My 6-year-old did not learn to read during his pre-first grade year in a highly selective private school ("all his classmates have learned") and I was instructed to have him tested. Result: visual constancy and visual sequential memory difficulites. Tester said too early to tell if neurological cause, or developmental lag (the subtest score for this area was extremely low, as compared to several other subtests in the "superior " range). So I am now reading everything I can find on reading difficulties. QUESTION: Is there anything to the claim that diet can accentuate these problems?
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilitie
Date: 96-05-21 08:04:12 EST
From: SusanS29
"QUESTION: Is there anything to the claim that diet can accentuate these problems?"
The people who believe in diet will tell you yes; those who don't will tell you "no."
The only truly-organized information I've seen on this is from the Feingold people, but they address attentional problems, not learning disabilities.
It's my bias: a child who is already behind in first grade is in a lot of trouble already. I would try proven approaches first. (of course if you try more-proven approaches and diet at the same time you'll never know which one was the most help.)
I don't like the diet because it's very hard to enforce (hard to control what your child eats when he's not in your home). Sometimes everyone pulls together in the family (it's best to have *everyone* on the diet) but other times it just starts battles of will between child and parent.
SUBJECT: homepage
ideas??
Date: 96-05-22 09:52:59 EST
From: Mndy Sharp
I am producing our school homepage and would like to include a section of parent education, geared toward parent of student with learning disablities. As a parent of a learning disabled child, what type of information would you like to see on this part of our homepage?
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-05-22 12:45:00 EST
From: GGMANDBNM
Thanks, Susan, for your reply. A nutritionist insisted to me that eliminating cow's milk, sugar and preservatives from my child's diet (and I admit his breakfast and lunch are heavy on these items --- I finally read the labels of the prepared foods I was using) would greatly diminish his processing difficulties. She said people think milk is okay if it doesn't make your stomach hurt, but that the brain is affected and you don't even realize milk is the culprit. She said the human body is not made for cow's milk and the public has been brainwashed into thinking cow's milk it healthy for humans. By the way, my son does not start first grade until this fall --- he did not learn to read in the PRE first grade program he is just now finishing (it is not a K-5 program, is an academic program that teaches whole word reading instruction and expects reading by December of the academic year or "your child has a problem"). (Our son has an August birthday and our state uses a September 1 cut-off for first grade, and we decided several years ago to delay his start of first grade-this made him one of the older childrem in this pre-first grade program and the school cited this as further evidence of LD.) His private testing did show difficulty in visual processing. What frustrates me is how to know if this is permanent or a developmental lag (he is late losing baby teeth compared to his peers, for example). We will switch him to another private school that is not "elite" but is solid academically, whose reading curriculum is phonics-based, regular, and sequential in introducing reading, but also draws on elements of whole language (composing and then reading their own stories, good children's literature, a holistic language arts approach (rather than segmenting reading, spelling, and handwriting into separate subjects)). P.S. My son's difficulties are not severe enough to qualify for the government definition that triggers the right to an IEP. If you have any other thoughts to pass along, please reply.
SUBJECT: Re:homepage ideas??
Date: 96-05-23 23:10:12 EST
From: Franrck
National Organizations
Local Newsletters and support groups
Libraries with the talking book programs supported by the library of
congress
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-05-24 14:16:41 EST
From: SusanS29
I have heard all these theories, but I don't believe that food/allergies/sensitivities cause learning disabilities.
They are-very occasionally-implicated in *aggravating* attention deficit disorder (not causing it in any controlled studies done to date).
Learning disabilities? Truly, I think you're on the wrong track with this one.
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-05-25 07:06:58 EST
From: Ratatat
<<We will switch him to another private school that is not "elite" but is
solid academically, whose reading curriculum is phonics-based, regular, and
sequential in introducing reading, but also draws on elements of whole
language (composing and then reading their own stories, good children's
literature, a holistic language arts approach (rather than segmenting
reading, spelling, and handwriting into separate subjects)).>>
It sounds to me that a change to a school that teaches a realistic curriculum is a good idea. For a school to base their curriculum on the assumption that all children learn the same way is wild. I have one child who, if it had not been for phonic taught by a gifted teacher would probably not learned to read within developmentally appropriate norms. And my second child, who is a very global reader, couldn't handle the phonics and decoding to save her life. We worked privately with a tutor who knew how to teach children with learning disabilities on some sight vocabulary, read till our throats were dry with her at home, but continued to work with her on phonics. The de-coding of words is an important process for these kids. She is now is 7th grade and reads at an appropriate level, but that didn't start to really click until the middle of 6th grade. We provided her will all the supports imaginable in the meantime.
