worried

[MOMO05]

My child is 5 yrs old and has a hard time understanding .I ask for his name he responds with his age . He clearly looks puzzled when asked to do certain things such as run to first base  or get your hat. He however memorizes an entire song. I need help. What should I do ? He started school and already a concern from teacher he is not understanding what is being asked or told.

[mom2three06]

I agree with the above.  I would try a different pediatrician.  Get a second and third opinion.  It may indeed be nothing to worry about, but you can't discount a mother's intuition!  Hang in there, and stay strong!

[tiredbuthappy]

i understand your concerns. i encourage you to keep pushing and fighting until you get answers that satisfy you. do not let them blow you off. it is possible that he appeared different in the quiet setting he was evaluated in. now you have the teacher's observations to back up your observations. it sounds like she can help you and shares your concerns. i have worked with some children who had difficulty following simple directions. some had difficulties processing language. another little girl i recently worked with had problems with short-term memory which inhibited her ability to follow simple directions. these children were bright- just needed help and a different approach. i worked with them when they were preschoolers and we were just beginning to understand their difficulties, so i do not know what the outcome was. the little girl with short term memory problems is going in to a smaller kindergarten classroom where she can receive more help and attention, and i suspect that she will do very well in that environment.

does he seem typical in all other ways? socially and emotionally? can he communicate his needs? does he speak in sentences using his own words or does he primarily repeat things he hears?

[MOMO05]

Well I took him last year to get tested threw the school district but his evaluation came back normal . They said he would grow out of it and recommended other activities with other kids. I placed him in pee wee baseball but did not help again he was slower than most 4 yr olds and coaches just became fustrated with him. His teacher did say she would ask for him to get retested because of the truble she was having .I am worried he will just get overlooked like before..

[tiredbuthappy]

you pediatrician hasn't noticed anything wrong during regular check-ups? have you mentioned this to your pediatrician at all?

it is difficult to say what could be wrong with your child. i do agree that there is something going on, and I hope you find some answers. Be sure to keep open lines of communication with the teacher. She can refer your child and the school can help get him evaluated. for example, in our district, i would refer the child to the child study team. the team then contacts the parents and arranges a meeting where they determine whether or not an evaluation is necessary, and if so, what kinds of evaluations. They also explain the parents' rights. The school district then pays for all evaluations and uses the information to make recommendations and provide appropriate support for the child.