[senco-forum] ADD

"These are exactly my thoughts. However, auditory processing difficulties  (or
at least phonological difficulties) are always part of  dyslexia."

I would agree that in many cases this may be true, estimates are that 60%  of 
dyslexics have APD, but some also have visual processing at the root of their 
 reading problems and some may have both.

" I can't see what would be gained by trying for a diagnosis of APD  when (a) 
there is only
one place to get one "

Better than none...as has been the case previously. And at least the  child 
would not be on presumably unsuitable medication if the true cause of his  
difficulties was found. At GOSH they rule out ADD/ADHD and autism in their  screen
ing questionnaires before proceeding to APD testing. So the parents would  be 
told if the child hasn't got ADD. Also it will make a great difference to the  
child to know whay he is as he is and APD will affect him for life, not just 
in  school, so he has a right to know...and also to not be medicated  
unnecessarily.

" (b) I hear tell that only 2% of the cases referred to GOSH are  actually 
diagnosed as APD."

I have never heard that, and I'm in constant contact with the Medical  
Research Council Institute of Hearing research....where did you get that from?  
Email me offlist if you don't want to name names here.  They are still at  the 
testing stage so no figures would have been released but even if it is true  at 
least that 2% will now have an accurate diagnosis instead of speculation. I  
have already emailed them this morning to check.

"This is a child with no behaviour problems whatsoever. He keeps  himself to
himself and gets on with whatever is asked of him ... But he  always has
done. So what benefit can Concerta be giving  him?"

None. ADD isn't gererally about behavioural problems, it is strictly an  
inattentiveness issue. ADHD is the one with the behavioural connotations.  The 
child may well have short term memory issues too which also fall into the  APD 
umbrella. How old is he?

I suspect the parents felt that he was being inattentive at home, probably  
due to exhaustion or looking for answers why he wasn't making what they felt 
was  the required progress at school, if he was as bright as they thought. My  
feeling is that his coping strategies mask the true extent of his difficulties  
and when he gets home it all falls apart due to the struggle to hold it 
together  all day. Children with processing problems take twice as much effort to 
do  things and are usually "brain fried" by the end of the day!

Best wishes,
Aly

Chair Auditory  Processing Disorder in the UK/APDUK
www.lacewingmultimedia.com/APD.htm 
www.apduk.org