<< What frustrates me is how to know if this is permanent or a developmental
lag (he is late losing baby teeth compared to his peers, for example). >>
The best way to have a fairly reliable clue as to what is causing your child's lags - whether they be developmental or they be because of specific learning disabilities - is to have him evaluated, comprehensively with a battery of assessments that are designed to uncover underlying learning disabilities - or to rule them out. Usually an education psychologist is the best person for this sort of assessment. The assessments for my daughter were conducted by a reliable medical/mental health clinic for children by a team of specialist which included a neurologist, a psychologist, an occupational therapist and (oops, forget it's been so long), but there were four of them.
SUBJECT: Re:homepage ideas??
Date: 96-05-25 22:09:19 EST
From: Mndy Sharp
Thanks for your ideas. I added local resources to our homepage today.
SUBJECT:
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Date: 96-05-27 11:45:50 EST
From: Dopplerdd
Dr. Jeffery Grotsky will be coming to Harford County, Maryland as the new Superintendent of Schools. He is leaving Grand Rapids under a 5 to 4 vote to not renew his contract. What else can you tell us about him?
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-05-28 16:14:03 EST
From: TimYuck
Speaking from both an educator and parent's point of view, I really think you should relax and allow your son to develop at his own pace. If he is not ready to read, no preschool, no matter how "elite" it is, is going to force the issue. They may claim his inability to read is symptomatic of a learning disability in order to make their own statistics fly. My son is now 10 and the "disabilities" he was diagnosed with in first grade (due to a lack of reading success) have all but disappeared according to his latest testing. He did qualify for an IEP and still does based on auditory processing deficits, but the visual discrimination and visual processing took care of itself with a gift of time. If your son does not qualify for services, I would suggest that you give him a big hug and encourage him the best way you know how. Insuring that he gets a teacher who appreciates the developmental differences between children is a good start.
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning
Disabilit
Date: 96-05-28 21:54:24 EST
From: Ratatat
<< Insuring that he gets a teacher who appreciates the developmental
differences between children is a good start.>>
How perfectly said!
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-05-29 21:06:16 EST
From: MTJAK3
To: GGMANDBNM
Speaking as a parent and Special Education teacher, I would be extremely concerned about any school that tells me my child better be reading by December or he has a problem. They are obviously not respecting the development of individual children. I'm also skeptical about schools who say they either teach whole language or phonics. That is ridiculous! Our school (by the way, it's a public school) integrates both philosophies beautifully. Some children simply pick up reading phonetically better, and others better by whole word approach. It is the teacher's responsibiliy to find out which way each child learns best. It is not the child's responsibility to have to adapt his/her learning according to the teacher's preference of philosophies. I personally take the individual needs of each child and make a program suited to his/her needs. That is the philosophy of our school and district. I have a hard time understanding the kind of teacher mentality that you are describing. Your child is only in 1st grade. Give him a chance before everyone starts diagnosing him with problems. As far as the diet goes, I've also heard claims from nutritionists that it makes a difference. It makes sense but I myself have not seen evidence of it working.
SUBJECT: Re:Diet &
Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-05-29 21:30:37 EST
From: PizzaForMe
I know someone who was told her son was MR when he was young. He also was having alot of sinus problems so they had him tested. His food allergies were so bad that his brain was swelling. The last time we talked he was playing basketball and in the honors society. I'm sure it's rare but it can't hurt to check it out.
SUBJECT: My 6 yr old/diet/LD
Date: 96-05-29 22:16:22 EST
From: GGMANDBNM
Thanks to those who gave me input. By the way, my child is NOT yet a first grader (late birthday) -- this year was a "high octane" PRE first grade- huge amount of seat work and academics -- no play circles as used in K-5. And he has had the full cognitive work-up -- no question, he has visual processing difficulties of two types. Everything else checks out just fine. What drives me crazy is I've talked with eight "experts" of one type or another --- and I get opinions from "put him in a private school immediately for dyslexics" to "he's just not ready to read yet" to "his present class was too fast and produced reading anxiety in him" to "get a tutor to teach him phonics and he'll be ok." It's all so confusing!!
SUBJECT: Re:My 6 yr old/diet/LD
Date: 96-05-30 07:30:05 EST
From: BRICKPOSSE
Unfortunately it will be confusing. You have to think about your son and how he learns. With his visual problems, yes they may go away, but for now perhaps your school could look into allowing him to listen to his reading on tape and answer orally and add visual reading as a related service provided in addition to his class when he begins in Sept. Depending on the teacher and the school administration this could work out, but there is always the possibly he will feel uncomfortable being the only one in his class that learns this way. A good teacher is very important to help relieve this fear. Try to not let it overwhelm you. We all have our opinions, you have to go with your heart and what you feel your son needs. We all argue about what does and doesn't work. I've seen some results with the elimination of milk, sugar and wheat in my daughter's attention, but not my son and they are both autistic. So what works for one does not work for the other.
