slow moving boy

Have you considered some testing? It might be helpful to know if others besides his teacher see the same issue in your son and if they have any ideas about why he is processing so slowly.

He saw and OT for 3 years and now sees an SLP; they think he has either NLD or possibly a touch of Asperger’s. We’re looking into getting a neuropsych eval (not covered by our insurance).

If it’s only writing that he is slow in, it would be dysgraphia. It sounds, though, as if he is slow in many ways. This is often characteristic of delays in vestibular development, which in turn is often associated with auditory processing problems. There’s a lot of information on how auditory processing problems can cause slow processing at http://www.neuracoustics.com.

The first thing you might want to do is determine whether or not there is an auditory processing problem. The best way to do this is to get a CAPD evaluation by an audiologist trained to assess CAPD (most are not). There’s a website with good information, including a search engine to locate CAPD audiologists, at http://pages.cthome.net/cbristol/

If there is an auditory processing problem, you would want to pursue any sound therapies that might help reduce the deficit(s). NeuroNet is one of the best approaches to the bodywork needed to develop the vestibular system (timing, rhythm, balance, coordination). If you can’t do NeuroNet, Balametrics (http://www.balametrics.com) would probably be helpful.

Audiblox could be helpful. However, an unaddressed auditory deficit or unaddressed delays in vestibular development could limit the gains from the program. Ideally you would want to address all sensory/motor level development problems first (including sound therapy and bodywork) before doing cognitive training, in order to provide a large and solid foundation for development of cognitive skills. It wouldn’t hurt to do Audiblox before that. You just would not get as many gains, because problems on the sensory/motor level will inhibit the development of cognitive skills.

If I couldn’t get him evaluated and could only use a single home-based therapy, my first choice would be Balametrics. That would be the most likely to speed him up in multiple ways. (Gymnastics could also be helpful.)

Mary

Thanks for your reply. My son’s had SI oriented OT for 2 years; he now does martial arts 3-4 times a week and ice skates (all fairly poorly) one time a week. Do you think Balametrics would be a good addition?

The only place that does CAPD evals in the area will not do them till the child is 8; mine is 7. He will definitely have it done when he reaches 8. Will Audiblox help his processing speed? Lots of questions. Thanks.