audiologist would actually be a good first port of call, given her issues & her history).

Oh, and to answer your question, I don't think you are overreacting at all! Good luck getting some answers.

This post has been edited by baddmammajamma: 15/04/2012, 05:28 PM

[ellie1326]

Hey I agree always get anything funny checked out. I have DD2 with ASD,and DD1 was Dx with learning dissability especially her working and short term memory. She has real trouble following directions and basically what you describe. To put it bluntly she has lot of ASD traits but does not make the cut IYKVIM. I had her assessed and now try to help with the memory.
Have a look at working memory it might explain a bit. Good luck.

[hoofbeats]

Ah BMJ, you are a legend

I have had a weird inkling about this kidlet for awhile, but her sisters issues took precedence given the severity (for want of a better word) of her behaviour and the impact that was having not just on her but the other kids as well.

Do you know if it is possible to have a 'normal' hearing test but still have difficulty hearing? I know that sounds silly I suppose I am asking, if they can not work out what they are hearing is it a processing issue (ie the brain) rather than a hearing issue (ie the ear)? Man this is hard, I really need to do some major research so I have a better idea of what I am talking about. I have no idea of any of the lingo

I have a niece who has a processing disorder, not unlike dyslexia. Where she can not recount 4 numbers given to her 2 minutes prior. She can not do any sort of maths, cannot spell or write a paragraph. She is 15 now and really struggling with school, obviously. She is however incredibly bright, just cannot process this kind of information. She has been reading adult novels since she was about 13, so obviously reading is not an issue for her.

My littlest girls spelling and reading are awesome, but I am surprised at her maths ability. I know we are all different, but while the rest of us a wizz kids when it comes to math, this little one is still having trouble with addition of 10 factors.

I think I may tap back into the ENT specialist, and ask for a hearing test specifically given the reasons I have stated. Hopefully we can, if not rule it out, then at least have something to work on.

[hoofbeats]

Sorry Ellie, we were posting at the same time!

You may have answered some of my questions. Off to check out google

[in(s)ane]

Hoofbeats, I echo the others - check it out. You may also want to check in with an ENT in case there is something amiss with her balance (to do woth her ears). It could also be correct that the lack of meltdowns, anxiety, sensory issues etc could just be a different presentation of ASD - no two children, even siblings, are alike or present in the same way.

Definitely start some enquires. Good luck with getting some answers!!

[imac]

Do you know if it is possible to have a 'normal' hearing test but still have difficulty hearing? I know that sounds silly I suppose I am asking, if they can not work out what they are hearing is it a processing issue (ie the brain) rather than a hearing issue (ie the ear)? Man this is hard, I really need to do some major research so I have a better idea of what I am talking about. I have no idea of any of the lingo

You certainly can, short term auditory memory issues and auditory processing difficulties can present with some of the above symptoms, however your daughter seems to have more than that going on (e.g. her unusual gait, not seeing what you've indicated etc). I would be getting a developmental paediatrician's opinion on whats going on, in addition to an educational audiologist (they will test hearing, and the above).

You are certainly not over reacting.

[Carmen02]

She sounds exactly like my DD. DD is 10 now and has had 8 sets of grommets find out soon if she needs more.. i do think so her hearing has gone down..DD also has central audiotory processing disorder which makes it hard for them to process what they hear

[baddmammajamma]

For my own knowledge (and perhaps the benefit of other parents), for those of you whose kids have CAPD, how was it diagnosed? I would love to hear more about the process (professionals involved, tools used). I just don't know as much as I'd like to about it.

hoofbeats, glad we are all of the same mindset on this thread in terms of encouraging you to get things checked out! I can totally relate, though, to the hierarchy/urgency of issues. My daughter's stuff has often trumped other things (my own health issues, less "pressing" things with my son). I know how hard it is to take care of everything at the same time. Good luck!

[hoofbeats]

Aww you gals are great! I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to reply to me about my little princess.

I am actually sitting here in tears, because I feel like I have let her down. Although my antennae have been up for some time, it was the whole biscuit issue today that really pushed me over the edge, to thinking something is just not right.

She is such a happy and easy child on the whole, it just breaks my heart that again I have not sourced help for one of my children quick enough, and helped them sooner.

For my own knowledge (and perhaps the benefit of other parents), for those of you whose kids have CAPD, how was it diagnosed?

I would also love to hear about how others have gone about this.

Anyway enough of that, I need to get myself into gear and get someone to have a good look at her.

Unless one of you tells me differently, I think I will phone the ENT tomorrow (I know the receptionist well after so many years) and ask if there are any educational audiologists in the area and whether the dr. will refer her for me. That at least is a starting point.

This post has been edited by hoofbeats: 15/04/2012, 07:24 PM