<p>Hi All, my son is currently an 8th grader. He was diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder a year ago. The audiologist said he hears about 45% of what a teacher is saying in the classroom. His grades are really plummeting. He uses an FM system at a very difficult private school. Next year he will be transferring to a large public school (for a variety of reasons not having to do with APD, but he should be able to get more accommodations at the public school). He often misses classroom instructions - a teacher will verbally change the syllabus and he doesn't hear, or he'll miss the announcement for an after school tutoring session. Unlike many APD kids, he is an avid and advanced reader. Almost all his teachers feel he grasps the information, but messes up on tests.</p>
<p>We'll be meeting with the public schools soon to set up an IEP. Has anyone out there tried different strategies that have helped (or not helped?). He does not want to use the FM system - and I hear that is very common in high school. I'm thinking of notetakers and possibly recording lectures. What about smartpens?</p>
<p>He does use Earobics software, but thinks it is extremely dumb and does not like it. I think he hates it so much that he probably gets little from it.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help ...</p>
<p>2 of my sons also have APD issues. Both are doing excellent at top universities.
In HS they each met with a learning specialist who coached them on efficient not taking tools. smart pens , as well as iPod recordings of lecture sometimes provided by the school ,occasional notetakers have been of huge help.</p>
<p>they also meet with their teachers regularly to look ahead about what will be covered in the upcoming week, and to recap the most significant concepts or content of the week.
Other strategies include
sitting at the front of the class forming study partners with fellow students to review before tests , not piling on to many difficult classes during the year…even taking a summer class at an accredited jcc will help.
these students benefit from smaller class sizes, and interactive learning environments , learning by doing, or inquiry based learning rather than lecture formats will enable them to
Absorb info more quickly as well as gain significant confidence.</p>
<p>Encourage your son to attempt to be two steps ahead in his classes. This will allow him the opportunity have greater efficiency. By routinely confirming details with his instructors he can ensure that he is currently on pace for excellence. Make sure to recommend that your son builds a trust with each instructor so that they can incorporate his learning process and treat him as he uniquely prefers. It might be advisable if a system is set up allowing him to have constant communication (as necessary) either towards the end of the class session (to validate particulars) or via email (if that is more convenient). Definitely a good idea that he embraces his disability, yet remains his own personal advocate … so, that he can convey what works and what doesn’t. Likewise, your son will have to work harder than his peers that are otherwise non-disabled; this is the best chance he has for ensuring [his personal goals for] social, emotional and intellectual attainment.</p>