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Working with mild special needs child

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 11:46 am
by yxl
Hi I am a mother of a 10 year old boy who suffer from learning difficulty like visual processing disorder, sensory intregretion disorder which affect concentration, tracking, copying.
Anyone know of any help for children like this? Perhaps can share.
I was refer to awwa for therapy but dont seem to work.

Thanks
Lisa

Re: Working with mild special needs child

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 12:36 pm
by cnimed
Hi Lisa,
my child has the same areas of difficulties and I have been very encouraged by his progress. If you can share what avenues and therapies you have tried so far, I will see if there are any you have not yet tried and you can consider them. You can pm me if you prefer.

Re: Working with mild special needs child

Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 9:18 am
by Tinkerlab
HI Lisa,
You may wish to make a visit and talk to the therapists at The Speech Pathology Centre (Tanglin Shopping Centre, 5th floor). They have all the various therapists all in one centre, and they coordinate with one another to plan what's the best for the child. Extremely porfessional team!

Re: Working with mild special needs child

Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 4:10 pm
by yxl
Thanks everyone. Hi bluebell perhaps u can share with me more.
So far I have brought my son to orthovision @tanglin. They work on the eye muscles, training to transfer script fr white board to book.
I have also try Singapore brain which had some therapy on logic thinking, eye exercise. Currently under Awwa teach me programme which work on sensory issue. However, I ve not seen any improvement at all. Pls advise
thanks Lisa

Re: Working with mild special needs child

Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 3:19 pm
by cnimed
i have pm you. all the best!

Re: Working with mild special needs child

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 3:43 am
by orvinc83
Hi bluebell
Like Lisa, I am parent of mild special needs child who is entering mainstream Pr 1 next year. He has visual processing difficulties. Other than occupational therapy, I have not done anything else for him. Could you share what other things that may help? Thanks!
PS: anyone has experience with igard which offers visual therapy? Could you share your views?

Re: Working with mild special needs child

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 8:40 am
by cnimed
Is the Bluebell supposed to be me? :scratchhead: My "rank" is bluebelt, but I'm no bluebell leh...

Anyway...yes, I've taken my son to IGARD as well as Gleneagles and KKH Eye Center.

These places can go beyond the usual "point at chart and look". The hospitals can do a comprehensive check on any vision issues that affects the eye itself - lazy eye, squint, 2-d vision, eye teaming issues, peripheral vision, and take a look at the retina - but they will not be able to pinpoint processing issues very well.

IGARD and Orthovision will also look into scanning abilities and milder eye teaming issues with regards to reading and if you are looking for vision therapy/exercises - which mainstream hospitals are more conservative about - IGARD and Orthovision do this area; they also use computer software for visual tracking and eye-hand coordination; however I personally do not want to use computer software for my child, but that's my personal opinion. I prefer to develope eye-hand coordination through art and craft and sports (must start from very easy, don't discourage the kids by going straight into badminton.)

Occupational therapists with some knowledge in this area can give you suggestions on home exercises to improve saccadic scanning, tracking and games to improve visual skills which will be more engaging for young children. Their vision is already not very good, they really hate to do all these vision exercises.

The Irlen clinic will screen for Irlen syndrome which is essentially light sensitivity.

I will pm you the rest.


Lisa,
I have sent you another pm. I hope it is useful.

Re: Working with mild special needs child

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 7:27 pm
by orvinc83
Hi Deminc
Sorry to have gotten your "name" wrong.:p
Do you know whether igard or orthovision offer visual therapy via physical activity or game, ie non computer-based? I share your view that it's better to develop vision in the real 3d world than 2d world. Actually I wish to try simple exercises or games with my boy at home, to improve his visual and motor skills (btw he has sensory integration problems). But he knows these are his weakness, so he always refuses to do them no matter how I bribe or threaten. Plus I'm working full time so I have little time to spend with him. How did you get your kid to do visual exercise or game? I'm sure there was resistance right? Thanks.

Re: Working with mild special needs child

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 11:37 pm
by yxl
Hi
you may try Awwa (Asian women welfare association).
They provide some gym exercise that train vision & sensory issue too.

Lisa :smile:

Re: Working with mild special needs child

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 12:49 am
by orvinc83
Hi Lisa
Do u need any referral to go to AWWA? Or u can happily walk in and ask for therapy? How long is each session, and is it individual or group? Thanks!