LymeNet Flash: Severely Impaired Processing Speed in child Neuro Psych results

This is topic Severely Impaired Processing Speed in child Neuro Psych results in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by lymex5&counting (Member # 7202) on :

My boys had neuropsych testing done in June.

By a LLNeuropsych per Dr J. I am so

frustrated because I only have a written

report that I don't really understand and I

have not received an answer in

regards to my questions from the performing

Dr. It reccommends IEP status. But says

they don't have learning disabilities. The

report gives way too much information that

the school doesn't need to know. (Parents

disagree on Lyme causes conflict, suggests

counseling, etc. etc) I have

asked for a copy of the testing portion only

of the report. But they are already back in

school. And I still don't have one. Does

anyone know what can cause such

impairment of processing speed? The report

states not diagnostic of Lyme per se.

And is there anything that helps? They

labeled the oldest ADHD and ODD. Dr J seems

to agree with the Dr. I can't go thru

another year like last year. Has anyone had

any results like this and did something

help. I have an appt with our family Dr on

Monday who is willing to prescribe

something but I am scared to make things

worse. I can't help wonder if my illness

has just caused my kids to have so many

problems.

Posted by pq (Member # 6886) on :

see Pat Smith of the Lyme Disease Association, and a Mr. Taglibue(spelling might be a bit off). the latter knows about children, lyme and school issues.
Pat Smith is in NJ, and i think Mr. Taglibue may be in NJ, as well, but i'm not sure.
http://www.lymediseasesassociation.com

find out from other moms about adhd, the other acronym with which i'm not familiar, and drugs associated with such "conditions."

which, if any, of these the meds. associated either of the two conditons are appropriate,if at all, for lyme dis., and other tick-borne diseases, and if only for a short term basis.

find out how to negotiate with, or defend yourself against the "system,"
if the school,or a doc wants to put your children on major psychotropic meds., and you disagree, either from the start; or, disagree after a 'trial' period on one or more of these psychtropic meds.

Posted by Yoda (Member # 1446) on :

In NJ there is an eligibility criteria called Chronically Ill. Do your children fit this criteria? If you can get a medical doctor to document the illness and the results of the testing demonstrate that there is an educational impact, it is possible that they/he may be entitled to an IEP with modifications for the poor processing speed which certainly can imapir many academic areas. If the/they are not eligible for special education, they may be eligible for a 504 Plan with appropriate accommodations.

Brain Fallon has written and researched a great deal about the neuro manifestations of Lyme in chldren.

Processing speed is a measure of cognitive fluency. It is how fast and efficient you are at certain tasks such as searching and scanning information under a time constraint.

My feeling is that it is a neuro dysfunction. I think that there is a very real possibility that it could be Lyme-related, especially if it wasnt present before the Lyme. Many people have poor processing speed.

In the school environment you would want to make sure that extra time was allowed for assignments and tests. During a lesson, the teacher nay want to alert the student that he was going to be called upon and to get an answer ready.

Posted by niki (Member # 7720) on :

Have you considered Homeschooling? It takes much less time a day and they can work at thier own pace. Ther are lots of social outlets for homeschooled kids as well.

Posted by mjbucuk (Member # 843) on :

when my son first got sick in NJ, we got him listed as "other health impaired" and were able to get the modifications for which we asked this way.

the school here in TX had no problem continuing the "other health impaired" status --- with a note from Dr J saying our son was still being treated.

our eldest son has had symptoms/problems that have varied over the years.... he has had memory problems... at one point he couldn't read ANYTHING w/o getting an instant severe headache (it had something to do with the decoding or processing in the brain)--- not with his eyes. These troubles have improved for my son --- so be hopeful

I don't remember what all the neuropsych test told us as it was too long ago (Did you have yours done here in TX?) I was horrified with the drop in IQ that my son's showed.... it would be interesting to compare my son's original neuropsych tests,as well as the one a couple of years ago to a new neuropsych test now that he is doing a bit better...

Best wishes

Posted by mjbucuk (Member # 843) on :

duplicate post --- sorry

[This message has been edited by mjbucuk (edited 27 August 2005).]