No more patience...am I teaching challenged?

[Hottater]

OK... so he just put on his prescription glasses and dollar store sun glasses and he put the colored folder dividers (dollar store) in Roy G B sequence. Then without his glasses, orange red green yellow and named blue purple. He said that some things that are dark seemed bright. I told him to cover one eye and asked how many mommies? He said 2. I told him to cover the other eye he said 2. To me, that is not stereoscopic issues--- that you can correct with VT, right? There has to be lens filters or something-- because it has nothing to do with two eyes working together and seeing double-- he is seeing double of me in each eye by itself.  Every time I put the green transparent divider in front of his face, he sees things normally. I told him to trace the shadow caused by the window pane - testing without glasses, then with prescription glasses, then with sun glasses, then with the green divider. Green gave him single vision. So like this:

 

Testing my kid: 

1) To see if he could put the transparent folder dividers colors in rainbow order:

a)Without glasses - Orange Red Green Yellow Blue (named it Purple)

b)With Prescription glasses (with reflective coating?)-  Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Purple

 

Test on my kid: 

2) To see what filters would allow for him not to see double:

a) Without glasses - Sees double

b ) With Prescription glasses - Sees double

c) With dollar store sunglasses- sees slightly double but the edges of stuff are closer together

d) With green transparent folder divider- doesn't see double; things are as one but everything is green. 

 

 

Test on my kid:

3) To see how far he sees single vision before doubling occurs

a) With objects approximately 1 foot from his face- sees singular

b ) with objects greater than about 1 food from his face - sees double with things tilting into a V

 

 

To me, this is more Irlen syndrome than VT. I can't see how it could be predominantly VT issues. What I may understand to be a vt issue, is because one eye's prescription was different than the other. And there might be slight depth perception issue - one eye goes quicker inward than the other- barely noticeable though. But predominately I can't see how 90% of this has to do with VT because it's one eye at a time seeing double. VT is for two eyes working together, right? Anyone know?

 

ETA : What it might look like for a person with Irlen Syndrome 

 

ETA: What Irlen Syndrome is solved using colored filters.

 

[geodob]

It seems that you have identified the primary issue, as the green divider wouldn't allow him to see a single image. Unless that was the issue.

So that it would well worth getting a test for Scotopic Sensitivity, and then very probably getting some tinted glasses.

Irlens is a company name, where their are other companies that test for Scotopic Sensitivity and will provide the appropriate glasses.

 

These glasses provide an immediate correction. So that you could continue with schoolwork as usual.

Though their could also be some Accommodative Insufficiency?

What Accommodative Insufficiency is?  Is that lens of the eye. Has a muscle attached to it, which contracts and relaxes.

This changes the shape of the lens. So that it contracts to look close up, and relaxes to look further away.

Where you Test with 1 foot and then greater than 1 foot.

Suggests a problem with 'relaxing' the muscle?

 

But the important thing, is to separate the 2 issues, and recognize the effect of each one.

 

[Hottater]

Opposite is true, Green allows him single object vision. But I think I understand what you are trying to say. Ex. Don't throw away the VT's diagnosis, because it could be 2 issues. But which to work with first is an bigger question. A second peripheral eye exam or the scotopic exam. And, if I did, then I just spent $125 on glasses that don't work for everything. :( Should have listened to Heather about not purchasing the glasses yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[geodob]

I would suggest that a scotopic exam would be the best starting point.

As glasses would immediately resolve this issue.

So that the effects of the Accommodative Insufficiency, can be clearly understood.

 

As the Accommodative Insufficiency causes double vision beyond 1 foot.

His reading and writing could be clearly done, under a foot away.

 

 

[Hottater]

I keep on seeing Irlen pop up. What type of doctors do scotopic light sensitivity screenings? Occupational Therapists? Cause my VT doesn't do Irlen type screenings. Only Irlen specialists? I got quoted $1045 yesterday out of pocket.I used -- dollar store transparent dollar store dividers. She also suggested avoiding fluorescent lighting. The Irlen specialist suggested that we use those different color lightbulbs inside the dollar store or party stores or somewhere that sells color lightbulbs for cheap. Or different colored paper to write on to kind of figure things out too.

