possibly misdiagnosed update..vision therapy - ADD / ADHD Message Board

susgan · 03-24-2003, 04:16 PM

well, we have the results back from the vision therapist. I am so amazed. He was found to have convergence excess.

The cure is 100% if we give 100%, but not a quick fix. BUT I am so sure that this is our answer. We have a long road ahead with the 1st results showing about the time he gets out of school. Perfect timing I thought

We should go from the present of a 3rd grade eye development to a 9-10 grade eye development within 6 months. By next fall he should be up to his current grade level (10th grade).

The most exciting news is the doc. feels that there is real possibility that his original diagnosis of ADD may be correct, maybe not, but she feels that his diagnosis of LD may be totally inaccurate. All of this stuff for us started around the same months of hs eye disorder(lazy eye), ADD diagnosis, LD diagnosis.

If this is true, and it took us all these years to find this out, I am not sure how I can forgive myself for pumping meds. down my sons throat when he always complained, and he never did excel as we were always told he should, put him thru so many test, seen his self esteem go down, dealing w/depression, weight loss, etc. You all know the picture. I PRAY this is it for him. He has shown in the past & now that he knows the information being taught, but can't get it out. They labeled him LD because of lack of the ability to comprehend the material being taught, and the inability to express written thought. I am CONVINCED he knew all this in his head (as I have seen) and just had so many eye problems that he could not concentrate enough, could not see good enough, blurred vision, seeing double, etc. How long would you want to read with all this going on, and being made to take meds. when they make you feel funny, and you feel like a loser.

I feel like such failure as a mom, why didn't I listen to my son more????? He knew it wasn't the answer. My son is very bright. He knew, why didn't we???
Thanks for letting me vent. I am so hopeful for him, but feel myself like I have let him down. I am unsure of who was the original poster who brought this possibility to my attention, but a world of thanks to you. If I look back & find you I will personally send you a post with a BIG

and THANKS !!!!!!

God Bless All Our Troops !!

Susan

HumanSpirit · 03-24-2003, 05:24 PM

I'm happy for you and wants most important is that you cared for you child. "That makes you a good mother".

roadmap · 03-24-2003, 06:19 PM

I initiated the original question regarding vision therapy because my 8 year old son has been diagnosed with learning disabilities; dyslexia and ADHD. He does not respond well at all to Ritlin and was recently been put on Strattera. We had him evaluated by an optometrist who specialises in vision therapy and he said that our son has significant problems maintaining fusion and difficulties with eye movement coordination and convergence. The American Pediatric Association says that the research does not support vision therapy but people have said that they have had success with it. Blana (sp?) reported good success with her son using this intervention. We are considering trying this too but it is a tremendous time (and money) investment. My little boy has just so much extra energy - do we put it in vision therapy or extra reading specialty tutors. Good luck and please let us know how it works out.

MaryC · 03-24-2003, 06:32 PM

That is great news! You did not fail your son. There is so little known about visual therapy. How could you possibly have known? I was praying that visual therapy was our answer, but I think I told you that it turned out to be ADHD with a 1 and 1/2 year delay in visual motor intergration problems (which we just found out a few days ago). We are treating that with Occupational Therapy. I talked to someone who was told that her son should repeat Kindergarten last year. She flatly refused, and did not discover his visual perception problems until July of 2002. He started 1st Grade 9/02 and she said he is doing great - won an award today for his report card.
Is that good news for you or what?? When my daughter was ruled out for visual perception problems, I was kind of disappointed because of this success story. However, we deal with what we have and I have decided for Olivia to repeat Kindergarten. She is so bright and wonderful and I owe it to her to give her a good year next year. Keep us posted on the visual therapy. Good luck to all of you. Mary Charlotte

susgan · 03-24-2003, 07:44 PM

roadmap...I thought about a special school here that is alot of $$$, but I figured if he can't see/comprehend what he is reading than we need to treat the original problem, bring that up to speed, then go to the reading specialist.

Yes, vision therapy is expensive, more than I ever envisioned. My opinion though, how do you put a price on your childs education. We put a few thousand into braces for a physical apperance, why not a mental/medical condition. I was shocked today at the price, but if this is it, then I would spend a million(if I had that) to see the results i hope to see.

Thanks for all your support

Susan
P.S will keep you posted, hope that we see results by the time final exams come around....worse case is he has to repeat a class.