Unspecified learning disorder (working memory/auditory working memory)

[blahdee]

We have just had a diagnosis of unspecified learning disorder due to academic underachievement, particularly in academic fluency under timed conditions.

I had thought it could be dyslexia or dyscalculia but our dc doesn’t nearly fit into that after a whole battery of tests. The tests did reveal a particularly low auditory working memory.

Recommendation initially is extra time 25% and to break down instructions into smaller chunks.

I am just wondering if anyone else has experienced issues with auditory working memory problems with their dc and any other tips on how to help at home.

School have never felt there was an issue fwiw and somehow dc has been “just about” meeting expectations. At home however mental maths and times table learning has been horrible and very noticeable how it’s difficult.

I am yet to hear how school might approach this too. If anyone has tips meanwhile, I would be grateful to hear.

Who diagnosed this? They should be making more recommendations than 25% extra time and breaking instructions down.

It can help to have instructions written down and using visual supports. Think it about placement within the classroom. Putting homework online if they don’t already. Pre-teaching key vocabulary. Some with auditory difficulties find a Roger pen helpful &/or sound training.

For auditory processing disorder, there is an excellent clinic at UCL if you can a referral.

Hello, many thanks. I don’t believe it’s auditory processing as it’s working memory alone/ esp auditory working memory. I’ll look into a Roger pen, I haven’t heard of it. Thank you

Poor auditory working memory difficulties can be due to APD, so I would want to dig into that further.

thanks useful to know. Could I ask would working memory alone be enough to diagnose APD ordinarily though?

No it wouldn’t, but that’s part of why I asked who diagnosed because not all assessments are equal and sometimes difficulties are hidden or masked by other difficulties &/or strengths.

Thanks, both a clinical psychologist and a specialist educational assessor.

I have just been reading about APD online and it really doesn’t sound like my dc overall so I really don’t think it would be that. Good to highlight it though

My dc had a whole host of battery tests including a full Wisc V

Was the specialist educational assessor an educational psychologist? If not, it is worth an assessment by a good EP.

If it was by an EP, I would go back to them because they should be making all the recommendations DC requires.