Memory Testing | ADHD Information

They do all sorts of tests and memory is touched. My son has a fantastic rote memory--it's unbelievable, but he can't do abstract thinking. I doubt he will limit his testing to memory only because he will want to know why the discrepency. It would likely be a full evaluation to see what's really going on and how to help it.I've got a question. My son, like many dyslexics, has a very unusual memory. He scores everywhere from below average to gifted in memory, and I want to have this invesigated more deeply because I think it's causing serious problems for him academically, particularly in math--he scores in the 90th percentile in mathematical reasoning and in the 10th percentile in calculations. I want him to have some really good memory tests done, so we can pinpoint where the breakdown is happening and how his strengths in memory can be used to compensate for the weaknesses. Because he's been tested out the boozoo, and I'm confident we know what's going on with him, I just want his memory tested. Do you guys think a neuropsychologist is the best person to do this testing?

Hi Lillian, I was told that my daughter's neuropsych performed virtually every memory test out there. Not sure if it's true, but for what it's worth, I will list the tests in the event it helps you find someone to perform the tests. I would think a neuropsych is your best bet, but maybe you can ask the person who did your son's dyslexia testing. Here are the memory tests my daughter had:

WRAML Sentence memory subtest; WJ-III Memory for Words subtest; CMS Stories subtest; CMS Word Lists subtest; Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (also tests executive function)

My daughter also had a lot of tests that measured deficits in her ability to retrieve information -- more specific to processing information than memory.

Hope this helps.

SmallMom38845.7747685185Are you interested in visual or auditory memory too?Auditory memory includes Digit Span, Letter-Number Sequencing and Arithmetic. The Rey complex Figure test Immediate and Delayed Recall test visual mamory. Visual Matching test ability to process simple information automatically. If Calculations is a visual math test as i think it is, then perhaps there are components other than just visual memory. visual perception, attention and organization and who knows what else may enter into it.

I don't know anything about dyscalcula, but this may be connected with dyslexia too. Is it the dyslexia affecting the math calculation ability too? Just some ideas...what do you think?
Ok. jfla2 is describing exactly the sort of testing my son had. He had the works. Twelve hours of it. No I don't think you worry too much. Your son is so lucky to have you for a mom worrying for him! I tell my kids that worrying is my job. I think it is great that you want to see it broken down. in doing so you will know how to teach and which route to take. It seems that you would have some measurements already from previous IQ testing and that a few more tests may complete the picture. Contact a neuropsych for suggestions on what type of test they would reccommend in addition to what you have.

Thanks for all your responses and listing the different tests. What I'm trying to find out is what aspect of my son's long-term and short-term memories is most affected by the dyslexia. Yes, the math is directly related to the dyslexia--without a doubt. There's a lot of research out there that says the same memory processes used to do phonological analysis is used for memorizing math calculations, so the two, according to this reasearch, are thought to go hand-in-hand. He's been tested and tested, so I will not subject him to more of the same; however, the tests he has never gotten are thorough memory tests--just brief ones as part of IQ testing. EVERYONE who tests him makes comments about his memory, both the deficits and the strengths, but they have never given him thorough tests. I want it broken down. I want to see phonological memory, visual memory, memory for digits, etc., all scored separately, so we know exactly what is going on.

I'm going to have to make a decision pretty soon about using a calculator, and it's a tough decision. Children become dependent on the calculators, and this does not help them at all with standardized testing that they must pass to graduate and to get into college. I don't want to give him an accommodation that is more damaging than helpful in the long run, but I don't want him to struggle year after year with a skill he will not be able to get.

Does it ever end with our kids??? Or do I just worry too much???

It never ends . . . AND we worry too much. LOL!

Lillian, do your state's standardized tests not allow the same accommodations that are outlined in an IEP? I've never head of that . . . You know, I've never had a problem with my son, who is a very strong math student but frequently makes "careless" errors from ADHD-like inattention, using a calculator. I figured that if he ever had a job that involved mathematical thinking, he would obviously be using a calculator or computer for complex calculations. But then again, he doesn't have to pass standardized testing to graduate from high school.

Memory difficulties

Some students with dyslexia have poor auditory sequential memory which makes rote learning and the execution of complicated tasks difficult.

Found the above and wonder how this might relate to your son. I do thisnk that a neuropsych might be the way to go here. When we just wanted fine motor relative to dysgraphia, he spent one hour doing three tests and sent a very nice report on to CB.
jfla238845.8177314815Well, there you go. I just got a call from his homeroom teacher. He passed the reading TAKS with flying colors--gots exceeds expectations, and this child could barely read four years ago when we adopted him. THANK YOU, ORTON AND GILLINGHAM. And math? He made a 48. Yep. 90th percentile in mathematical logic, when compared to students his age across the country, and he made a 48. Why? He can't remember the formulas and the tables. Poor guy!

It's Sylvan all summer with his dylsexic mathematician tutor, who has been working with him for six weeks and about whom my son says, "Finally, a math teacher who can teach me something!" lillian38846.7916550926

Woohooo!
Way to go !

Congratulations!

Maybe I misread your post re math and thought the 48= 90%ile. oops.

Well the reading is super fantastic and the math...one step at a time! I'm glad to hear he has a great math tutor that knows how to reach him.

Ds will be doing lots of homework this summer...but its by his choice. math, physics, English comp. and music comp.
Yeah, he scored a 90th percentile on the Stanford, and a 48 (that's total points, not percentile) on the state-mandated math test. Sooooooo....He now has educational need in math, which he did not have when I fought for the IEP for writing. They would not give him dyscalculia because he makes A's and B's in math, even though there was a 28 point discrepancy between his IQ and math calculations on his school testing. I'm calling an ARD tomorrow, requesting dyscalculia be added to his IEP. Here we go.

The woman who tested him for dyslexia called back and gave me three names of private psychologists, whom she recommends for the memory testing. I'll use these results for the dyscalculia. Do I have the energy to fight this school district, again? What choice do I have? None. Wish me luck. I know I'll win in the long run, but how many years is this going to go on? Just put "dyslexia" on the IEP, already! Geeeeeeeez, this is exhausting, and it's all over semantics. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

lillian, this is a very fascinating thread ~ thanks for starting it. is there a good book i could read about memory testing?

most importantly, once the exact impairments are identified, what "therapy" or teaching can be used to improve it?

thanks in advance.

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Lilian,

When this is all over...or when you seem to have a break I think you would be a great person to bring this to the attention of the media. I think you should calculate the time you spent researching, attending meetings, the money spent, and all you have went throught to get what should have been there easily for your son! I'm just exhasted thinking about all you have done!

Good luck with your upcoming meeting.

lillian, I've told you once but that is wonderful news on your sons reading skills. Congrats to you and your son! And with you behind him it's only a matter of time before he improves in math.

Best of luck!