Speaking of IQ tests...Re: Apraxia and Slow Processing

[Guest guest]

If it makes you feel better I offer you this: my son is, more like

was, some sort of hybrid between apraxia and autism but never fit

each category completely. Too much eye contact allegedly for autism

(unconvincing to many autism moms I assure you), no echolicia, early

reading, etc. He did cling to us and was not happy even with us but

we were often the least objectionable alternative. He has been

obsessed with music in the past. He also played with water a lot

(mostly during what can best be described as accidental detox).

Beyond that he banged his head on 6 occasions but all seemed to be

related to teething. As for apraxic symptoms, he had, shall we say,

less intellectual horsepower than what I have read about apraxics.

Nearly a year ago his receptive language skills were assessed at

37/100. I do not doubt that score. He was able to imitate at times

which as I understand it, is inconsistent with apraxia. Not sound but

movement. He had low tone, failed to cross the midline, and cried A

LOT. I struggled over whether he was low functioning autism but the

thing was, his skills made peekaboo appearances (only no do I see

that it was related to varying levels of allergen exposure) and I

can't explain it better than this: he was in there and not enough of

him was coming out.

9 months ago after having gut stuff myself it dawned on me that my

boy likely had undiagnosed GERD as a baby likely due to milk allergy.

There is more but I will not bore you with the details. The point is,

9 months later, on almost the right diet and almost the right

supplements (a mother's work is truly never done) it is clear

physical suffering, and lots of it, was preventing my boy from

getting out of the gate. He is out now, and not even fully, and I

assure you, he has better receptive skills than most intelligent

adults I know (aside from gut and allergy stuff my boy needed glasses

which likely helped this as well). He is actually getting assessed by

his new therapist. If she formally addresses receptive skills I will

let you know the updated score. I am not worried.

The point is, you know what you are seeing. Your child is intelligent

and the tests are imperfect. In my case it was not the test but other

issues. In your case it is likely the test. Do not get hung up on

that #. Easier said than done I know.

>

> We finally had our appointment with our 7 year old daughter today

and got our official diagnosis today of dyspraxia, (obviously

apraxia of speech as well which we have known since age 3) but one

thing that came up that must have passed me by in all the early

testing was that she has an IQ of 70. Even thought I must have read

it back in 2006 when they tested her, it apparently never sunk in to

me. I am dumbfounded. I am certain her intelligence is not below

average. She has amazing problem solving skills and although she has

to work a heck of a lot harder at some things she has never shown to

be lacking in intelligence. Is this just a skewed test for our kids?

>

> Barbara