SUBJECT: Re:My 6
yr old/diet/LD
Date: 96-06-01 09:52:18 EST
From: Ratatat
<<What drives me crazy is I've talked with eight "experts" of one type or
another --- and I get opinions from "put him in a private school immediately
for dyslexics" to "he's just not ready to read yet" to "his present class was
too fast and produced reading anxiety in him" to "get a tutor to teach him
phonics and he'll be ok." It's all so confusing!!>>
Yes, I know it is....I've been this route too. My daughter, who is now 13, and does have ADD...now reads fine. When she was young NO ONE could explain emperically what was causing her to having learning difficulties when she was 6-7 years old in a challenging private school. I was told to hold her back, to put her in a special school for the learning disabled, to just give her lots of support and she'd be fine, to change to another school with smaller classes, to go to the public schools and so on. And, I had consulted about 12 experts. Boy, I know the feeling.
So, what did I do? I talked to my daughter. She was determined to stay with her friends. We resisted pressure from the school to retain her, and were successful. I hired a tutor who had extensive training in teacher children with learning disabilities who saw her through the summer and for the next year and a half 2-3 days a week. I hired another tutor who had her Master's in early reading. I gave her "mental health days" off from school, and we'd just go have fun. I surprised her with hard-work rewards whenever I saw her getting tired or flagging. We did PUSH this kid hard, but with great sensitivity.
When she was in 5th grade she was performing well at grade level, still finding it harder than it should have been, still had support from tutors and from a really good supporitive routine at home. We had her evaluated again, and that's when we discovered she had ADD, no hyperactivity.
We did start her on medication, got a few extra accommodations from the school....and because of all that intervention and modeling of good study skills, organizational skills and the pay-backs of hard work she went into middle school with a good inventory of skills to use. SHE retired her tutor the middle of 6th grade and has been tutor-less since then. With close supervision she finished her 6th grade year on a high note. And in 7th she declared her independence FROM ME too! And 7th is ending very well too.
So, I guess what I am saying is that for all those years in elementary school we didn't know (from an evaluation or through diagnosis) what she needed, but we worked hard to meet her needs - however we say them, and as they changed each step of the way. It all pays off, regardless, if you provide your child with the support ant nurture. Nothing is clear, and there are no crystal balls. You can only do the best you can do, and pay attention to your child. I believe that the best barometer of how things are going for a kid is if they are happy. If not, something may need fixing. If they are, then whatever you are doing, you are doing right.
SUBJECT: Re:My 6 yr old/diet/LD
Date: 96-06-04 20:57:24 EST
From: Pearlm
I do know how you feel. My son, just turned 9, was not diagnosed for many years and has many problems learning. My best advice to you is HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF AS A PARENT. You know your child best. You know from life-long association with him how he learns, what HIS "normal" is and how he deals with frustration.
Listen to the "experts" and then make your own decisions on how to proceed.
One other thing to remember. Kids are resiliant. He will learn. If he doen't keep up with his peers, his class, school, etc. can be changed. As long as he feel good about himself during this difficult time and is not made to feel "damaged" or "inferior" he will grow up to be a good, heathy, productive member of society.
SUBJECT: Vitamins and Down's
Date: 96-06-06 21:22:12 EST
From: DavidGodoy
Are there any works/texts on the usage of Vitamin supplementation or dietary
adaptations for
children who, like my 6-month old daugher, have syndromes like Down's (hers
is rarer, but she
also has mental retardation)? My brother's wife is just looking into such a
possibility of additional treatment in Louisiana. Any ideas or opinions on
such treatments like vitamin supplementation specific to a child's needs
would also be welcome. Thanks,
SUBJECT: Re:Vitamins and Down's
Date: 96-06-07 16:32:50 EST
From: Writer 2U2
A professor (in 1970) mentioned a study in which mentally deficient children were lacking enough glutamic acid. Also a deficiency in niacin or niacinamide has been correlated with some learning disabilities. Research might turn up something for you.
SUBJECT: Re:homepage ideas??
Date: 96-06-08 00:20:44 EST
From: Jim Worby
Place a link to the Orton Dyslexia Society on your page. It is
http://www.pie.org/ods
Jim Worby
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-06-08 00:29:07 EST
From: Jim Worby
Never assume that things will "go away by themselves". Your kid's life is worth a little investigation.
