Our daughter has difficulty with a series of directions

[jzig]

Our daughter, age 9, has a tremendous amount of problems following directions if there are more than two steps in the process.   This is becoming an issue at school because she misunderstands what she needs to do.   Her teacher has complained to me that she sits there and does nothing for 45 minutes when her work was not completed.   When the teacher asked our daughter why she didn't finish, our daughter stated that she thought she only had to do the first part.  This behavior is common with our child.  I asked her one time to go downstairs and get a gallon of orange juice from our second refrigerator and bring it upstairs.   She brought up a gallon of milk instead.   Almost always if there is more than two directions she will forget or not properly part of the directions.   When she was younger she had two grand mal seizures (prior to 2 1/2 years of age) and 1 absence seizure at 3 1/2.   With a cat scan and EEG no cause was ever determined.   We took her to her pediatrician last year because she sometimes has problems not being aware of what is going on around her.   One time, she was riding her bike and ran into the lawn mower that had been sitting in the driveway for a half an hour.   Nothing was really determined with our visit with the pediatrician.   I am not sure where to even turn for the help she needs.  

[specialmom]

Motor planning may be off a little with your daughter.  This is the part of the nervous system that organizes thought as well as organizes and coordinates carrying out a plan.  She may have some auditory issues going on as well.  Both of these are part of the sensory system which is part of the nervous system's messaging system.  I would contact your district's occupational therapist to help strategize what to do to help her along.  good luck

[jzig]

I am trying to get her more help because this is affecting her at school.   Her teacher put our daughter in a little room in the office after school (this room is typically used for kids when they are naughty) because she did not complete her school work.   I work at the school and unfortunately was at an appointment when this happened.   When I asked the teacher why she was put our daughter in there she reponded that she just sat there for 45 minutes during class and didn't finish the assignment because she thought she only had to do the first part.   Yes, I am frustrated that the teacher allowed my child to sit there for 45 minutes.   I need to get my child the help she needs so she isn't disciplined for not understanding.   I can handle my daughter not getting directions right at home.   I can't handle her being punished for not understanding at school.

[mammo]

Here is the type of seizure I'm referring to.

Absence seizures cause a short loss of consciousness (just a few seconds) with few or no symptoms. The patient, most often a child, typically interrupts an activity and stares blankly. These seizures begin and end abruptly and may occur several times a day. Patients are usually not aware that they are having a seizure, except that they may be aware of "losing time."

[mammo]

There is a type of seizure where the person loses awareness, but that's the extent of it.  My friend has this, and if you weren't aware of it, you'd never know.  For example we can all be eating dinner and she will just kind of stare for a short period of time, not noticeable at all.  So please get your daughter checked out, she may be having these little seizures, and has no idea that she is.  Since your daughter has had sizures this is a real possibility.  Take care...

[RockRose]

Regardless of what the cause of her inability to process instructions,  she can still use strategies others use who have this difficulty.  

As she grows older,  strategies like list making,  sitting near people who are always on task and periodically checking to see what they are doing,  etc,  are what people with ADD or other attention disorders use.  

Additionally,  it would really be helpful to you (and to her!) to know whether she actually CAN'T process instructions,  or whether it's difficult for her if she's not trying hard.  

Put a $5 on the table,  and tell her you're going to give her a set of instructions that she must follow to earn the $5.    Like,  3 instructions in a row.  My guess is,  she can do it,  it's just hard for her.  You could put all the money you have on the table and ask a child in a wheelchair to walk across the room,  and it's not going to happen.  I would think with real focus and motivation,  she can do this,  it's just harder for her than other kids.

Best wishes.  She sounds like a bright child,  and with a little help she can work this out and find ways to cope.