bipolar spectrum - Articles - Zimbio

Identifying Learning Disabilities and Working the System For Your Bipolar Child

Fri, 20 Sep 2008 17:43:00 GMT

posted by tquesinberry
Sometimes I feel that the only positive trait that I have is persistence. Anyone that knows me well, is aware that I lack patience. Apparently, you need tons of persistence and patience to be a good advocate for your bipolar child.

From what I have been reading, bipolar is a central nervous system disorder, as are ADHD, sensory processing, and learning disabilities (i.e. dyslexia, and dysgraphia, etc.). Sometimes, with a bipolar diagnosis, will come a whole host of other problems, like with my daughter, Ms. M. She did NOT win the genetic lottery and therefore she has a whole kit and caboodle of problems, which has made her severely learning disabled and this, has further impacted her education.

Ms. M is in the above-average intelligence range and is a third grader, but, she performs on a pre-school level. In other words, she can barely read and has problems doing simple math problems, i.e. 2+3=5. So I know that Ms. M has a learning disability and it is just a matter of identifying and treating the problem. Sounds simple right, but its not, because our school system does not have the solutions.

Now if you are as naive as me, then you would believe that you could have your BP child tested and identified for learning disabilities and presto, the school would put in place this beautiful Individual Educational Plan (IEP), tailored for your BP child. I hate to burst your bubble, abso-freakin-lutely NOT!

If you have a BP kid with learning disabilities, your first goal should be to identify that they have a learning disability. If your child is in the local public school system, then you must convince the school to do the necessary testing, which is called, Psychological testing (IQ), and Educational Testing.

If the school has offered to do the testing, then you are already ahead of the majority of parents. In Ms. M’s case, I had to convince the school to do the testing, because the school blamed Ms. M’s poor performance on her behavior, which was complete bull hockey.

The school is legally obligated to test your child, under the IDEA law. You have to prove to the school that your child has a medical diagnosis. This means that you must supply the school with your child’s written diagnosis and requested testing. I had Ms. M’s psychiatrist write on a prescription pad, her diagnosis of BP, ADHD, and separation anxiety, and a request for testing. I accompanied this prescription pad diagnosis from the doctor, with a letter from myself, asking the school to test Ms. M. I hand carried all of these documents to the principal.

You would think that would be the end of it, but no. The school has to setup a meeting with you and get your written permission to test your child, which involves signing a bunch of forms. I know, I know, you are thinking, that you are the one that asked for the bleeping testing in the first place. What can I say, it’s a bureaucracy.

The school has 90 days to test the child. You will be required to fill out more paperwork for the parental portion of the psychological testing. The questions are uncomfortable and contain a lot of personal questions, but do try and remember that all of this is for your child. Be honest on the form, so that the school cannot come back to you at a later date, and say that you willingly withheld information. One day it might make a difference if you ever have to fight for your child’s education.

When all of the testing has been completed, the school will setup another meeting to go over all of the information with both parents. If your child has a learning disability, then there should be a discrepancy between the child’s IQ, which is the child’s intellectual ability and their performance level, which is the educational testing portion. In theory, but not always in practice, the higher the child’s discrepancy between intelligence and performance, then the more special education services your child will be entitled to.

There is one caveat. If you child is practically a genius, but is only performing on grade level, then the school does not have to give your child any special education services. This is the case with my son, he is in the top 2% for intelligence, but only performs at grade level. This is a clear indicator that he has a learning disability, but since he performs on grade level, it is not a concern to the school.

Ms. M’s testing was originally done in first grade. The school redoes the testing every three years, unless you provide a written reason why you child should be retested earlier, which typically involves no educational progression on your child’s part. As I stated before, Ms M has above average intelligence, but still performs on a pre-school level, which identifies her with learning disabilities. Now the school identifies that the child has a learning disability, but the school does not diagnose the child’s specific learning disabilities. You must go to an outside office/hospital that deals with neuro-psychology for a further in depth identification for your child’s learning disabilities.

This is at the point where Ms. M and I are at, further identifying her specific learning disabilities, since she still has problems, even with an IEP and special education.

Now, I have a friend, with a son that is dyslexic and it was no problem for him to get a solid diagnosis. Not because he had an easily identified learning disability, but because my friend could afford to have her son privately tested at Blue Ridge Behavioral Health Center, (http://www.brbh.org/), which identified his different learning disabilities. The private testing runs in the range of $2,500.

To put it simply, I don’t have that kind of money. I have to go the harder and more painfully complicated route. Persistence comes into play here, through my sometimes misguided and occasional errors. I have identified some local resources in Maryland, in which you can obtain neuro-psychological testing for your child that doesn’t cost as much money, and might be free, with the right type of insurance.

I must be living under a rock, but I hadn’t heard of Kennedy Krieger Institute located in Baltimore, Maryland, http://www.kennedykrieger.org/, but it can take a year to two years to get the testing done.

