Hello everyone,
I have dropped into this site every now and again over the past few years....
I have a ten year old son who is dyspraxic (and might be diagnosed as NLD if we lived in the US--though he is very social and popular at school). He has a big VIQ/PIQ split, reads and comprehends well above his age level, math is age level--but slow---- . He is doing great in a small private school with a great teacher. We are relocating to another foreign posting after this academic year. So much of the school experience depends upon the teacher. I really want him to be at his best and feeling confident when he starts new.
He is very poorly coordinated. He has been swimming since he was 4, but still doesn't have the strokes right. Soccer was a nightmare, but he insisted on participating anyway. He finally decided to stop after Easter and join the lunchtime chess game instead. I am a bit worried since he takes forever to make up his mind and move a piece!
I have been reading about Interactive Metronome for a while now.
Speed is his biggest issue..."hurry up" just doesn't compute. The school bus will be blowing the horn ouside the gate and he will still walk down the driveway in his own SLOW time. He has no idea that he appears very rude, despite hearing me explain this several times.
I guess I am still looking for the magic cure despite three years of this....OT, Samonas, swimming instruction, summers at the Lab School, biofeedback, speech therapy...it has all helped a little...but nothing has knocked me over --other than his own hard work and determination.
If anyone who has experience with IMT could respond, I would be so appreciative. The web site looks great and the professionals sound genuinely convinced that it helps. But, I would like to know what parents think.
My question for all of you have done IMT is what specific benefits have you seen in the areas of motor coordination, speed, and timing? Can your children now catch or throw a ball that is not fed directly to them, or do a cartwheel, or use cutlery correctly? Are they able to join in team sports? Do they still come in last? Have you seen increased fluidity or maturity in movements? Has anything speeded up? Have you noticed improvements in response speed or processing speed? Was anyone tested before and after IMT on perhaps the Bruininks-Oseretsky Tests? or WISC III performance subtests?
Many thanks to all of you who have taken the time to read this. If anyone would like to correspond privately I can be reached at mstevens@starhub.net.sg
All the Best,
Margo
