posted
Ok, this is a very hard subject for me to bring up, because first, I like to think my daughter is perfect. Second, my husband and I normally disagree about a lot of things, but we always find a way to come to common ground where we are both happy because we love each other.
However, this is one subject that is very hard for us to come to a happy medium. We both have learning disabilities, and I think our daughter has one too. I have noticed that she is slower than the rest of the kids since kindergarden (she is now starting 2nd grade). I tried working with her and sometimes we would both get frustrated. I feel it is so much of a difference, I wanted to hold her back last year, but my husband wouldn't hear of it.
We did take her to a specialist and he did 4 days worth of testing and his opinion was that her processing is slow, and she has some difficulty processing. Her doctor has put her on ADD meds, which have helped some. But, the problem isn't fixed, and I don't know how to help her.
In my mind, all I can do is help her with all her homework and try to show her more than one way to get to the answer, but sometimes that confuses her. My husband's answer is to flash card her to death and force her to memorize it. When he helps her with work, he ends up frustrated, and she ends up crying.
I know others have faced this problem and can give me some ideas. I have talked to the school, but since she isn't completely FAILING, they don't want to help her. Plus, my husband's idea is to take her out of dance to give her more time to learn, but I want her to have exercise and some fun outside of school. I think school is important, but I don't want her so frustrated she gives up.
So, please, feel free to offer any ideas.
However,
Posts: 893 | From Florida | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
up for more help
Posts: 893 | From Florida | Registered: Dec 2008
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
Talk to her school about having her tested for learning disabilities. With what you already have and the fact that they now have to test if parents request it, you should be able to get help for her. That would be better than a 504 plan.
The requirements for first graders to qualify is much lower than for second graders, so you may have helped in this by going ahead and putting her in second grade.
I would also suggest that you schedule an early conference with her teacher to discuss your concerns and what you already have learned.
I am a retired elementary school teacher who spent 9 years teaching second grade and had more than my share of students with learning difficulties.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
New protocol in our school systems.
What used to be called 504 is now SAT.
Have any of your child's teachers referred her or spoken to you about her?
That seems kind of odd.
Ask for a 504 or SAT.
They do an intervention, then based on child's ability
To accomplish and maintain expected outcomes,
The decision is made for evaluation.
The 504 or SAT team decides on the intervention.
Classroom teacher usually implements and tracks child's progress.
You cannot have an evaluation without 504 or SAT here.
Maybe ask for a Speech Language Screening for Auditory processing too.
It couldn't hurt.
I sat through two SAT meetings on my youngest.
He has congenital Lyme and has struggled with basic issues
Such as holding a pencil and has had difficulties with processing info too.
He reached a stage last year (around Dec) where all of a sudden it "clicked".
Graduated from the special reading tutor program at school.
Went from a low grade to A's.
It is difficult to accept that our babies may have issues.
Even more difficult to watch them struggle.
I know.
I am a Speech Therapist.
I've been part of the Pupil Appraisal team.
Have been part of the 504 or SAT team.
Have been a parent with a child with difficulties too.
Your baby may just need some modifications in her regular classroom
To help her succeed. 504 or SAT would help determine if that was enough.
Or if she needed an educational evaluation and receive resource help
In a Special Educational setting.
Remember that IQ does not relate to Learning Disorders.
You can be gifted and have a Learning Disability.
Hang in there.
Let me know if I can be of any help.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Thanks all!! I have already requested conferences with her teachers and her guidance counselor, and also called the Dr. who did her testing.
She had hearing and speech testing done, and she does have speech issues and they put her in speech last year, I think it will contiue this year. I also have noticed that certian words, like Drive....when she spells it, she will spell it like Jrive...but if you think of it and the way some people say it, she writes it as it makes sense to her.
She did score high in intelligence telling the doctor was congruent shapes meant, and he was suprised, but then her distractability was very high, and her processing was slow.
I will just keep chugging along!!
Posts: 893 | From Florida | Registered: Dec 2008
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
I dont' know if your daughter has TBI or if this article applies to your situation, but I just stumbled across it this morning and found it very interesting...