The following information has been taken from studies supported by the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development and documented in a paper entitled "Research in Learning Disabilities at the NICHD". For the full report, contact NICHD at 6100 Building, Room 4B05, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 or call (301) 496-6591.
O The ability to decode single words accurately and fluently is dependent upon the ability to segment words and syllables into abstract individual sound units (phonemes).
O The best predictor of reading ability/disability from kindergarten and first grade test performance is phoneme segmentation ability.
O Reading disabilities (dyslexia) affect at least 10 million children, or approximately 1 child in 5.
O Studies show that of the children who are reading disabled in the third grade, 74 percent remain disabled in the ninth grade. Reading disability reflects a persistent deficit rather than a developmental lag in linguistic and reading skills.
O Disabled readers do not readily acquire the alphabetic code when learning to read due to deficiencies in the processing of phonological processing. As such, disabled readers must be presented highly structured, explicit and intensive instruction in phonics rules and the application of the rules to print.
O Systematic structured phonics instruction results in more favorable outcomes in reading than does a context-emphasis (Whole Language) approach.
SUBJECT: Jim Worby
Date: 96-06-08 09:19:23 EST
From: Mnnuccy
Thanks for the info on NICHD. Many kids are in mainstriem classes and learning whole language but also need the skills and are not getting it. Why do the educators not recognize this? They put the failure on the child, not themselves for the lack of integration of techniques to reach all children? It is very frustrating to everyone involved.
SUBJECT: Re:homepage ideas??
Date: 96-06-09 00:50:10 EST
From: Mndy Sharp
Thanks for idea of adding this link. I will check it out next week.
SUBJECT:
Re: Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-06-12 21:27:47 EST
From: Rob696969
I have LD and I found out that I cannot eat sugar because of this. Why is that? What does sugar have to do with LD and ADD? Also, is there any way I can get help with my studies on aol? E-mail me if I can get help on aol. Thanks!
SUBJECT: Updating Certificate
Date: 96-06-26 07:40:00 EST
From: PT360
I have recently gotten my Master's Degree in Administration. I thought I upgraded my Professional (8 yr.) teaching certificate to a "Permanent" status by doing this. I am having nightmares that my special ed. certificate will expire and I'll be in serious do-do! Does anyone have any insights on this?
PT360
SUBJECT: Re:homepage ideas??
Date: 96-06-26 07:43:04 EST
From: PT360
As a Primary SLD teacher, I would like to know what type of strategies you,
as a parent, have that work with your child. This could be adapted at the
classroom level to rally support between home and school. PT360
SUBJECT:
Re: Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-06-26 07:49:18 EST
From: PT360
Sounds like you're a really informed parent. Good for you! One will never know at this early age if the development is just a phase. Stick with it. Check on your son's day to day academics. Some clues to his overall learning may lie in that. Incidently, some children do not do well with the Whole Word approach to reading. However, if your child has trouble seqencing and memorizing sounds, phonics could be a nightmare too. Look for the style he's most comfortable with to help him learn.
SUBJECT: KIDS 1 PROGRAM
Date: 96-06-26 09:21:44 EST
From: Mjames6649
INTERESTED IN ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE KIDS 1 PROGRAM FOR SPECIAL ED.
STUDENTS USED IN NEW JERSEY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
SUBJECT: Re:KIDS 1 PROGRAM
Date: 96-07-01 21:42:50 EST
From: GRAFFD
Yes! Tell me more! What kind or results are being obtained? Most of our Sp. Ed. kids qualify for the school breakfast program. Maybe some specific menues would benifit them.
SUBJECT: LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-18 12:42:36 EST
From: BarbiBHT
I'm new here. I have an LD/Gifted son and am a student teacher and parent advocate. Does anyone else agree that we need smaller classroom sizes, more "regular ed" teacher training and money to help inclusion work (in the right situation for the right child, that is).
BT
SUBJECT: Re:Vitamins and Down's
Date: 96-07-18 14:31:34 EST
From: Dinosalami
Check out Linseed oil, and fish oils, they contain omega 3 which can help with brain development.
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-18 14:34:57 EST
From: Kary8825
Absolutely, positively, no question about it! Of course, only teachers and parents who have had to deal with the type of student who needs this will understand or agree. I'm currently looking for a private school for these reasons. I've predicted that in 20 years there will be a different outlook, awareness and acceptance of these students who are smart and capable of learning in the right environment. They need smaller classrooms, learning strategies, a little more redirection, organization and structure and consistency from the teachers. The schools need to realize that not all "normal" children learn the same way and stop calling them underachievers when that's not the issue. We've come a long way in terms of understanding learning disabilities and dyslexia - maybe someday.......
