APD?, Hope I'm posting in right place

[CastielFan]

Education Psyc gave me a phone call to explain what she found with my daughters memory test. (She would have waited till we were face to face but I am seeing DD1's new Doctor in a few days) She explained to me she found that my daughter has "Well below average Short Term verbal memory / Working Memory". APD was an idea that was tossed around, then she went on to say Working Memory stays with her for life, I've taken that as it cannot be improved upon - am I right? I seem to be getting mixed messages from my google searches [hmmm] so looking to find out if this is true and if so why it's all a jumbled up message some saying it can improve and some saying it cannot. Another question (bear in mind I am Scotland, UK) how does this impact on schooling? We have had many up's and down's with the school as they seem to have a bad attitude with DD1's learning and helping her with bullys. So many questions, and mind is everywhere lol - thanks in advance x

Working memory can definately be improved. I've hugely improved DDs memory. She had significant problems before, and doesn't now.

There's no help for it on the NHS, nor within school. But we've done an awful lot of therapies, all of which have worked, and her memory is now fine.

The best things we've done are:

• auditory integration training
• tinsley house clinic

but there's loads of other therapies you can try. Depending o. Your budget, time available and location.

The main thing is to keep trying.

It is possible to totally change your DDs life through these therapies.

I agree with Indigobell. Our EP said the same thing but a little bit of googling brought up several options and our head (fantastic bloke that he is) agreed to pay for jungle memory junglememory.com/pages/general_content_area?content_area_id=23

I don't know what it's like but it seems to be worth a go

CastielFan

there seems to be some lack of understanding of working memory above.
There are two issues you mentioned Auditory memory and working memory.
Auditory processing disorders can cause problems with auditory or Echoic memory, which can cause issues such as word recall problems. Working memory which is like the RAM of a computer where you perform all e tasks of every day life, and has a limited capacity.
We prioritise how we use working memory subconsciously, and those who have cognitive information processing disabilities it is in the working memory that we have to run the alternative compensating skills and abilities to work around our cognitive disabilities / disorders. To enable us to run these coping strategies other programs we may use have to make way usually our self organisation skills or time awareness abilities.And even our coping strategies have to make way when our bodies are having to cope with stress or illness.

There are no programs which can improve these issues the claims are pure marketing.

AT - DD tried jungle memory when she was 6 and her memory was really bad. It was the first intervention we tried.

It was too hard for her and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with severe problems.

Memory problems are (obviously) problems with the brain. So neurodevelolment therapies (like tinsley house, dore, INPP, retained reflex therapy, hemispheres, sound learning centre, sunflower trust....) are more likely to work.

Also improving your vision (through vision therapy) or hearing (though one of the many auditoy therapies - auditory integration training, theureputic listening, johansen, listening therapy) free up the brain so that it needs to spend less effort processing vision and sound, and therefore has more room left for memory

Thanks all, explains it better than ed psyc did as she was in a bit of a rush / phone tizz. Anyone know what children with APD / Working memory issues are entitled to in school? Have an appt coming up with Doc but one week is feeling like a lifetime when I'm trying to put head in order.
Psyc Ed mentioned she doesn't learn through verbal word, and wont be able to retain much said verbally so class room learning doesn't seem relevant unless they give her large amounts of paper x

My DD had a TA on her table the whole time, and had 1:1 every day - and didn't learn a thing until she did auditory integration training in Y3.

She pretty much couldn't read or write at all in Y3.

Don't fall into the trap of fighting with school for extra support. If she is as bad as the EP suggests, nothing school can do will help.

you have to take responsibilty for curing her undeying problems - which you can do, but school can't - else her life will be incredibly hard.

Indigo been having that problem to, she hasn't learned much with the extra help. She did improve with games but in the classroom, and with 1:1 sessions nothing seems to have helped although computer based learning has helped with Alphabet, not to sure if the school will recieve funding for this as it does cost (Education City, purple mash) Providing a laptop in class may help to, not to sure if they do is so young but as I say computer based learning seems to suit better. Need to get reading on this, Hello Amazon lol x

Start with Is that my child?

And The well balanced child and Dore