GOTU KOLA -- An Under-Appreciated Herb: Multifaceted Benefits on Microcirculation for Cardiovascular and Cognitive Health -- By Linda Fugate, PhD
The best nutrition in the world will not do anyone any good if it doesn't reach our tissues. The gatekeeper to tissues is the microcirculatory system, which includes blood vessels smaller than 0.1 mm in diameter. The health of the microcirculatory system is now recognized as critical to the total health of the individual. (1)
Gotu Kola's Effect on the Circulatory System . . . .
From Wound Healing to Brain Health . . . .
. . . Gotu Kola's primary action is enhancement of the health of the circulatory system. Because circulation is critical to the health of the entire body, Gotu Kola offers benefits in a variety of conditions.
The antioxidant and collagen supportive functions of Gotu Kola are particularly important in enhancing healing of damaged tissues. . . .
- Full article - and citations - at link above.
=========================
From: The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook (Tillotson, et.al.)
. . . bitter and astringent in taste and cooling in action. It is a brain and memory tonic, and an anti-poison, and very useful for wound and skin healing. . . .
** . . . TAM doctors use it as a brain and memory tonic, and have found it especially useful in children. **
** In Nepal, during the ceremony for the first day of spring, gotu kola leaf is given to schoolchildren to help them in their studies by improving memory and concentration. **
It is very safe and extremely effective. TAM doctors also use it to cleanse the system of toxins and reduce inflammation. TCM doctors use gotu kola to clear up boils and toxic fevers. . .
The primary effects of gotu kola include both wound healing and improvement of mental clarity and emotional balance. . . .
. . . * The Indian Central Council for Research on Ayurveda and Siddha, citing more than ten pharmacological and animal studies of gotu kola, also found evidence of the following characteristics:
CNS depressant [calming without causing drowiness], memory enhancer, ** anti-convulsant, ** antispasmodic, behavior and intelligence enhancer, and blood sugar regulator (Pandley et al., eds, 1996).
Irlen Institute, Colored Lenses, Colored Overlays, Diagnosticians ...
The Irlen Method uses color overlays and filters to help people with autism, reading problems, light sensitivity, migraine headaches, dyslexia and head ... -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- She might get a QEEG. But if she has slow brain activity, that points to inflammation and infection in the brain. Allergies, too, can contribute. Is she on a gluten-free, casein-free diet?
If you have carpeting, is there anyway that can be removed? That seems to help many to better concentrate. Can you go scent-free?
I would not push her too much. It can be just miserable to have slow brain waves and be pushed. For me, pushing my brain causes seizure.
I assume your daughter has been evaluated by a LLMD for the range of tick-borne infections. It sure sounds like neurolyme to me.
Please keep her in dance class. Maybe take up a musical instrument. Both are essential to brain health. A restorative YOGA class for kids would also be excellent to help her train her brain waves.
=================
QEEG details. This doctor has trained others all over the country to work with those who have chronic fatigue. I had her QEEG done and it showed a slow brain wave pattern (worse when doing math). My results were consistent with neurolyme.
It also was able to pinpoint seizure activity that many EEGs missed. It's much more specific. Everytime I did math, if there was the slightest noise about to startle me, it triggered a seizure. This also happened with some complex reading.
I likely had this as a child but it was not a pronounced. Slow brain activity is connected to seizures. The brain is trying so hard but is very tired. Still, when it tries to wake up, a burst of electrical activity triggers seizure. That can be a blank stare, or nearly any other kind of reaction.
I likely had lyme as a child, too. I had the tick bites, rashes, etc. many times. But no one noticed that I was just a bubble brain. They just made fun of me. Trying harder just never really worked at all. There were times, even in 3rd grade when I just wanted to die because I couldn't think very well.
While I wish someone had noticed - even when I had long blank stares - but I'm really glad no one really pushed. I would have grown more depressed and would have wound up hating everyone, and myself, even more.
