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ADHD/CAPD and working memory

funchickenfunchicken member
in Special Needs
Hi All,

DD1 is 5.5 and has ADHD and the dev. pedi suspects CAPD.  The dev. pedi said she thinks this affects DD's working memory.  DD has trouble with 1:1 correspondence in math.  She understands patterns, sequence, counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, but if I give her a group of 10 objects and ask her to count them 50% of the time she has to count them more than once to get the correct number.  With a larger group, say 20 objects, she's usually off by 1 or 2.  Her teacher told me she's noticed that DD counts objects very slowly, and she's noticed the trouble with 1:1 correspondence also.

Does anyone have any insight into how this might impact math in later grades?  DH has always had a hard time with mental math, or if I spell out a word instead of saying it, he has a hard time figuring out what I spelled.  I'm guessing that's related.  I know it's too early to test DD for LDs, and DH was never tested.  I do have a family history of dyslexia on my mother's side.  

I'm going to get some math manipulatives so I can work on this with her more.


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Re: ADHD/CAPD and working memory

  • funchickenfunchicken member
    edited November 2013
    Thanks.  NLD seems very similar to AS (they say as much on the website).  But it's not considered an ASD, correct?  It seems like it should be.  We have our dev. pedi follow-up in March.  I'll have to ask her about NLD.

    For DD I think using plastic counters to help with counting objects and matching numbers of objects might be effective.  They're neutral and not distracting, and I think she would enjoy working with them.  We count everyday objects, too, though :)
    ETA: Sorry, I obviously don't know enough about NLD to say whether it should or shouldn't be an ASD. It just seems like there is quite a bit of overlap in symptoms.
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  • funchickenfunchicken member
    -auntie- said:
    mrszee2b said:
    Thanks.  NLD seems very similar to AS (they say as much on the website).  But it's not considered an ASD, correct?  It seems like it should be.  We have our dev. pedi follow-up in March.  I'll have to ask her about NLD. 

    Correct. There's a great deal of overlap between NLD and higher functioning ASD, epsecially that which was formerly known as Aspergers. ASD is a neurodevelopmental delay around social communication whereas NLD is considered a "learning style" or "profile". Most of the people I know with NLD are also on spectrum. When DS was initially dx'd in 1999, it was fairly common for boys to get the AS or PDD-Nos dx and girls to be given NLD. IME, girls with AS/ASD are more likely to have the NLD learning profile with lower than expected math ability and impaired spatial reasoning. DS's has some of the characteristics- he plays with words, and has a remarkable auditory memory but spatial reasoning has always been his super power. I often wonder what his learning profile would be without dyslexia. 

    I'll have to read more about this and dyscalculia.  The needing hands-on instruction as opposed to learning through observation really resonates.  I looked at the rating scale on the website you linked and the motor skills section really fits her, but I don't think the visual-spatial skills section fits (only two questions seemed to fit).  She does well in new environments.  Recognizes people easily.  The interpersonal skills piece is hard to tease out, too.  A special education teacher did a classroom observation when she was in pre-k and reported that her social interactions were typical (but, you know, fours are all pretty quirky).  She has a new "best" friend this year, and we frequently bump into girls from her class at the playground, and they'll spend the whole time playing together.  At the same time she does tend to be pretty literal, and I worry about how she'll do with peers when she's older.

    For DD I think using plastic counters to help with counting objects and matching numbers of objects might be effective.  They're neutral and not distracting, and I think she would enjoy working with them.  We count everyday objects, too, though :)

    That's all good. Her teacher may have other ideas. And frankly, if this isn't a situation where she catches up by February, you might want to have her evaluated further.

    It's definitely on my radar, and DH and I are talking about further evaluations.

    ETA: Sorry, I obviously don't know enough about NLD to say whether it should or shouldn't be an ASD. It just seems like there is quite a bit of overlap in symptoms.

    No. You are absolutely correct. A lot of overlap not only in symptoms, but in people who have both comorbid.


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  • funchickenfunchicken member
    bubba2b said:

    We have a upcoming CAPD eval. DD's language is still very poor. DD is almost 7. I waited until closer to her 7th bday for the eval.

    I suspect Dyslexia or another specific but recent neuro pscyh eval shows I have to wait until her language impoves for a diagnosis.

    DD is counting to 10. Requires help with writing 8 and 9. But math is easier than reading right now.

    No ideas for you but very interested in your post.


    Thanks @bubba2b. It's so hard to tell what's the ADHD or SPD vs. something else that we haven't figured out yet. She's always had trouble with 1:1 correspondence, and it's hard to tell if she's not paying attention because it's not something she's interested in or if there's something else going on. DH has always had trouble with math, and he's told me that starting around second grade he felt like there was something wrong with him where school was concerned.
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