SUBJECT: Re:homepage
ideas??
Date: 96-07-18 22:29:54 EST
From: FOXROAM
Mindy-good luck with home page on learning disabilities. Parents, like me, need support regarding homework time, modifications in the classroom, and our "legal" rights. Example: My child's teacher did not qualify him for "Extended Summer Program" and I disagreed and a facilitator from the school board reviewed his situation and approved summer help for ne hour,three days a week during the summer. The one to one interaction has been a great help to him. He is bright but learning disabled in reading. Special kids have special parents!
Foxroam@aol.com.
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-07-18 22:36:28 EST
From: FOXROAM
Finally some people who UNDERSTAND!! This is great!
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-19 14:23:17 EST
From: MHanna7453
The question that I would like to ask you is; is your son LD/gifted because he is gifted. In my opinion I don't think that children are learning disabled. I think that the teaachers are teaching disabled. We have found so many excuses to justify why children should be placed in special education. All education is special be cause we have the minds and sousl of children in our hands. Mind you I am not talking about the extreme cases where the children would need individualized special instruction. But you know what, even those children are being included. In answer to your question, yes we do need small clases and more teachers who have a more realistic view of the needs of the children that they are teaching.
gooduck
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-20 10:09:38 EST
From: RoneeLDA
LD/Gifted is not an oxymoron...you can be gifted and learning disabled.
Teachers have not been taught to have skills, learning techniques, or
understanding of either. Most institutions of higher education do not require
this additional training, nor do most states. It is clearly a flaw within our
design of education. Small class size, teachers who can work with the variety
of learning styles and disabilities that find their way into classrooms,
services and supports for these children and their parents, these are all
essential. We should cherish the Federal Mandates that were designed to
protect and serve these children. We have children who have been saved by
medical technology (preemies, car accidents, illness,etc.)all high risk,
environmental and heredity factors, drugs and alcohol, etc., high risk to
being learning disabled or more complex difficulties and learning and social
problems. To experience and understand the mild to severe disabled, visit a
special service school, or a private school for college bound learning
disabled, or the various classes which are the learning enviroments of these
children. I am an advocate for learnng disabled children. Presently my
advocacy lends itself to a lawyer who is gifted learning disabled (reading
comprehension) who has passed the bar in New Jersey and cannot get
accommodations for extended time on the bar exam in Delaware, to a child who
needs placement in an out of state school for college bound learning
disabled(IQ is 160 but he is severely Dyslexic with Attention Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder ADHD), to a child who has been denied entrance into a
gifted program because they have a reading language disability( 99 percentile
in math, IQ 140),so forth and so on. It is a very real problem for these
individuals and because they are the hidden handicapped, with little
understanding by the public, they have to fight to either have their
giftedness acknowledged and challenged and their learning disability
addressed with supported appropriate teaching assistance.....People would be
shocked to see the list of famous individuals who come under the LD/ADD
classification (Presidents, inventors, engineers,in all form of the
arts,etc.,etc.)....RoneeLDA
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-20 10:59:27 EST
From: SusanS29
"n my opinion I don't think that children are learning disabled. I think that the teaachers are teaching disabled."
You're entitled to your opinion of course, but I am entitled to disagree with it. I taught LD students for nearly 20 years. They came to my room for a little extra support-they weren't in a special classroom-ever. They all (every single one of them) truly needed that extra help.
I had many students who never would have learned to read without me, or to write, or to spell (most never became excellent spellers but I had a boy once who couldn't spell his own last name in third grade, and he was smart.)
I had students in fifth grade who couldn't learn subtraction facts. These kids faced tremendous difficulties, and I'm proud that I helped them. I still hear from parents that many went on to college. One we thought would never make it out of high school went on to trade school and is now a licensed practical nurse.
If we call education "special" (which of course it should be) then we will still need some *other* name for the program the hundreds of students I taught needed over the years.
By the way one of those students was my own daughter, who instead of failure and frustration just got a 5 on an AP test.
If we can help students with these tremendous learning problems, and if we know how to, it would be inhumane to do it.
However there's no way on Earth that someone with training for the "regular" classroom could-or would-know what I know about those kids who learn in highly different ways than the rest of the students.
"Mind you I am not talking about the extreme cases where the children would need individualized special instruction."
But that's what a learning disability is. It means that the child learns best in a way that is *markedly* different than the great majority of other students. "LD" doesn't just mean that the student is a little behind in some way.
