[Solved] Newbie

Hi mate and welcome

I'm in a similar situation to you, 29 and stepdad to 2 girls, one is 7 going on 17 and the other is 2 and testing all boundaries you've ever known, but so funny with (and doesnt she know it!! 😆 😆 )

Would be good to hear about your experiences as a stepdad. how long have you been a stepdad etc etc

Auditory Processing Disorder, which means he can be told to go and put his shoes on, and by the time he gets halfway to his shoes he's forgotten what he's meant to be doing

Hi,

Isn't the non-technical term for this simply 'typical teenager'? 😆
And I'm pretty sure I've had it for the last 20 years or so.

Good to have you on here KDRS! Look forward to reading more about you & the kids.

Hey KDRS, Good to have you on the forum...

I heard something interesting the other day that said if you are more 3m away from a child the likihood of them doing what you ask is dramatically reduced.... Found it a bit challenging to my tired mode of 'shout across the room'... Would be interested to know more about how you handle the auditory processing thing... I guess its important to just give one instruction at a time?

Buzz

Hi KDRS,

Welcome to the forum mate - looking forward to reading your posts.

Gooner

Thanks for the replies chaps - apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

I've been stepdad for about 5 years now. Not easy but very rewarding most of the time, even when I get weird looks having 3 kids I'm blatantly too young to have!!!!!!!!! (I wish). I'm very fortunate in that mum and I get on very well and have reasonably similar parenting styles although I'm the strict one and she's far more laid back. It makes for a nice balance.

Cam's auditory processing disorder (APD) was only officially diagnosed about 2 months ago when we finally won our four year battle and got him down to Great Ormand Street to Europe's leading expert on it. He also has dyslexia, mild epilepsy and moderate learning difficulties. Despite all this he's a great kid and tries so hard to learn. Basically APD means he hears your instruction but between his ear and his brain it gets muddled and disjointed. Its even worse in noisy environments such as the classroom where he now has to sit near the teacher so he can effectively lip read to understand what's being said.

At home it's slightly easier to manage, but rather than shout instructions round the house he has to come to us (or us to him) and give him instructions face to face.

Wow, a 4 year battle to get him to Great Ormand St. Why so long? Did your doctor not believe you or something?
Sounds like you guys are taking great care of him though.

Hi

He sounds like a great little guy and you are handling it all really well. Pity you had to go through the long battle to get a diagnosis but at least you finally got to see an expert in the end.

Wow, a 4 year battle to get him to Great Ormand St. Why so long? Did your doctor not believe you or something?

It was a case of no one being willing to make a diagnosis because so little is known about APD. Plenty of docs said "he has all the signs and symptoms of APD" but that wasn't enough for the edcation authority to get him the support he needs. We didn't want to label him (with the mrs being a trainee social worker we know all about labels) but its something we've had to push to get him the right support.