Am posting at a strange time as I live in the US, but will bump this when I get up.
For the last 2 years I have increasingly felt there is something a little 'different' about dd, and various class teachers have as well.
However, her problems appear to be most noticeable in class, and at home we've learnt how to 'deal' with things, so I'm not sure if there is a 'real' problem, or if this is more emotional/psychological.
I would just like some feedback from anyone who knows as I think we're at the stage of speaking to the doctor to see if she could be diagnosed. If there are any obvious 'red herrings' or something that you think is important that I mention, please let me know.
So, the problems that I would 'list' to a doctor are
- most noticeably, just does not seem to hear when spoken to. But she can actually hear, she is not responding, we're sure of that. when she was about 18 months she went for a hearing test as her speech didn't seem to be very good. the test showed that she heardeverything (eyes flickered) but she was playing with a toy and didn't want to look round. Since then she has had other hearing tests as school teachers say she does not respond, particularly if there is a noisy background.
- slightly over sensitive to loud noises, will fake cry, cover ears etc for things like vacuum cleaner.
- a very fussy eater who is almost phobic about putting things in her mouth that she doesn't like.
- kept puttin new things into her mouth (like toddlers do) until she was at least 4.6
- HAS to touch things/people etc. shopping is a nightmare as she just wants to touch every object in the shop. We now go everywhere with toys to keep her distracted, or allow her to hold some food that she has chosen.
- seems much better at taking in info visually. any thing on tv, or from the computer goes in. her teacher now uses visual cues to help her, e.g. timer for getting ready to go home etc.
- can make eye contact, but when not wanting to, can really 'blank' someone, even if they are in front of her. has done this from a very early age, about 18 months.
- very fidgety. almost impossible to get her to sit still, although she can concentrate on a task for a prolonged period (over an hour)
Generally, she is a very sweet, fun outgoing and well behaved child. She is keen to do well, and hates being in trouble. However, she gets into trouble at school (as we've just moved to the US, this is her 2nd school & 3rd teacher, so not a one-off problem teacher) as she doesn't hear instructions, is always last to be ready, and seems to be finding it hard to make new friends.
She is 5.6.
Her reading, writing, maths etc are all good, slightly above average.
There are times when she has appeared to be 'in her own world' and then hours/weeks later, she talks to me about events, and clearly she did see/hear what was happening, but didn't respond properly.
Her 'blanking out' seems to be worse when in noisy/busy situations, e.g. in a crowded town (I have had to pull her back from busy roads, because she did not hear me tell her to stop)and school, or if she is stressed about something.
Really directed instructions, clear boundaries, with known rewards, or punishments, do help, but only for that situation, she doesn't seem to apply the lesson to all areas (e.g. stop playing when told, she will do immediately, then forget by next time)
As I said, I'd just like some feedback from anyone with experience (as parent or professional) who can say whether these seem to be the relevant points to raise.
TIA, will bump at a more suitable hour, just needed to write this when the house was quiet and I could think straight.