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-20 16:20:07 EST
From: RoneeLDA
SusanS29..thank you....time permitting we will exchange thoughts again...I do respect what you are saying, and more so, I respect what you have complished as a teacher and an educator...your students were fortunate to have you....We do disagree on learning disabilities but healthy disagreement is a good thing...."markedly" can mean something different to many people...especially the person who may have a mild to moderate learning disability and is in a failed mainstream classroom.....I was one of those people and so were my two sons.....my experience has been on many corners of the page......I see this problem from the corner that is personal-mother of two LD children (one is gifted/LD), the corner as an advocate for these children and others, the corner as a school board member (I serve on a special services school board-all handicapped children-severe and profound), the corner of having taught in the classroom, the corner as serving on many advisorys(e.g.
Commission on Higher Education Special Education Advisory, SPACH-State Parent
Advisory for the Handicapped, etc.),the corner as state president and
administrator for LDANJ, and most importantly as an adult learning disabled
person.....Susan I am spending much too much time in police stations, in
court and with lawyers, and my frustrations and sadness at the loss of these
LD children is profound...most are lost in those classrooms and do not have a
teacher like you, willing and wanting to take time to approach their problem
and/or disabilitiy...I wish to God more were like you...I hope we will
continue to "speak" to each other...until then..RoneeLDA
SUBJECT: Re:Diet &
Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-07-21 14:00:52 EST
From: Belovd
What are the symptoms of your child's learning disability? I have just learned that a hyper child, adult or a peson who cannot handle stress, and has the proclivity for low blood sugar, then would do well with increasing the amount of amino acids within their diet. I have sent for scientific studies done by a company in Texas who backs a formula of theirs. Since then, I have found out that Blue Green Algae is high in Amino Acids and minerals and has alot of nutritional value. I am exploring this for my hyper, alcoholic brother. My own son has reading, visual problems. I am looking into brain gym kinds of acitivities for him as well as eye excercises, involving a patch. Please fax me, since I am new with this computer, and may not know how to get back on line.
707-576-1034.
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-07-21 14:08:45 EST
From: Belovd
I have an 8 year old son who has a visual reading problem. I have been exploring alternative modalities in treating him, going slowly with the enforcing of present day reading standards. In fact, I have been homeschooling him, and have been following a more Waldork approach to learning. I recently found out from a woman here in Santa Rosa, Calif. that some children don't have their eye-brain mechinism working until the age of about 10 years and maybe even agwe 12. She is going to run my son through a test of some kind and probably put an eye patch on him and have him do some brain gym kinds of excercises. I believe in not giving into the educational system's standards of using little boxes to caterogize all of our children and I just keep on investigating what is out there. If you want to communicate with me, you may want to fax me. 707-576-1034. I'm new at this computer, and don't know if I'll be going on-line again. Carol.
SUBJECT: Re:Diet
& Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-07-21 14:18:10 EST
From: Belovd
This is me, Carol, again. Food allergies, diet, nutrition is very much involved with being a major part of learning disabilities. Digestion of foods involves using enzymes that dissolve food into chemical components, that the body can very much utilize. Amino Acids, the building blocks of proteins and are the end product of protein digestion. According to the scientific studies done by the group in Texas, they do indeed aid the body in creating healthy neuro transmitters. Their formula has minerals and vitamins in it along with the amino acids that help. This Texas formulator's # is:
713-474-4047. Give them a call. I have also been a special education teacher, and one of my first recollections was that a great many of my students had dark circles under their eyes,(liver, kidney involvement) and had runny noses.... (food allergies). Good luck with your research. I continue to do my own for my son who had a brain tumor. Diet had a major place in healing him of his cancer. That is for sure. Belovd. (fax) 707-576-1034.
SUBJECT: Re:Diet &
Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-07-21 14:22:13 EST
From: Belovd
I would love to talk to that person who had the son with food allergies, which influenced his inability to learn. My fax # is: 707-5761034.
SUBJECT:
Beloved Response
Date: 96-07-21 19:07:55 EST
From: RoneeLDA
The Princeton Bio Center in Skillman, NJ(outside Princeton,NJ)now called the
Carl Pfeiffer Institute has an ADD Clinic and works with bio chemical
disorders. They have had great success in behavior management and changes
through the vitamin and amino acid treatments. This coupled with the teaching
of organizational and structure skills, good counseling, and medical
management can change dramatically a persons life.....Much money has been
spent on working with prisoners in California. Blood, hair, and urine
analysis on hundreds of prisoners were done and a similiar element of deficit
was found and then returned to them within their diets,etc....behaviors were
changed dramatically. The people at the institute I just mentioned could tell
you more about these medical trials and experimentation...the number there is
609/8607...I believe strongly in the link with nutrition and learning
disabilities inclusive of ADD/ADHD....Best of luck to you.....RoneeLDA
SUBJECT:
Re: LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-22 20:22:59 EST
From: SusanS29
".I see this problem from the corner that is personal-mother of two LD children (one is gifted/LD)..."