Getting back on track - I inserted that last part but now ruined the flow -
I also had two other QEEGs done by Ph.D. and an audiologist who each specialized in Autism. All 3 of my QEEGs, from different doctors and different machines, were all consistent, showing slow brain waves.
You just can force brain waves to wake up. If infection is present, it MUST be addressed. With or without infection, it's a very specific process that takes time to help the brain.
I hope you can consult with Dr. Preston at this group. She has done splendid research in the field of slow brain waves and fatigue. She suggested that I get the lyme treated first.
However, while I had no way to do that (no access to LLMD), I did go ahead and do a year of neurofeedback, locally with an autism specialist. I had only minimal progress because I never really got the brain infection treated.
Montessori Schools - you might contact them for different kinds of teaching and tutoring methods for your daughter. -
[ 08-14-2010, 02:41 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I really think this sounds like infection. Lyme, or a similar stealth infection, her speech problems may be due to inner ear issues (that could come from infection) or allergies -- or celiac disease (inability to process gluten. If so, gluten really causes a lot of brain fog.)
Lyme - with or without inner ear dysfunction can cause high distractibility and slow processing. This cannot be pushed but some environment changes can help. ---------
In addition to the usual coinfections from ticks (such as babesia, bartonella, ehrlichia, RMSF, etc.), there are some other chronic stealth infections that an excellent LLMD should know about:
posted
We will be starting this private program for my learning disabilities as well as my sons.
It is www.nacd.org Click on learning disabilities.
We have opted not to go through the school system and have him labeled. Often they get stuck in a special ed class and taught at a lower level and limit their possibilities.
NACD figures out exactly whats wrong and fixes the problem by gearing learning towards their strengths and strengthening their weaknesses.
standardized tests and IQ tests really mean nothing as we all will test high or low in different situations and different times of the day.
You can email them with questions and also get their cd set discussing the whole program and how our brains work.
I've spoken with them and they have worked with many patients with lyme and adults too. They will work with your LLMD.
Hopefully there is a office near you.
hth
-------------------- Bart Henslea 1976 Fibro/CFS/arthritis 2004 Lyme diagnosed 2007 3 1/2 years treatment with oral combos, Cowden, IV roc. BW herbs. Off all abx in 12/10. Feeling good. Posts: 647 | From NY | Registered: Dec 2007
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I am very interested in this program. It is very expensive though, so I am going to ask for help with the fee.
The closest office to us is 6 hours away, but close to our LLMD, so maybe we could schedule apts. at the same time.
Thanks for the information!!
Posts: 893 | From Florida | Registered: Dec 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Maybe your LLMD will have other suggestions, too. You may find someone even closer to you that way - or ask what helped other kids he or she has treated.
You might approach civic groups like Rotary or Kiwanis clubs, etc. Rotary clubs help with eye and hearing aids sometimes, so I think they may be interesting in something like this - or the special Irlen eyeglasses.
Good luck. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
I've come to the conclusion that getting my brain back would be priceless.
If you could get the grant it would be 450.
They figure out what is going on in the brain as to why that person is not functioning at a normal level and fix it, not put a band-aid on it or teach how to deal with you problem.
I believe their goal is to advance the child 1 whole grade level in 3 months time.
Hey I'm 39 maybe I can get to 3rd grade finally.
I pray all goes well for you.
-------------------- Bart Henslea 1976 Fibro/CFS/arthritis 2004 Lyme diagnosed 2007 3 1/2 years treatment with oral combos, Cowden, IV roc. BW herbs. Off all abx in 12/10. Feeling good. Posts: 647 | From NY | Registered: Dec 2007
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
I just found this link and am in the process of looking thru the articles. Maybe you'll find something helpful?
