Hearing disabilty/anger issues not sure what to do

[cowgirlup1967]

Sorry it is my first time here. My difficult child son is 10 years old, and he has a hereditary hearing disorder. I'm a single mom of three, married twice. His father hasn't seen him since he was 1 1/2 yrs. old, nor has any of the other family had anything to do with him. I left his father because he was very abusive, so when I could I got out. I have since gone back to college and I am now an LPN/EMT. My difficult child is a great kid, but the issues at school are getting worse. He was just given a 2 day out of school suspension, because he got angry at the teacher for yelling at him for something that he says was an accident. Backing up a bit, he went to kindergarten when he just turned 5. I was attending nursing classes at the time and the teacher basically told me that my son was dumb in sooo many words. Well I took him in and found out that he needed hearing aides. He took kindergarten again, finally in 4th grade did they decide that he needed an IEP. Well after much stress that he's been through, and myself also. I took him to a behavioral specialist. He basically laughed at me and said that the only problem my difficult child had was he gets angry when kids, and yes adults make fun of him. I am so lost, as I dealt with some of the same stuff growing up, but he gets really angry. I'm not sure what to do anymore. He is a very good kid. If anyone has any suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated. I love him sooo much, and he deserves better treatment.

 

[BusynMember]

Hi, and welcome to the board. I'm so sorry you had to come.

I am burning up inside. Your poor boy. He gets angry when kids make fun of him? Ya think? Maybe the school should try harder to punish the bullies. I would be in there screaming and yelling about that. Of course your son is hurt and angry when ANYONE makes fun of him and the school is blaming HIM.

If that's the only time he gets angry and lashes out, I'd be talking to the higher ups in the school and being a constant thorn in their side. I was bullied as a kid and I hated school because of that. I didn't hit back (yes, they him me...a girl), but I couldn't learn because I was too busy worrying about what would happen at lunch, on the playground, or on the walk home. I also think your son could benefit from therapy. It's good to have an advocate on your side.

Your son is NOT dumb. He is hard of hearing. Does he have an IEP? He should have one.

Hang in there.

 

[confuzzled]

hows are his communication skills?

from the tone of your post, i'm guessing he has oral skills....but are they enough to get his point across? what about his receptive skills--even with his
hearing aids, is he taking in all the information he needs to?

behaviors are often a form of communication...i think i'd take a hard look at his hearing impairment and see if maybe there is more than meets the eye.

i guess i'd start with your current audiologist, but i might consider seeing someone who is more specialized...like someone who tests for Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) (not saying
thats the issue at all, but they might have more sensitive/specialized testing equipment). i would think your school could tell you who they refer to and you speak to them and see if they have the capabilities to thoroughly test your son....