[Hottater]

My other friend helped me know that there are many lexias. I was astounded at the visual lexias. Henianoptic alexia, surface alexia, phonological alexia, deep alexia, peripheral alexia, agnosic alexia, attentional alexia. These are all more visual or perceptual lexias similar to dyslexia. There is also hyperlexia which is sometimes associated with spectrum disorders. I got part of the solution, but I didn't know the medical terms associated with describing the problem. 

[PeterPan]

I really don't know much about the Irlen stuff, but you might just talk it through with your VT doc.  If they're good, they'll know about it.  I know for our VT we did quite a bit with red and green transparencies and glasses.  They used them to force how they eyes were working.  It *might* be that some of what the VT will do will address this.  Just because you can bandaid it doesn't mean there wasn't something to fix it. 

[Hottater]

Yeah, my VT said she didn't do Irlen type testing with different transparencies and glasses. Wow - you lucked out. Not necessarily a bandaid situation. I can't afford both therapies at the same time-- my insurance have not responded. And, if I am correct, one would drastically affect the other. If the spectral differences using different filters help the eye, that drastically, his muscles might relax enough to fix the other issues. If not, and he had a reading test again after a certain amount of time, then we could measure his saccades and the fluidity and be fixed. Accommodative insufficiency and stereotopic have to do with both eyes working together. Well, he sees double in each eye alone. With the transparencies, he's seeing great... don't want to be prohibitive. KWIM? 

 

[geodob]

Perhaps I could explain a bit about scotopic sensitivity?

To begin with, maybe in your room. You could look directly at the light globe, and then look away?

What you will probably notice?

Is that after you looked away?

That their is still a trace image of the light globe.

Where this 'trace image' is a key factor.

 

Then we come to how vision actually works?

If you stop and stare at a word on this page for a second?

You might think that your eyes stay still, for that second?

Where in fact, your eyes will make five movements in a pattern, each second.

It needs to do this, because their is only a small part at the back of the eye, that can see clearly.

So that it takes 5 snapshots a second, from the first letter, to the last letter, the middle letter, above and then below the letters.

The brain then puts these 5 snapshots together, to form a whole image.

 

But a crucial factor with taking these 5 snapshots a second?

Is that the image on the back of the eye, needs to be removed/ dissolved , so that a new one can be formed.

This dissolved happens in the one twentieth of second, that it takes the eye to move to the next snapshot position.

 

Though you can probably imagine the problem, if as your eyes arrived at the next point?

That the last image or 2 images, hadn't been removed?

Just like the light globe remained, after you looked away.

So that as your brain puts these images together?

What we are left with, are overlapping images, that don't fit together?

 

But this image on the back of the eye, is a composite?

With separate 'cones' for red, green and blue.

As well as 'rods' for light to dark.

So that with scotopic sensitivity?

It is the red and/or green and /or blue cones that are hyper-sensitive.

Where tinted glasses reduce the problem color/s, and enable a quicker removal from the back of the eye.

 

But the expense of these 'tinted glasses' is really absurd?

Along with the cost of a diagnosis?

Where people could simply be presented with a cabinet of different color tinted glasses to try out and find which works best.

Which should cost no more than regular sunglasses.

[LaughingCat]

The red & green glasses at our VT were to force both eyes to work (i.e. looking at red/green letters/numbers) not similar to Irlen. 

 

I did see Irlen style glasses on amazon for about $20 bucks (and there's some other brands with not as many colors)

[Hottater]

I saw those. I must say, I wonder how both my dollar store sunglasses and the amazon ones are probably a quick but not customized fix. Our eyes can view way more than 10000 colors. I know now after speaking to the Irlen diagnostician that without testing- regular sunglasses are not optimal. Because each Irlen lens is configured per eye to each color sensitivity, and they aren't just tinted lenses, so everything that you look out of isn't just that one color, but you see every color. But at the same time both the cover sheets and the Irlen sheets are just plastic overlays and showed me an immediate difference. No double vision per eye for green. The sunglasses do the same -- close too but he still had color differentiation issues. Green was better than the sunglasses but still green viewing .

 

ETA... yeah, the dotted numbers with red and green - can someone tell me what that test is called?

[Heathermomster]

Those glasses look silly. Are children supposed to wear those all the time? My DS would likely refuse to wear them under any condition. Yikes.

