Expert: Sharon Crandall - 5/31/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello Sharon,
I searched AllExperts for an expert in CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Disorder) but didn't find the exact category. I liked your profile and was hoping you might be able to lend me an ear.  
I have a ten year old son who is a smart little bugger but definitely has "processing" issues. He hears well and is a good student but needs constant re-direction and repeating of directions before he "gets it". He is on a 504 plan in school and entering the 5th grade.  
I have had him in karate for the last 4 years and he has done pretty good with it. Now that he is older, they are expecting much more of him and he absolutely HATES going to class.  He is two belts away from black and it will take at least another year of classes to get him to his black belt.
He was recently diagnosed with this auditory processing disorder (4 months ago) and I am at odds with myself whether to take him out of karate or not.
It is EXTREMELY loud, extremely busy, extremely active and very over-stimulating. Last week my son laid his head upon my shoulder and cupped his ears and said "why does it have to be so loud" -  It hit me like a ton of bricks that this is just too much "input" for his brain. Am I being mean by keeping him in karate?  My husband thinks I should keep him in because in the real world our son will HAVE to learn to deal with places and situations like this. I don't think making him go is doing anything positive for him at this point, he absolutely detests going. I should add that he is not very athletic and definitely feels inferior to the other kids physically. With only two belts to go to his goal I am totally lost as what to do.  I would love your opinion as a mom, what would you do??? Thanks so much

ANSWER: Dear Carol,

I have a couple of questions that are important.  First of all, he sounds like he is Low Physical Insulation.  This means that he is literally thin-skinned.  Is he sensitive to foods, prone to allergies, complain of rough textures against his skin, complain that someone hurts him even when it seems like the person hasn't touched him that hard?

Now, the other question is does his ears stick out?  It sounds like he is very sensitive to sound and if he is both thin-skinned and also has sensitive ears then this could explain a lot of things.

Now, please tell me what Central Auditory Processing Disorder is.  I can't keep up with all the things they are calling disorders these days.

Please explain a little more to me.

As to keeping him in Karate,  I would like a little more information before I give you a suggestion.

Waiting to hear from you.

Sharon Crandall


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QUESTION: http://www.autistics.org/library/capd.html
Please open this link and read - it is the most informative and easily read description I can find on CAPD
It's heartbreaking to me.
No his ears don't stick out, but yes he is very sensitive if that's what you mean by thin skinned. He cries and gets frustrated very easily.

Answer
Dear Carol,

I will do my best to help you in some way.  It would help to have a picture of him and if you have a digital camera send me a headshot with a straight front shot and a photo on each side with a straight profile.  Because traits show in facial features I can tell you a lot about your son and how any personality traits can contribute to these difficulties.

Now, this is important.  Is he left handed or right handed?  Now I need to know what eye is dominant.  Rather than asking him, have him hold a tube such as a toilet paper or paper towel tube with both hands and with his arms straight out, but resting on his knees as he is sitting down.  Stand 10 feet away from him and put your hand over one of your eyes.  Tell him to raise the tube, still keeping it in both hands up to one eye to look through it and look at your uncovered eye.  Don't tell him which eye to use but as you are looking at him notice which eye he puts the tube up to.  Then have him put his hands back on his knees, then cover the opposite eye and have him do the same thing, raise it and look through the tube at your open eye.  Again, notice which eye he looks through.

If he is supposed to be left handed and is using his right hand this can cause brain confusion and could contribute to the problem.  If he is using his right hand he should quickly and easily bring the tube up to his right eye each time.  Let me know the results.  If you have a problem e-mail me at personalityconsultant1@yahoo.com and I will send you my phone number and you can call me and I can walk you through it.

Now, there is a wonderful product that really helps the brain.  I have seen it help these kids and also adults with various problems.  It feeds the brain and crosses the blood brain barrier within 30 minutes.  It is not terribly expensive and if you email me I will forward your email to a woman who can get it for you.  

There is evidence that immunizations are contributing to all these brain problems.  You might want to do some research on the internet and see if your son got a particular batch of "shots" that has caused problems. Not that it will help for now.

As to Karate.  I do not see the use of making him do what he hates but I do think he should be active in some sport of his choice.  Now, with that in mind you could sit down and tell him that you are very proud of him for going as far in Karate as he has and then tell him that it is a really good feeling to do hard things and finish them.  Then ask him if he would like that feeling that he is master over his problem in that he finished making his black belt.  Tell him that he will feel very powerful by finishing what he starts, but tell him that you understand perfectly if he chooses not to if it is just too painful for him.

Sometimes kids will really do amazing things when you really talk to them in a caring and understanding way and then let them choose.  Sometimes they will choose the hard thing and then be so proud.  He knows his limits, however, and the point of finishing in torturing himself may not be the best answer.

Talk with your husband and tell him that it is important that he be proud of what he has accomplished so far but also that at some point the boy needs to start making some choices for himself so he feels more powerful.

I understand what your husband means by the "real world" and I commend him for wanting to prepare his son for life, but really, you would not choose an occupation of working in a steel mill if noise drove you crazy.  You would probably work in an office or other quiet setting.

I think it fine for him to choose another sport that is not so tortuous, if he chooses to quit Karate.  

I await your reply.

Sharon Crandall