I know that a good article on the cognitive effects of Lyme has been posted on the board before. Don't have much time now, but will be happy to search for it later.
As far as math dysfunction goes, I would try to argue for the impact of Lyme on "working memory" and "executive functioning," both of which are cognitive constructs that really impact math performance.
Working memory is the ability to retain information in short term memory while manipulating it in some way.
Executive functioning refers to what the frontal lobe does--planning, choosing, inhibiting, shifting back and forth from one activity to another, knowing how to allocate one's attention. Any multi-step math problem is going to depend on these capacities.
This is just off the top of my head, but if it seems like a productive direction to go in and you'd like more ideas, please PM or e-mail me. I have done a good bit of psych-ed testing with kids, and may be able to help find an angle.
Best to you and your family, Viva
Posts: 532 | From southeast US | Registered: Oct 2005
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valymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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The article you retrieved from the angelfire site is the one I was thinking of, and seems to have a lot of relevant information.
If you are trying to use testing to document the impact of Lyme on cognitive and academic functioning, be sure that you have a practitioner who is willing to go beyond the scores. It's necessary to also look at response style / behavioral observations. It's also critical for the practitioner to really understand what skills are necessary to perform the tests successfully, so that the underlying cognitive issues can be linked to the outcomes.
In a way, it's like diagnosing Lyme itself: you've got to both use the test scores, but also go beyond them in order to do clinical diagnosis.
Viva
Posts: 532 | From southeast US | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
It was me. I have your brain. You will have to pay a ransom of a $1,000,000 to get it back.
Word is that you are still smart and I need some help. Wire me the money and I will give it back. (If I can remember where I put it.)
Posts: 56 | From Virginia | Registered: Jun 2007
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