Re: NACD Question for / and question for Janice added

[Guest guest]

My initial impression is, " I can't believe we haven't been doing this

the whole time! " For 2-1/2 years, I have been trying to figure out

what to do to help my son, and even when I find something that might

work, I don't know how often, etc. And in the mail, voila!, the plan

is here!

I added up the minutes, and our plan is 1 hour and 22 minutes plus an

optional 20 minutes of books on tape. Sounds doable, but I think we

might need to add a few minutes of getting him to cooperate and do

it, etc. Ellen has given us several activities to work on auditory

processing and several to work on motor skills (including deep

pressure and deep hugs, which I thought would be popular but were

not). Additionally, there are a few for discipline and some academic

work so that he can keep pace with his class while we are fixing the

auditory skills.

We tried a few of the activities today, and I was a little surprised

at how mixed his performance was on the auditory activities. It was

very clear to me and my slightly doubtful husband that he really

really really needs to practice these skills a lot.

The DVD is pretty clear in it's instructions, but I have a few minor

questions for our contact person just to make sure I know what I'm

doing.

So, in summary, it's very workable and very appropriate. Honestly, I

have two conflicting concerns: How am I going to get this all done

every day? and Wow, shouldn't we be doing even more on this

auditory problem?

I am motivating my husband by reminding him that we are trying to

avoid enrolling in the excellent private school nearby for kids with

language-based learning issues. It costs about $28K per year, so if

the NACD program works, it will be the best investment we've ever

made. I am optimistic!

Janice, I have a few questions for you while we're on this topic:

the DVD said that on average we increase our digit span by one per

year until we reach 7 digits, then we need to work on it to go

higher. How long did it take Mark to increase his digit spans? We

did an auditory exercise where repeats random combinations of

words (e.g. pink green blue brown), and he was a high 3. (He got a

few of the four word combos, but not enough. I'm using 3 as our

baseline for now.) I'm concerned that progress is going to be slow.

With a 3, it's no wonder he can't remember songs, doesn't like to

listen to reading, etc. Those ears aren't working!

Also, did you feel that the Listening Program was essential to your

progress? They have a " consult " listed on our program, so I assume

they would like us to add that as well.

in NJ

>

> I know you haven't started yet, so you can't really tell, but was

is your initial impression of

> your NACD program? Does it seem workable and appropriate for the

issues you see?

>

> I think I really want to try this -- just trying to work my husband

through the initial " sticker

> shock " -- we definitely pay this much for therapy, but I think it

seems less when you are

> paying week by week!

>

> Thanks!!

>

> Em

>