[Hottater]

The true Irlen customized lenses are much more expensive $395, and you have to bring in your own frames. But that doesn't include the diagnostics at $640. I wish there was a cheaper method. I don't think that it is absurd, it's just not very affordable at this point for our needs.   :( the insurance won't pay for the VT and I am doubtful they would pay for Irlen diagnostician services either. 

 

ETA ... Geodob - thank you for your wonderful explanation and line of questioning. 

 

The Insurance just told my VT that my prior VT exam might not be covered and they do not cover her now. Wow, I HOPE that this doesn't come back to bite my wallet. Especially since many of our appliances are going on the fritz. It's really annoying! 

 

I just talked to the specialists that were at the IEP meeting, 1st was a speech and Lang pathologist and psychologist, and they were interested in all the evidence I presented them. They were amazed at my son's vocabulary, and I even brought in my folder dividers and eyeglasses. They suggested that he stay on grade level, because most don't get promoted, and most that are delayed a year are held back in Kindy and 1st. But they were looking at the stanford test and considered him average, and not enough for special needs. They said that if he got the special eye accommodations, then most of what he is doing is at grade level and would be acceptable in the beginning of fourth. They also said that it was up to me whether I felt I should hold him back on paper. They said it's harder to skip grades than to hold them back. 

[Heathermomster]

When DS was evaluated by VT, I took his prescription to Walmart and filled it.  We saved a lot of money that way.  You could call around and discover whether Walmart has the ability to special order Irlen lenses.  The staff might not know, but the optometrist should have that info.

[Hottater]

I still need the diagnostician to evaluate him and give the correct prescription for which color gradient to tint and if we'd need to add acuity to the lenses. That's at least $595.00

 

ETA= The spectral filters are 100% different than normal acuity lenses. I just called costco and walmart they said no, they don't carry it. 

[Hottater]

I dont think that VT's prescribe anything other than singular, bifocal or trifocal/progressive lenses. I think that most lens places carry regular optic lenses, Lens Crafters may make tinted lenses but not Irlen. 

[Hottater]

So I scheduled a neural ophthalmologist appointment at the end of the month. I got clip ons for my son's prescription glasses. The other optometrist blamed my son as a malingerer, then got my prescription wrong again... sigh. It is really strange, I think my son had a concussion to cause his color issues. He passed the Ichihara test  (colored dots with numbers). Which is a color blind test, but technically is a test for a specific type of color blindness, not all.  I pray that the neural ophthalmologist confirms everything that I have researched and stuff. So I timed my son's reading the last week. His oral fluency is better when reading with sunglasses.

 

out loud oral average is 45 wpm without sunglasses 

out loud oral average is 55 wpm with sunglasses

 

[Hottater]

GRRR!!! Neural Opthalmologist was a complete waste of my time. He basically dissed my being a homeschooler, He was smart enough to think to ask if I had a degree in education and I said I did, and he was shocked, and I stated that my husband is an engineer, and then he said my son was super smart and a malingerer (he basically said my son was lying!) because he saw what the referring physician said. He said I can't test him, because I wouldn't be objective enough, and that I don't know what my son is thinking/doing, and that he's at the age where they make up stuff.  He said COVD's are just out to make money because none of it's proven, and my son doesn't have a physiological problem.   Then I said I know my son is having issues, cause he says this that red=orange, etc. And he drew this, nn when there is just 1 n. and he sees 1 n with a green filter. I gave him all of what I used to test and ask my son, and he still thinks my son was lying. Then he proceeded to do magic tricks with my son to try to soften the environment and lead us out. 

[PeterPan]

Wow, SO sorry you had such a raunchy experience with that optometrist!  I don't know what they're thinking with their lack of professionalism.  Be sure to leave some informative reviews online about him, snort.  Or don't, lol.

 

Are you thinking you want to try a COVD doc?  Or you're assuming one can't help you?  I just want to throw out that IF your next step is a COVD doc, find someone who actually has experience with the thing you're wanting.  That's a really specific thing when you say he had a concussion, possibly some injury, and now has this issue with how his brain is processing colors.  There IS going to be a COVD doc out there, probably a Fellow, who has researched that.  You just need to find them.  And you probably know this, but you can go through the COVD website, find the websites for these docs, and then email them.  Only email Fellows, and be upfront about the concussion.  For instance there's a doc in the practice we use and she *is* a Fellow, and when people come in with these super unusual cases, she gets 'em.  So it would *not* be some just run of the mill doc you'd be looking for.  You're looking from someone conversant on trauma and irlen lenses and... 

