Teachers are stumped with learning issue

[HartandRoll]

Just had parents evening and feeling a bit low. It’s year 1 and I’ve just been told my almost 6 year old daughter is being referred formally for full SENCO support. She is really far behind her peers in reading, writing and maths, and struggles to concentrate or pay attention in lessons. She also has some speech delay. But teacher says she’s popular with the other kids, plays nicely and is kind, ‘a lovely girl’. I may be biased but I agree - she is so lovely, and such good company. But the teachers just do not know what this learning issue is. They don’t think it’s autism or ADHD (she can sit quietly for long periods) and too soon to tell for dyslexia. We’ll meet with SENCO teacher next week to get next steps (this teacher apparently also stumped), but wondering if anyone else has had this mix of symptoms in their child and has any advice?

Basics first. Has she had an eyesight and hearing test?

What is she like at home? Can she follow step instructions? (Eg take x upstairs, brush your hair, bring y downstairs)

If spelling a word for her to write down how many letters can she hold in her head at a time?

What are her motor skills like? Any sensitivity to tastes, textures etc?

If she is struggling to concentrate then it could be ADHD. Girls with ADHD often can sit still, but their mind will wander, they will look out of the window and space out. I'm a bit concerned that the school don't realise that as it's commonly known.

It could also be dyslexia. Dyslexia is poor working memory, it means the child struggles to retain information and hold it in their heads.

Could still be ADHD, but more the inattentive kind.

Being behind in reading, writing and maths does sound like one or more of the “dys” conditions, but she is still very young.

It’s great the school are on it, so hopefully they can put help in place based on the needs they’ve noticed regardless of eventual diagnosis

Don't discount Inattentive ADHD (aka ADD or ADHD-i). My son can sit for long periods - he can hyperfocus on something his is interested in, but he can also spend lots of energy on 'looking like he is listening', which means he isn't listening at all, or he can be off in a full on day dream, where he's also not listening to anything! You did say that she struggles to concentrate.
Very difficult to get assessment for ADD when children are little though - it's hard for them to describe their experience.
In terms of advice - think about activities that include her whole body - squirting a washing up bottle full of water onto a letter shape chalked on a fence, adding by putting numbers in hula hoops and counting the total of jumps - that kind of thing.

I agree hearing test is needed, especially with her speach delay. Has she had a sight test yet?

ADHD is completely different in girls and boys. I’m surprised the teachers don’t know that. My
ADHD ASD DD is quiet and still. Your DD is a lovely girl and will still be a lovely girl and good company regardless of whether she has ADHD. Just go through the process with her and give her the support she needs to be her best self. Sending lots of love and strength, it can be hard to take it all in, but she’ll be ok.

Teachers and primary SENCO's are often fairly clueless, their understanding of the conditions are at the severe end and often stereotypical IME. I wouldn't rule out ASD or ADHD based on what you've said, I would get her hearing tested though if it hasn't been recently.

Have you thought about Inattentive ADHD? It’s pretty appalling that the school thinks ADHD is all about being loud and energetic! You need a new school that can help your DD flourish.

This is my husband. He is an expert at looking like he’s engaged and not fidgeting etc but will mentally be totally zoned out, it’s quite a skill. He can appear totally present but have absolutely no idea what’s happening around him.

He struggled at school, but not behaviourally, just academically. Also transpired he’s dyslexic. Teachers and his parents assumed it was laziness but he couldn’t learn in the usual way so lost interest.

He’s a successful adult if that reassures anyone.

It could well be dyslexia. Do you have any family history? I know it's easy for me to say but try not to worry. Just read with her and encourage her to draw and write. Count things in everyday life, measure and cook. Give her things to count, take one away and count again, add one etc. Don't compare her to other children it's just not helpful.
My DD is about to go into her second year at a Russell Group university. She has dyslexia and discalculia. In primary she was miles behind everyone, failed her SATS and was in very low groups throughout secondary. She got both her diagnosis in year 3 and once we had that suddenly everything started to make sense.
Literacy Gold is an online support toolfor dyslexic children a friend has used withw her son.
Dyslexia is a complex thing. Have a look on Tik Tock or Instagram at some adults talking about what their dyslexia feels like. It's eye opening.

My advice would be to say yes to everything! If they are offering support or assessment then take whatever it is, as it's all free and can only help your child.
I think there's so much that can be going on, but every time I've talk to an ed psych or even the senco I've realised the breath of their knowledge.
Combine their breadth with your depth of knowledge and you can work together for your child.

My ADHD dd could sit quietly for long periods. As pp have said, it presents differently in girls.

Thank you for these replies, all so helpful. Yes her hearing and sight are fine (both tested). I must admit I am not well informed on ADHD and thought it only presented as hyperactivity … but since reading these posts above I looked up inattentive ADHD and my DD indeed ticks every box. I do really wonder if it might be this and dyslexia combined, as she is so muddled with sounds and words, bless her. I’m going to do a lot more research so I can be well informed before going into SENCO meeting next week. Thank you again for all advice here

I was recently recommended this website https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-symptoms-test-children/ to help pin point issues my daughter may have.

Definitely this!
The teachers aren’t qualified to decide whether she has autism or adhd.

I’m not surprised. We were told all along that there was nothing like ASD of ADHD with our DD. She had a diagnosis for both in her teens.

If she’s a bit behind with her speech, hpw does she do on this simple progress checker?

It actually doesn’t matter “what” it is. It might not “be” anything. Many children simply have difficulty with academic learning - that doesn’t mean it is any kind of specific syndrome, such is our extremely varied human brain. The important thing is the senco is involved - they will do assessments and find out what she is struggling with, and then put in support to help her do that thing. She is so little there is very little point focussing on “what” it is - just work with the school to get support in place and at that age she may very well just catch up.

It does sound a lot like my niece who has the inattentive type of ADHD and dyslexia. It’s really good the school are on it because my niece didn’t get her diagnosis until Y11 which did unfortunately impact her GCSE results.

I'd consider a cognitive assessment to look at her full learning profile rather than more specific ADHD or dyslexia assessments which can miss other factors. Did she have speech and language assessment?