More recently I found out that John Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, Maryland, http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/tpl_news.aspx?id=4832, has a neuro-psychology department, with a much reduced waiting period for testing. I recently emailed them, and had an appointment in a month’s time for Ms. M’s testing. I have to say, its about freakin time. I will keep you posted on the experience and the results.

bipolar

Mon, 22 Jul 2008 20:24:06 GMT

posted by jsprik

a little about me: i am one of those people who “function” in the “real” world with no meds and no support groups. some days you would be hard pressed to even see that there is anything “wrong” with me, but then other days you can tell i am not well. staying in my Bible, attending Church several times a week and praying daily keep me from having to be on drugs. plus i have a lot of support from loved ones. lately i have been having very rapid cycles ( mania to depression within a couple of hours or even minutes) with headaches and loud thoughts again. the thoughts are not as loud as they have been in the past and if i busy myself on the computer or housework , they tend to stay in the background. the headaches for me are a precursor to something big about to happen, so i have to be careful now for a while…really keep myself in check so as to let people know if things get harry so to speak. i have been living with this more than half my life…really longer, just undiagnosed before that, so i know my signs and symptoms very well. i think the first signs of “trouble” came very early…my first hospitalization was as a 4 year old. i was suicidal already then and had homicidal tendencies also, from what i hear. they didn’t know what was wrong back then, they thought maybe schizophrenia , but i was not diagnosed bipolar, borderline personality disorder til i was 13 or so. all that time trying drug after drug, therapy on a weekly basis, interventions, etc. i have been on and off drugs for the better part of my life and there are pros and cons to both. for the time being, being off my meds is better for me. there will be a time when i will probably need to go back on them for a period of time, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. for now the support i get from loved ones and my relationship with God are all i need.

Forgive My Lack of Introduction

Thu, 4 Jul 2008 04:36:58 GMT

posted by colin82

To be honest with you I was scared at first to reveal my name, simply because I wanted to speak freely and openly on my blog. And it is of a sensitive nature that may have some negative ramifications in my personal life if all is found out. I have decided that sharing my journey is more important, and I hope it has a larger impact on people if they know that a real person is behind it. A person just like many of you who are experiencing the highs and lows (that can at times lead to psychotic episodes) of bipolar.

My name is Paul Lennox, I am 26 and, have been living with bipolar much of my life. I remember not so long ago, talking with my doctor and asking her with tears in my eyes, "Just give me one good year that's all I want, one good year". I know many of you have been there, or are there now.

The purpose of this blog, is to share my experiences of Mania & Depression (they seem to be best friends) with people who are experiencing the same. I would also like this to be a portrait of one mans experience for friends, and loved ones of people with bipolar. I want very much for this to be an interactive blog. I want you to comment on the entry's, let your voice be heard share with me. I also want you to email me if you have a question about an entry, or just want to say hi. This blog is not just for me remember I'm writing it for you.

I would like to leave you with a message my spirit guide has told me repeatedly:

Remember, You Are All So Dearly Loved

Welcome to our wikizine called "bipolar spectrum"

Fri, 22 Sep 2007 14:08:22 GMT

posted by luvautumn
Wikizines are interactive magazines that anyone can create or edit - and this one is called "bipolar spectrum". Here you can find fresh voices and respond in real time. Some members write articles about recent news and trends related to the wikizine's topic, others recount relevant personal stories or share their favorite pictures and video clips. Got an interesting idea or story to share with other members of this wikizine? Well, then put on your journalist's cap and add your own article!

When Music Has Color

Thu, 4 Jul 2008 01:13:37 GMT

posted by colin82

When I was a teenager my episodes began. They came on sweet and each one was welcomed more then the last. In fact one of the most beautiful memories of mania I had (this is of course before I knew the word mania, however, I must say even to this day I find the word to be exciting) was when I was sixteen. It was brilliant. I thought that I was having an eitherical experience. And, I don't mind telling you that to this day I'm still not convinced of the contrary.

I happened like this, I was walking down the halls of my high school feeling quite well, and all of a sudden all the light became more luminous, it had movement, and a subtle texture to it. Suddenly as if by the hand of some great power I was allowed to see, to feel, and to touch this beauty all around me. I felt my awareness of this environment had changed me some how. Then I did what I love to do, I put my headphones on and pressed the play button. I remember the tape, it was Abba Gold (this was the nineties and it was somewhat rare for a teenager to be listening to Abba, but non the less). COLORS EVERYWHERE, and sensations that words can't describe. The music had turned into visual sensation. Frequencies of light and color I had never seen before, and I fear my never see again.

This high, this manic delusion, as doctors would say lasted several days. During that time I felt more alive then I ever had before. My sleep was non existent, and I thought I don't need it I'm experiencing the energy of the universe of a higher power. This lack of need for sleep is a sure fire sign of mania. Then the crash came, the colors were gone, the light less luminant, everything was falling from its hights. It was gone, it was all gone. I cryed a little.

Anyone who thinks themselves of any education what so ever has told me that was a manic experience. I agree with my brain that it was, but with my heart I still remember it as real. To this day I sometimes close my eyes put on my head phones, press play and hope.