 

Keep looking till you find the right person, that's all I can say!  You're not crazy.  At least the guy didn't try to sell you a bunch of stuff that won't work.  Some docs would.  

 

[Hottater]

It was a neural ophthalmologist – they usually have more of surgical and field experience over against a optometrist.

 

I did goto a covd at first. She was really nice but got my prescription wrong, and never got to do a dyslexic test on my son, because they said that they accepted my insurance at first – then they came back with the fact that she was not a participating covd in my insurance plan. They wanted all out of pocket. Then a regular optometrist (swindler) in the same office said to check with neural ophthalmologist because she said my kid was a malingerer. She tried to charge me for some bogus write up, even though they messed my prescription up. Then she faxed the same "malingerer" information to the neural ophthalmologist who was supposed to be giving me a second opinion not a rehash of what the prior optometrist said.

 

Thanks for the support ohelizabeth! I am pretty sure it's Irlen issues, with similarity to dyslexia symptoms, only everyone (covd or Irlen) wants out of network money. Upwards of $1070. Still considering all options. What does fellows mean in the grand scheme of who and how they diagnose? The Neural ophthalmologist said that I might want to check out a pediatric ophthalmologist if I think it dyslexia.

[Hottater]

http://irlen.com/  For all those interested. It might be what's bothering your kid. It's like a visual dyslexia. Things that come to mind: monocular diplopia: having double vision problems out of each eye but it's more a how the eye translates info to the brain with perception and sensitivity issues. But not for those experiencing lazy eye per se-- not binocular diplopia or convergence issues. My kid seeing colors differently PASSED the Ishihara color blind test. But he sees red=orange yellow=green etc. Ishihara test (dots with numbers) only  test for a specific type of genetic color blindness. Do what I did, use sunglasses, use colored transparency folder dividers to see if it helps "calm" the words on the page (I bought them at a dollar store!) Different colors for different kids. If it doesn't help, then it might be another dyslexia, or VT - may help. Check FB sites and groups, see what symptoms most match your kid. ASK tons of questions! I am 95% sure my kid has irlen syndrome which is a perceptual/sensory issue. I am still researching the difference between visual dyslexia and Irlen syndrome. I've been checking FB groups and found out the kids were having THE SAME issues. You are not alone. It's been researched, but most of the medical community doesn't accept it yet because they don't understand how it works, you may have to pay out of pocket. 

 

 

[Hottater]

The difference between visual dyslexia and irlen!!!

 

 

 

http://irlen.com/the-difference-between-irlen-syndrome-and-visual-dyslexia/

 

 

Oh and I am sooo happy that all of you have posted what you have posted. You have helped me sooo much. Just arriving to this point is just a whirlwind roller coaster and a blessing. Hugs to all of you who have supported me. There are FB kids who have the same issues as my ds.

But I am gaining understanding of why the Neural Ophthalmologist came to the wrong conclusion-- he didn't have the answers so he just blamed it back on my son and I (for believing him). One thing he did say that caught my attention was that it's not physiological. Dyslexics aren't diagnosed by Ophthalmologists or optometrists or regular pediatricians. They are diagnosed by Neural Psychologists and COVD Optometrists and possibly pediatric ophthalmologists and reading specialists. Irlen diagnosticians diagnose Scotopic light sensitivity which is a visual perceptual sensory issue not a visual dyslexia although it involves the sight and brain interpretation. All of these people do not share the same diagnosing skills. If you understand parts of the eye- Optometrists(no surgery) and Ophthalmologists(surgery) and neural ophthalmologists just deal from cornea to retina, and not necessarily brain translation of the image in it's entirety - only some. So, after passing visual field tests, and Ishihara test and acuity(near sighted, farsighted), refraction and health of eye tests-- by process of elimination --we're not dealing with physical eye issues but more visual perceptual processing issues. It makes sense. I personally think it's Irlen syndrome, not sure if there is a coupling with dyslexia, and by the sounds of the article (he might not have visual dyslexia). But I think I am 50% there. (100% would mean I would have dealt with all the remediation to bring him back to some "standard" level. ) Thinking about going with some Charlotte mason/Ruth beechick methods this year, and taking it slower. Talking to hubby about the Irlen diagnostician/specialist giving my son his test and stuff.