Well I have a wide range of perspectives on this, having taught it for many years-I also do talks and demonstrations of teaching methods on the topic, hve written a book on it (LDA carries it) and am parent to an LD student.
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-07-22 20:23:47 EST
From: SusanS29
" I have just learned that a hyper child, adult or a peson who cannot handle stress, and has the proclivity for low blood sugar, then would do well with increasing the amount of amino acids within their diet."
If that's a case it isn't ADD, and it isn't LD either. Please, folks. If you're going to talk about ADD, put it in the ADD folder.
Thanks.
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-22 22:02:09 EST
From: CurrieKM
Amen, Susan!
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-22 22:10:33 EST
From: LSnyder442
mhanna7453 hit the nail on the head! i'd like to mention whole language<the latest trend> in education is causing alot of children to be referred to sped evals.
SUBJECT: Re:homepage ideas??
Date: 96-07-25 09:04:03 EST
From: JWATKINS
Stress the importance of living water in the diet. Good for all people, but
double important for children with learning disabilities. John Watkins at
JWATKINS @AOL.COM
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-26 10:49:48 EST
From: JTS25
NO KIDDING! With inclusion being so popular and so many regular ed teachers not wanting sped kids, something has to be done? Who is going to pay for it though?
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted
Date: 96-07-26 10:53:58 EST
From: JTS25
As a teacher I really hate it when we are grouped together <I think the teachers are teaching disabled> I cannot control what everyone in my field does AND it creates controversy when modern methods are used . . .It would really help if you would support teachers instead of spending your time critisizing! I can't think of many other occupations where so much time outside of work is spent "working."
SUBJECT:
Re: LD/Gifted to RoneeLDA
Date: 96-07-26 10:55:42 EST
From: JTS25
The world need more people like you!!!
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted SusanS29
Date: 96-07-26 10:57:01 EST
From: JTS25
Another person with a clue :) Good for you and congradulations on your daughter's AP score!
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted to RoneeLDA
Date: 96-07-30 21:37:18 EST
From: RoneeLDA
Dear JTS25....Thank You..we are all in this together...but it is nice to know
that there are those who appreciate that very important truth....thanks
again...RoneeLDA
SUBJECT: Re:homepage ideas??
Date: 96-07-31 18:15:00 EST
From: SusanS29
*What* is "living water?"
SUBJECT: Chat?
Date: 96-08-28 23:27:00 EST
From: Kevinks
Is there a (chat ) room for teachers? I would like to talk to a Special Ed Resource Room Teacher - 8th grade. I used to teach only little people. Could use some help!!
Carol
SUBJECT: Food Allergy/Omega 3/ADD.
Date: 96-08-29 19:04:51 EST
From: MERCURYS37
I have a husband and son with ADD. We have had remarkable success in controlling symptoms with the following: Elimination of tomatos, apples and dyed foods. Omega 3 nutritional supplements. They come in pill or liquid form. My husband is now off all drugs (he had previously been taking 70mg of ritalin a day) my sons dosage has also been reduced. I am very interested to hear about the successes of others and any other research that is being done on the Omega 3 issue. I know that Perdue U is currently conducting some research.
SUBJECT:
Re: Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-08-30 17:24:18 EST
From: Eagsman
I am a school psychologist and have reviewed the literature on diet and its effects on learning. There seems to be little correlation between the two. There is no hard evcidence to support the claims that nutritionists (and allergists) have made. A sound reading program (whose principles are outlined in "The Early detection of Reading Difficulties" by Marie Clay) is probably the best bet for a child with reading problems if intervention occurs at an early age (usually defined before 3rd grade)
SUBJECT: Re:Diet &
Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-08-31 08:42:32 EST
From: SusanS29
Actually I agree with you Eagsman, having also reviewed the literature.
BUT.
I think the people who choose to go with their instincts on this are entitled to have a place to discuss it, don't you?
SUBJECT: Need MAC Reading Program
Date: 96-09-09 20:03:29 EST
From: RRosen5448
Need recommendations for a writing program for use in training a high functioning mentally retarded ADULT on MAC (with CD -Rom function). Reading level 3rd to 5th grades. Need program without too many features in any one screen. No busy visuals. Needs clear typeface.. He's interested in letter writing, telling stories, making lists, addresses and phone numbers, calendar of weekly activities, leaving messages. Current program in use is too visually busy in color, features and cartoons and therefore confusing. Any other programs (i.e. for reading, art, games) please let me know. Title, manufacturer, source. Whatever thoughts of comments you want to add will be appreciated. Send to RRosen5448@aol.com.