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
So doe sthis indicate that the brain function does not come back? I am in the middle of treatment right now. A year ago O graduated from college at the top of my school- Summa Cum Laude, even then I was having a real hard time focusing. Right now I am interning, and I am doing the worst job I have ever done at anything. My brain usually shuts off after lunch. The work that I do manage to get done is poor quality, and I hate myself more every day. I have been suffering from depression for 8 months. I am usually suicidal at least 2 days a week. My brain is completely shot, and so are my ears. I already lost my hearing once, followed by weeks of extreme dizziness and vertigo. Many of my symptoms have come and gone since I started treatment 6 months ago, but every time the depression flares up, it is worse than the last time and never really goes away completely. This lyme is really beating the snot out of my brain. Does this ever stop? I don't know if I can take this for years to come. My career is going to suffer, and so is my daughter, and my girlfriend. Is there really little hope?
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posted
lymeboy, I don't quite understand what you are referring to when you say " brain function won't come back.?" Please help me understand.
If you were that intelligent I would think with treatment you can and will recover brain function.
I have had learning disabilities all my life. I had bartonella when I was 6 years old. Learning anything was a super challenge. When lyme and bart came out of dormancy at age 29 I tanked even further.
I'm just trying to learn how to retrain my brain and learn how to relearn things. If I have to get on the floor and crawl like a baby all over again I'd do it.
Don't give up. hang in there. There are many rough areas of treatment but you can make it and get through and back to a normal life.
-------------------- Bart Henslea 1976 Fibro/CFS/arthritis 2004 Lyme diagnosed 2007 3 1/2 years treatment with oral combos, Cowden, IV roc. BW herbs. Off all abx in 12/10. Feeling good. Posts: 647 | From NY | Registered: Dec 2007
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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
I have also suffered with learning disabilities. Im in my mid 30's, Ive probably had lyme for a good 5- 8 years. But this past year I have just lost it all. ability to retain and process info, no concentration, complete detachment from the rest of the world. driving, I tend to blank out and forget what I am doing. I just feel like garbage in general. And I have less and less of a desire to even be around. I guess my discouragement is that I was pretty looney before, but now I just can't fight what is going on in my head. It has me all twisted up, and I am afraid that this is permanent damage caused by Lyme....
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Lymeboy,
Hang in there.
It is a long road back, but you will get there.
I don't know how long I had Lyme prior to diagnosis,
But I had it long enough to give it to my two children.
I have a Graduate Degree and am a Speech Pathologist.
I couldn't find words to talk.
Couldn't say the words correctly.
Couldn't remember what I walked into a room for.
It was a long, hard battle.
I went back to work full time 18 months ago.
I never lost the information I had gathered in the 19+ years of doing Speech Tx.
I just finally was able to access it and access it well.
Do not give up hope.
You will get better.
Sending you prayers of hope.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
Lymeboy,
Are you being treated for Bart by an LLMD? How long so far?
Don't give up, Lymeboy. You will get better!
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
no bart was neg so was babs. Currently herxing like mad with an im / plaquenil combo along with zithro. not fun at all
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Learning disabilities are directly linked to a B6 deficiency. The active form of B6 is called P5P/PLP.
B6 works with Mg. Mg is anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine and blocks the "cholesterol pathway".
B6 has more functions than any other vitamin. For one...it controls sodium levels. It has to convert to its active form in the liver. If one is missing the enzyme for conversion...problem.
She may have a hard time "holding onto" sodium.
Repeating, Mg is anti-inflammatory.
Lack of B6 working with Mg -> ongoing brain inflammation.
My son finds soaking for 20 minutes in a bath with Epsom salts and baking soda helps him a LOT. It really changes his "mood" from sad to very happy. It is quite amazing. Try it.
To compensate, the body will upregulate aldosterone to help control Na levels. Aldosterone comes FROM cholesterol.
Does she/you have signs of high histamine?
This is all very genetic.
My son has ADHD, severe learning disabilities, seizures (triggered by low sodium), and aspergers (high functioning autism).
It took us 30 years to figure out what can help him deal with a genetic error.
B6 (sublingual)- is the active form so the liver doesn't have to do the converting, Mg citrate, L-theanine, and OmegaBrite (dramatic help in dealing with the brain inflammation).