[Hottater]

Ok, now I'm stirring the pot.... An Irlen slide show helping people understand how the eye works, and why it's misinterpreted in dyslexic forums : http://www.slideshare.net/mobile/humansnotrobots/irlen-syndrome-visual-dyslexia

 

So far from some of the info gathered here, I get why my son is doing great with his sunglasses. And it's a better band aid than I thought. Until I get something that is more specific to his needs. Only, I saw more research, there are two opposing companies that work with light sensitivity issues. Irlen and Chromagen. I don't know who is more reliable? They both have similar ideas.

[OneStepAtATime]

Ok, now I'm stirring the pot.... An Irlen slide show helping people understand how the eye works, and why it's misinterpreted in dyslexic forums : http://www.slideshare.net/mobile/humansnotrobots/irlen-syndrome-visual-dyslexia

 

So far from some of the info gathered here, I get why my son is doing great with his sunglasses. And it's a better band aid than I thought. Until I get something that is more specific to his needs. Only, I saw more research, there are two opposing companies that work with light sensitivity issues. Irlen and Chromagen. I don't know who is more reliable? They both have similar ideas.

I have not heard of the 2nd one.  Interesting. 

[Hottater]

One step : chromagen is based out of the Spain and Irlen out of the US. Both highly controversial, but oddly, chromagen is FDA approved according to them--- lol it's not a food or drug... So I don't know how controlled that is....

 

I am still researching like a bandit before I fork out money to just anyone. Dealing with insurance company just trying to get reimbursed is a pain too.

[Hottater]

I might finally take the plunge tomorrow and make the phone call to the Irlen diagnostician in my area. This is Irlen Awareness week. This is from cbs yesterday. It's real, and many people are misdiagnosed. My son has it. I know he does. After all the help everyone has given me here, I've found the answer. He's still a tad slow, but it's probably because I am not using the right colored lenses. I went into a party store, and tried 7 shades of sunglass colors over his vision issues continued to multiply his images with the blue purple range, and formed a singularity with the green range. I got the book Irlen revolution in the library, and had my son draw what he saw on paper --- it was extremely hard for him without some sunglasses on, and everything doubled to a V I can't imagine his kaleidoscope eye view! I even tested him with crayons. He was able to tell the difference between yellow and lemon yellow = to me it's BARELY noticeable, to him, it's a shade of  green and yellow. I can't thank you enough for posting questions that were 

really making me think hard. The lighting in everyone's environment affects those with irlen Syndrome in different ways. Just like there are 10 million colors, there are different reactions, but it's so entirely obvious the change with even sunglasses for him. Hope this helps you if this is the same issue you have. It is so easily confused with other things!!!

 

 http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/10/20/twins-with-severe-headaches-stomach-pains-find-a-colorful-cure-with-help-from-irlen-institute/

 

 

 

[Heathermomster]

Awesome. Please keep us up to date.

[SandyKC]

Heathermomster- I thought my child was just "a 3rd grade boy" so I would not have been teaching him explicit multisensory tasks because I don't know that he had or has any deficits to begin with. I thought his timing issues was just a difference between boys and girls, defiance cause he just doesn't want to do something so he plods along hoping that I would put writing or related subjects off, and girls at this age are generally faster learners. I posted in this board, because I was hoping someone would help me discern, yes/no this is a problem yes/no I need testing for him, or I need parental guidance myself , cause I need to change something or he needs to change something in our environment. I burnout easily because I teach my kids and I also teach in the evenings because I am a piano teacher. Seeing all the ps kids do way better then my kids with simple listening tasks is disheartening.

 

First of all, HUG! It's hard... BUT there are also answers and solutions once you start asking questions and seeking answers. I'll tell you.. You are at the beginning of a GREAT place! :-D

 

MOST Kids want to learn... even the ones that seem to avoid learning.  Who ever wanted to be "bad" at school?  It's doubtful your son is putting things off out of hope that you'll put off related tasks. It may be an avoidance behavior, but it's different than purposefully being defiant or putting things off.  You have to be careful not to read motives into a child's actions too unless you know for sure why he dawdles.  I've known lots of parents to assume purposeful defiance, but it's usually avoidance or ADHD when a child has learning disabilities.  Defiance doesn't come in until a child's actual learning needs have been ignored so long that the child doesn't want to try even one more time--usually in the teen years.

