Need Help withSchool Writting | ADHD Information

Hi, I am right there with you.  My 9 yr old son is in 3rd grade, sharp as a tack.  However, his writing/spelling is on par with a first grader.  Randyjim is on target with her post.  The proverbial lightbulb went off when this forum mentioned dysgraphia when I posted a similar concern.  If you do research, you will find many parallels to your son's situation.  Very common for dysgraphia to occur with adhd.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel.  We see our wonderful behavior doctor next week so he can go over this new development with my son.  Next up is talking to the school about new adjustments to his IEP.  It has been very painful to see my bright kid flail when it comes to writing.  It is important to address it before the self esteem issues kick in.  You are on the right track.  BTW, I wouldn't change a darn thing about my son.  While he has always been a sweet child, finding the right meds/dosage has made so many things so much easier.  Hello new friends, I just found you all yesterday and I want your opinion.

My son Aaron is 8 years old and in 3rd grade. Since birth life has been difficult with minor medical issues. He became real sick at 14 months old. Long story short he went into a coma with the diagnose of Juvenile Diabetes (IDDM Insulin Dependent Diabetes). Life has been difficult! We were so busy managing diabetes that we did not see the ADHD early on. We run a tightly monitored household with him so the ADHD did not become an issue until school started. After one year of behavior modification/counseling we began meds for the sanity of all. Every six months or so we change meds or dosages. 

This year, 3rd grade, we increased dosage of Concerta. He is very smart and gets good grades in everything except writing.  His penmanship is not that good, but improved since the increase of meds. It seems he has lost his ability to process his thoughs for writing. He tries very hard to pull it together but ends up getting frustrated and goofs off instead.

Please, anyone with information to help us guide him in a manner that he can grasp would be highly beneficial.  I am afraid my persistent focus on this issue will turn him off to writing completely.

It is amazing the positive characteristics of having ADHD. I wish I could have half of the brain power these kids have...when they are focused. Our children are awesome, they just need a little more help than other kids to succeed.

I am looking forward to learning a lot from you all. PM if you want.

Hi- some children with adhd have what is called 'dysgraphia' - that is difficulty with the fine motor control needed for writing. My 9 yo son has this, also. I am sad to tell you that I had to take my son out of both public and private schools because they would not let me scribe for him and reduce the writing homework load. Kids with dysgraphia have to engage so much of their mind to control the movements of writing that they can not concurrently think about what they are writing and write at the same time. You might ask for an IEP from his school or have him evaluated for this.

This year I am homeschooling and Jon has written work that he scribes and then copies himself. When he gets too frustrated we stop the writing and move onto something else. He is really doing well but I know that homeschooling is not a choice a lot of people can make. But at least you have an idea of what is going on.

I found the info on the writing software I heard about (I think I mentioned it in your other post).  There are 2 products I have read about called Inspiration and Kidspiration.  If you Google Inspiration they come up (or at least they did for me).  I don't know anything about them but looked at them briefly for my DS and am going to look at them again now that we are back in school.  I read about these programs in a book by Alexandra Golon called Raising Topsy-Turvy Kids.  You may want to research visual-spatial learners.  I went to a talk by Linda Silverman (who coined the term I believe) and she described my DS.  I have her book.  It is very interesting info and may apply to you DS.

Good luck!

 

Thanks randyjim and trixila,

Funny you should mention the dysgraphia. Since I have posted this I have found the same information about dysgraphia and I believe that is what is going on. Yes we have had an IEP and a 504 in place for a over a year now, it may need to be updated. It has been difficult getting used to a new teacher this year but, she is now on board to go the extra mile and we have a school Nurse that helps to manage the Diabetes testing/insulin. I do want him in school because he needs the social/being aware of others/just fitting in part of the ADHD. He also does Karate because team sports is just a disaster waiting to happen.

Just yesterday I got a note from the teacher who had a conversation with our Nurse and Principle about this and she has suggested a keyboard for the writing. I sort of came to this conclusion this past summer and started my ds on the www.typingmat.com for kids. I think we are on the right track now.

Thanks for sharing...It really helps!
Thanks Greyhoundmom03,

I'm going to look all that information up now. Thank for sharing!