Bermuda Parent Bermuda Parent Spring 2016 | Page 24

Real Families, Real Stories
BY ALICIA RESNIK
Dorian’s Story
“APD doesn’t stop me from achieving
anything at all,” Dorian Frith
F
ourteen year old, Dorian Frith
has Auditory Processing Dis-
order (APD). Currently a stu-
dent in the 8th grade at Mount Saint
Agnes, he was diagnosed with APD
when he was 7. His mom, Corinne
Frith, a Senior Account Director with
AAC Saatchi & Saatchi, noticed some-
thing seemed wrong when Dorian
was young. “He couldn’t tell an “e”
from an “a” and I wondered why he
wouldn’t do things when I asked him.”
Despite perfect hearing and speaking
and completing puzzles at an early
age, Ms. Frith noticed that Dorian
knew things but struggled to articulate
it. In nursery school Dorian’s teachers
noticed he would “meltdown” when
working alone. “At first I thought what
have I done? As a parent, I felt like a
failure,” says Ms. Frith. At four, Dorian
started Kindergarten at Mount Saint
Agnes Academy. His teachers noticed
he was struggling and advised Ms.
Frith to get in touch with Ms. Yvonne
West, a Speech and Language Patholo-
gist with the Department of Health’s
Speech & Language Services Clinic.
Although Dorian was considered too
young to be officially tested for APD,
Ms. West began working with him,
teaching him coping strategies for
school. “Yvonne noticed Dorian didn’t
have a comprehension problem or a
speech disorder. She worked with him
on the premise that the issue was APD,
she was right,” says Ms. Frith.
While Dorian worked with Ms.
West, Ms. Frith continued looking for
solutions. “I did my research. I had
to. I had to learn to support Dorian,”
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she says. Their paediatrician, Dr Bates,
recommended further testing at the
Hearing Clinic and at the Reading
Clinic. “The tests weren’t conclusive so
Dr Bates referred us to Boston Chil-
dren’s Hospital.” Dorian underwent
extensive evaluations and tests con-
firmed APD.
Ms. Frith explains that Dorian
struggles with concentration. “With
APD you focus on one task at a time.
We met with his teachers. They’re very
supportive. They notice when he gets
overwhelmed, when he shuts down
and loses focus. His teachers call his
name or tap him on the shoulder to
bring him back.”
“In the end it’s about doing
what’s best for your child. Ignoring
it just makes it worse,” says Ms. Frith.
She explains that many people don’t
understand learning issues. They think
kids are being lazy, rude or just won’t
do the work. It’s not true. With APD, it
simply takes a little more time to pro-
cess. In school, Dorian gets extra time
with tests or, takes his tests separately
in a quiet room where he can concen-
trate without classroom distractions.
When asked what he thinks of hav-
ing APD, Dorian says it’s annoying. “I
wish I didn’t have it. It bums me out.
Sometimes I lose my grove. But I re-
mind myself that it will come to me if
I work hard.” Dorian says he’s learned
to speak up in class and ask for help
when he needs it. He says he finds it
really frustrating when he’s trying to
focus and classmates are being disrup-
tive. He continues to use the strategies
he learned with Ms. West and advises
other kids with APD that, “If you need
help, always ask a teacher or a friend
who’s aware of your situation.” Ms.
Frith says Dorian has a great support
system of family, teachers and friends.
“He’s got a good group of friends. We
call them “The 4 Musketeers!”
Dorian’s an honor student. He’s
also on the volleyball and badminton
team. He’s in the French Club, in the
League of Legends Championship
Club, an Alter Boy at Saint Patrick’s
Church and plays the trumpet.
Dorian’s one of the “littles” in the
Big Brother’s program and works
part-time at Harrington Hundreds
Supermarket. As a Scout’s Explorer
he helped with the KBB Trunk Island
clean up. He says, “I try not to get
down on myself. Sometimes I lose
sight but I aim to have high grades. I
was so proud to get the honor’s certifi-
cate. I can do it, it just takes hard work
and time.”