Very low dose of Ritalin (SR) helped my son to a degree. However, when it wore off at about 4pm...hyperactivity returned.
Stay away from artificial colors...read ingredients. Watch annetto! It can trigger inflammation and it gives a "yellow" color to foods.
B6 sublingual is made by Source Naturals and is easy to take (dissolves under the tongue). It only works for a few hours though.
OmegaBrite (though expensive) is available in kid's dosages.
Selenium sometimes helps too. For me, it looks to help reduce eye "floaters".
L-theanine works for his anxiety (as well as Xanax).
When she is older...strongly discourage the BC pill called Yasmin. The others are okay. Not that one...my daughter ended up with severe problems - one after another - due to THAT BC pill.
Once again...genetic. She has mold induced allergic asthma and should NOT have been Rx'd that BC pill.
Hope this helps. Obviously, we've been through the IEP process for our son and had to fight our school district (legally) to get him extra help in addition to a LOT of our own help (Brittanica learning center, etc.)
Good luck and God Bless! I truly empathize with your situation.
She will need lots of praise and suppport. Computers are non-treatening and we found our son could learn a lot using educational programs.
Counseling can help deal with helping the child learn how to not take teasing to heart and how to build "walls" to reduce the inner anxiety.
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
Lymeboy, your symptoms sure sound like mine and I have Bart.
My LLMD says Bart must be treated before lyme as Bart shuts down the immune system. So treatment for lyme just won't work until Bart is treated.
Many people here have tested positive only for lyme and after not getting better, find out they actually had coinfections all along that had to be treated first.
There are many reasons to get negative tests for coinfections (and for lyme) when we actually have them. But symptoms like yours and not improving on lyme protocol should cause one to question the approach.
And as far as learning disabilities and intelligence, I've read about and know many intelligent people with learning disabilities! In fact, the two often go hand-in-hand.
I think the struggles with self-esteem and depression you are having right now are very likely directly caused by Bartonella. It is a formidable bacteria as it can cause so many emotional/mental issues that overwhelm and confuse us. I strongly urge you to check into it.
Please don't give up! And please don't do anything to hurt yourself! With the proper treatment, you can and will get better!
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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lightparfait
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22022
posted
Read aBout the GAPS diet...gapsdiet.com.
Many children born now have various degrees of learning issues, and much is due to what the mother has passed onto the child...not necessarily genetic, but pathogen or toxin related.
some issues can be changed, lessened, or resolved with clearing candida/mold/fungus type issues that are passed to the unborn child. Also parasite infections.
would also do the allergie immune therapy in the young child...clears the genetic component.
Getting your child off sugars..and processed foods and gluten and learning how to heal the gut area is extremely important at this age and could save your child from further damage and issues at school.
I tell you this as as wish someone told me this when I went through this with my daughter. It is harder to work with a teenager than a young child. YOu will have to teach yourself how to be diciplined with the food issues, as usually what the child has, the parent has related to candida type issues. Especially if you were ever on antibiotics, which most on the post have been and still are.
Read Dr.Klinghardt's autism protocol. Not saying your child has autism, but there is a large "spectrum" of disorders that have similar presentations, where diet and certain protocols can help for our kids to develope more normally academically, physically and emotionally.
Candida, yeast and fungus are a common denominator with any child in this spectrum. The immune system lies in the gut...so to keep the body healthy...clear the gut and get that functioning well.
With the gut in order...the immune system can function properly and keep lyme or any other pathogen at bay much easier.
Posts: 1009 | From NJ | Registered: Aug 2009
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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
17, I was under the impression that killing Bart doesnt cause a HErx....I will ask for another test through IGX, tho my LLMD seems confident Lyme is what is hurting me....but I trust no Dr, even the good ones....
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
lymeboy, I herxed for sure on Bart treatment.
The worst herx I've had from it was serious depression and aggitation for 3 weeks and then gone, back to myself again. That was nasty but oh, so worth it!
What if you get tested again and it comes back negative again? It still won't mean you DON'T have Bart. Not saying you have it, but maybe...
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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