First Progress Report

On Monday, we got our first progress update.  Here’s what was reported.

He has gone up three age levels in Auditory Processing, so he’s now “age appropriate” and should be able to follow 2-step instructions always and sometimes three step instructions.  I suppose he does.  “Brush your teeth and put on socks” is usually successful.

He’s gone up 3 levels in Supine Core strength, so he can do the yoga pose “bridge” like an 11-year-old.

He’s gained 2 age levels in Fine Motor skills, but we’ve  been given extra exercises to do daily moving paperclips between bowls to help with that.

He’s gained 1 level in Visual Ocular Reflex (not moving the head along with the eyes.)  It might have turned out better if I remembered to do our home exercises every day.

He also gained 1 level on Balance Beam, Prone Core exercises, and Lateral Core exercises.

Of major concern is upper body strength, where he continues to show the arm strength of a 4-year-old.

He is currently working on a 6^th grade level in Main Idea, Drawing Conclusions, and Making Inferences, and he just finished the 5^th grade level of Fractions, Decimals, and Multi-step Word Problems. (He's in 4th grade--yeah, I'm bragging!!)

So what does this mean for ADHD?  Great question.  So supposedly as the core becomes stronger, he is supposed to be settling down and having more patience.  She said I should be noticing that he is not getting as easily frustrated.  I am not sure about that.  I will be more observant.  The ability to focus longer is supposed to kick in this next month.  I wait with baited breath.

She also gave me an empty “task chart.”  Whit and I filled it out yesterday, deciding what his responsibilities are in the morning, afternoon, and evening.  It’s stuff like “brush teeth” and “put on socks”—four easy ones and one tricky one (“wash your face.”)  He’ll get rewarded if he can check off each task in a time slot.  He was really amenable to it, considering he helped to create it and that he gets to do the checking-off.

Most of what she told me about the behavior for “right-brain deficient” people I already knew from reading about ADHD and Aspergers, so there was no new insight into behavior.  That’s ok, though.  It’s affirming to realize I’m on top of things.  And she told me that he is a pleasure to work with and that he never gives them any push-back, and she couldn’t imagine that we have any behavioral issues at home.  Also affirming, if not entirely accurate. ;-)