SUBJECT: Re:LD/ADD/ADHD and diet
Date: 96-09-23 17:25:56 EST
From: CDavarich
Recently heard a doctor from England on a radio talk program on ADD/ADHD extol the virtues of fatty acid supplements for children with ADD/ADHD as they all showed a lacking of these substances in their brains. Also, blue-green algae was another supplement. This doctor suggested a product called EFALEX (DHA, fish oil). You can get information on this by calling 1-888-EFAMOL.. They will send you information on this. It is natural food product and studies show that diet (Feingold diet for example) along with drugs (Ritalin, etc.) and this supplement very often are helpful. I have called and am waiting for them to send me the information. I will update this message when I receive it.
SUBJECT: Re:LD/ADD/ADHD and diet
Date: 96-09-24 23:36:54 EST
From: SusanS29
"Recently heard a doctor from England on a radio talk program on ADD/ADHD extol the virtues of fatty acid supplements for children with ADD/ADHD as they all showed a lacking of these substances in their brains."
I remain extremely skeptical about this doctor's claims. The brains of many people who had learning disabilities and then died have been studied in depth here in the United States with no such finding.
SUBJECT: Re:Chat?
Date: 96-09-25 17:11:42 EST
From: Rbteacher
I was looking for a chat group too-any sp.ed. resource teachers. I miss the old Parent Soup because there were teachers there almost all the time. Does anyone know where it went or want to start a new group?
SUBJECT: Re:Chat?
Date: 96-09-25 17:27:26 EST
From: SusanS29
You can get to Parent Soup at keyword: FAMILIES. It isn't gone, just moved.
There are also a lot of teachers talking at keyword: TEN.
Meanwhile there is my chat, held every night at 9PM Eastern (keyword: PEN, then "chats," then "PEN Conference room"). But that chat is open to both parents and teachers. It's not just restricted to teachers.
The name of the chat is "ADD/LD Schoolhouse Chat."
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning
Disabilit
Date: 96-10-06 14:41:48 EST
From: Carky
I was jsut perusing the BB...and found your pleas for help and your suggestions. Please consider reading Dr. Jon Breedings new book: The Wildest Colts Make the Best Horses. Also contact CCHR for information on the harmful effects of Ritalin. CCHR is listed in his book.
Caroline Kyhl Ph.D.
professor of education, Texas Lutheran University
SUBJECT: Re:Diet & Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-10-06 20:19:35 EST
From: ADDisREAL
<<Also contact CCHR for information on the harmful effects of Ritalin. CCHR
is listed in his book.>>
I think it is only fair to advise readers of this message board that CCHR is the "educational" front of the Church of Scientology, which has long waged a campaign against the use of any psychiatric medications (see Time 1989) based on the belief that mental illness does not really exist and what the medical community calls mental illness is just an excuse for what they call the toxic environment created by parents and others, resulting in the behaviors that are called mental illness. Their psychiatric "guru" is a doctor named Peter Breggin who graduated from Harvard and who has written books about the evils of psychiatric medicines and the practice of psychiatry. I've read the chapter in one of his books on Attention Deficit Disorder and he distorted, misquoted and used out-of-date research to support his claims and viewpoint. I would strongly advise anyone to be very careful if planning to receive information from CCHR. They are alarmist and dishonest, IMHO.
SUBJECT: Re:Diet
& Learning Disabilit
Date: 96-10-06 20:47:02 EST
From: SusanS29
'Also contact CCHR for information on the harmful effects of Ritalin. CCHR is listed in his book.'
CCHR is the "Church of Scientology's" arm.
They actively oppose any use of psychological or psychiatric intervention, including the use of meds.
99% of the scare stuff out there about Ritalin is totally bogus. I urge anyone who wants to know about Ritalin to go to reliable sources, not people with an agenda against any use of meds or psychological support.
Anytime someone has an agenda (esp. a hidden one) the information presented must be viewed with great skepticism.
SUBJECT: Re:LD/Gifted
Date: 96-10-08 07:18:48 EST
From: SLancas640
I am/was an Gifted/LD kid. They tested me to have an IQ of 142 any yet I have Developmental dyspraxia. This affvects my motor skills and things like that . i am studing to become a teacher now and I agree that class sizes should be much smaller--- especally with the gifted/Ld kids. I went through a lot of greif as a result of my problems in school, but most of my srtife was because teachers refused to give me the extra time to finish assignments ans such. Need less to say, there IS a need for caring instrustors in smaller classes for these very speical kids.
