Severe Visual Problems, Attention or Mental Health?

[sylvm]

That says it all really. DD is 12 and diagnosed with very mild ASD (although I have always thought there is no doubt it is more than that), Dyspraxia and Tourettes. She has had some tracking type eye problems but was fine with her eyes really. She made a successful transition to mainstream secondary last September. Before Christmas she complained of blurred vision and her eyesight has got worse alarmingly quickly since then. She has had CT scan, electro physiology plus ordinary sight testing. She cannot read, watch tv or go on the computer, bumps into things, cannot see she hasnt finished food on her plate. Completion of testing and specialist appointment were yesterday and he basically said everything is normal, things will improve and put it down to either problems at home or school (her sister is very ill with ME but has been so for 2 years and is improving. We have always done our best to give DD as much attention as we can). I have read about visual processing (she already has auditory processing issues) but am not sure this would cause as much difficulty as she is experiencing, nor come on so suddenly, she was an avid reader before this, good speller and so on. Technically she is at a level where she could be classed as severely visually impaired, except we have no diagnosis or no idea where to go for help. Has anyone experienced anything like this ie. real and physical symptoms of any sort without a proper condition?

[lisac]

hi sylvm, has she been seen by the opthalmology dept in your local hospital? If you get a referal there, through your GP or optician, they will put in special eyedrops, which open up the eyes and will be able to see if anything is going on with your daughters sight. It is the only way to get a proper eye check. They picked up a serious eye condition my son had, this way, that the opticians and GP had failed to spot, good luck.

[sylvm]

We've done all this, she's been tested ...CT scan, drops, electro physiology ..that is the problem ..nothing wrong has been found.

[lisac]

How bizarre, and frustrating for you! is she just short sighted? what do the experts say??

[sylvm]

No, in effect she is severly visually impaired - her measurements come in at 6/190 and 6/230 if that means anything. She can't read and longs to go on the computer but can't. If you don't watch when we're out she would go straight into something. The consultant says it will improved, I believe it is classed as "non organic visual impairment" from my research ie. there is no cause. I don't know how we are supposed to deal with it though.

[lisac]

what a worry for you. i guess there is'nt anything you can do but wait for it to improve. i know what you mean though, we are told these things, and then just expected to deal with it/live with it, some advice/pointers would be good! Have they given you any advice?

[sylvm]

No, nothing at all.

[Marion]

Hi, don't know if this will help but DS was havin problems with his vision, had an eye test "normal" but I knew it wasn't. Someone told me about Ian Jordan, he has a research facility in Cambridge and a practice in Ayr in Scotland,we went to see him on Saturday, he was quite amazing really. Ian asked DS to look at his nose and tell him how much he could see- he said "your nose and a bit of one of your eyes" I was amazed, Ian has state of the art equipment, gave DS green lenses-he could see so much more-DS said the difference was massive.

I know they're also doin research at Caledonian University in Glasgow, dont know where u live but google Ian Jordan-someone nominated him as a hero on the NAS site-might help x

[Ian Jordan]

 

 

That says it all really. DD is 12 and diagnosed with very mild ASD (although I have always thought there is no doubt it is more than that), Dyspraxia and Tourettes. She has had some tracking type eye problems but was fine with her eyes really. She made a successful transition to mainstream secondary last September. Before Christmas she complained of blurred vision and her eyesight has got worse alarmingly quickly since then. She has had CT scan, electro physiology plus ordinary sight testing. She cannot read, watch tv or go on the computer, bumps into things, cannot see she hasnt finished food on her plate. Completion of testing and specialist appointment were yesterday and he basically said everything is normal, things will improve and put it down to either problems at home or school (her sister is very ill with ME but has been so for 2 years and is improving. We have always done our best to give DD as much attention as we can). I have read about visual processing (she already has auditory processing issues) but am not sure this would cause as much difficulty as she is experiencing, nor come on so suddenly, she was an avid reader before this, good speller and so on. Technically she is at a level where she could be classed as severely visually impaired, except we have no diagnosis or no idea where to go for help. Has anyone experienced anything like this ie. real and physical symptoms of any sort without a proper condition?

Edited March 12, 2009 by Ian Jordan