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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

Can anyone tell me if my DS might have a particular condition/learning difficulty?

28 replies

MGMidget · 03/02/2016 11:23

I am starting to suspect that my DS (aged 8) might have a learning difficulty or a particular condition. Having tried googling some of his symptoms a number of possibilities pop up but he doesn't fit neatly into a particular box. I'm not sure yet if I should be trying to take this further and don't want to create a problem if there isn't one so advice from mumsnetters would be appreciated. I wondered if I list some of the symptoms whether anyone more knowledgeable than me would have any suggestions or can tell me if my DS is just a normal boy?

He is inconsistent in his focus in class. Called a 'dreamer' by some teachers. Also, a common message is that 'when focused' he produces really good work. Problem is he often loses focus. His latest form teacher has said he seems to have problems with multiple instructions. She has also given him a 'fiddle toy' to help him focus in class. He is the only child in the class with a 'fiddle toy'. At home I have to keep repeating instructions to get him to do things and he is a big fidgeter.

He has found writing difficult and has needed to be taken out of the class for extra writing lessons. However, his reading seems to be good for his age. The main problem is his letter formation which is sloppy, plus he has to be constantly reminded of the basics of sentence construction (i.e. capital letters and full stops) and to keep his letters evenly sized/spaced, put spaces between words etc. He tends to write as little as possible - if they provide a sheet of A4 to answer a question, he'll try and get away with three lines or so of an answer. On the positive side he has improved a lot in the past few weeks after having extra lessons so is capable of improvement.

He is quite clumsy, often tripping up. Not very well coordinated in sport (relative to his peers of the same age).

He has an amazing memory for facts. Knows all sorts of trivia and detail about subjects he is really interested in. Hence his factual knowledge of the relevant subjects he now covers at school (science, history etc) is considered as pretty exceptional by his teachers.

He doesn't seem to have an social behaviour problems. Teachers note he is kind, gets on with everyone etc. He has often been regarded as one of the quieter ones in class however and had to be drawn out of himself. He is improving in this now though and speaks up, asks more questions etc. However, his current form teacher said when he gets enthusiastic he can't help sharing his knowledge all the time and needs to learn to find the right time to speak up rather than interrupting the lesson.

Does anyone have any idea if my son might have a particular condition or is he a normal 8 year old? Thanks!

OP posts:
Pipistrella · 03/02/2016 11:42

Oh and the secondary school suggested he use a laptop for large amounts of writing. He uses it in English, History, RE and Geog. and for homework topics.

He produces some fantastic work on it. I still can't read his handwriting though Smile but having the laptop now means he will get to use it for his GCSEs, as it's his 'usual way of working'. I think it's possibly the difference between him passing and failing tbh.

Pipistrella · 03/02/2016 11:40

It sounds as though concentration and processing of information are something he might struggle with.

My own son is quite similar - socially just fits in, gets on with everyone, can't do something I ask him to do unless it's repeated several times, forgets what he is doing, can't focus in class or at home.

His IQ is 120-130 range and was higher at 7 (over 140) so he isn't daft.

His writing is also atrocious.

We had him assessed for dyslexia at 10, and he was found to be mildly dyslexic having overcome a lot of his issues with coping strategies - and also borderline dyspraxic. He found it hard to learn to ride a bike and is always falling over his own feet.

Primary school didn't want to know, and of course he didn't pass his 11 plus (nearly but not quite) and he is now at a super school which allows him to be a bit slow, while having a good attitude and so on - he's well liked by teachers and kids. That's all that matters to him though he is doing well in his subjects too.

It's very frustrating when you know your child is clever, and they just struggle to get the information in and out.

With ds, once it's in, it's properly in. it's just getting it in - it seems to swirl round and round his head before entering his brain Smile It's also like he is slow to process his OWN signals - like he doesn't recognise when he's hungry, or when he's over tired.

Not sure what advice to offer, we were quite lost with it too, but don't give up hope, often these children seem to catch up later on and become at least as successful as their more organised peers.

BishopBrennansArse · 03/02/2016 11:26

It's hard to say as none of us are professionals.
There are elements there that might suggest some kind of disorder, perhaps Developmental Co-Ordination Disorder or some kind of sensory processing disorder.

The only way you will know is by getting a referral to your local child development centre - not sure if school nurse can refer but your GP should be able to.