 

Many, many times avoidance issues indicate underlying learning issues.  From all you've said, there are several possibilities that came to my mind--a slow neurological processing speed, executive function disorder that affects planning, sequencing, awareness of time, etc, ADHD, or other issues. Each of the learning disabilities I just mentioned are pervasive--they affect every area of learning.

 

A child who has neurological processes that cause slow work cannot be order, shamed, or yelled into working better or faster. Yelling at a child only serves to make the child feel shamed, hated, worthless, lower his self esteem, etc.

 

The key to getting to your better place of working with your son and finding your patience is developing a complete understanding of the real reasons your DS is having difficulty with his schoolwork. There are several steps you can take to make learning better or easier, but the first thing I would recommend is an evaluation to determine if your child has a neurological issue that you need to address or work around.

 

After that, better teaching includes figuring out your son's learning style and teaching him the way HE learns, not using "standard" books and workbooks.  Some kids don't learn well that way.  You can also make his lessons easier to complete by using programs that let him respond through multiple choice, or listen to lessons rather than read everything.  

 

As you figure out how your child learns, what his issues are, and encouragingly work with him, he's likely to start trying harder to do well.  As long as his spirit is discouraged, it will be difficult for him to feel inspired to do well.

 

I say with the utmost of understanding of where you are coming from.  I had the personal demon of getting the screaming mee mees (as we've come to call them), but the realization of how harmful it was to my son got me to a point of vowing to give myself a timeout before I ever screamed again. Luckily I made changes early enough that my boys don't even remember my screaming days.

 

I was raised being screamed at, so it was what I knew, but I also knew how it made me feel.  You can overcome the lack of patience and screaming by stopping yourself and going to meditate in your bedroom or cry in the bathroom. I even went as far as apologizing to my guys whenever I behaved like I would NOT want them to behave towards me. I didn't want to model bad behavior to them or they'd grow up screaming at my grandkids! (When we get to that point ;) ).

 

It's hard. I know it is. Brings back not so good memories for me. Hope you find the strength to travel this road to the better place I have found myself in.  HUS! 

[Hottater]

Thanks Sandy- your encouragement is awesome! Yeah, you're reading my past like a book. All there ever was screaming. I pray to God to give me the right words everyday, it's hard when the past roll models weren't good - and now we only can deal with what have with the little resources that we've gleaned. I made the phone call!  I have an appointment on Wednesday! So much to do, I have to get a pupillary distance reading and frames. And fill out several questionnaires. 

 

 

[OneStepAtATime]

Thanks Sandy- your encouragement is awesome! Yeah, you're reading my past like a book. All there ever was screaming. I pray to God to give me the right words everyday, it's hard when the past roll models weren't good - and now we only can deal with what have with the little resources that we've gleaned. I made the phone call!  I have an appointment on Wednesday! So much to do, I have to get a pupillary distance reading and frames. And fill out several questionnaires. 

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

[SandyKC]

Thanks Sandy- your encouragement is awesome! Yeah, you're reading my past like a book. All there ever was screaming. I pray to God to give me the right words everyday, it's hard when the past roll models weren't good - and now we only can deal with what have with the little resources that we've gleaned. I made the phone call!  I have an appointment on Wednesday! So much to do, I have to get a pupillary distance reading and frames. And fill out several questionnaires. 

BIG HUG! It'll get better... It will! ;-) Hope the glasses work miracles for you! It is ALWAYS great when that is the whole sum of a child's problem because it is such a quick fix. ;-)

[Hottater]

The appointment moved, prayers for Friday is much appreciated!!!

 

 

[OneStepAtATime]

The appointment moved, prayers for Friday is much appreciated!!!

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

[Hottater]

So happy. My kid's diagnostician even asked me if I wanted to take classes to be a screener, because I was So scientific in my approach. I told her that my kid's color would be green, and lo and behold~It was (just a different shade of green.) And, my kid's scotopic light sensitivity was rare, because his color was green for the overlay as well as the tint of lens for his Irlen filters. So siked. He demonstrated a vestibular imbalance when his sunglasses were off. And, was holding his hand incorrectly when writing. She was shocked to see him actually thinking that there were more stair steps there than there were there. Irlen filters are ordered, and am happy that someone is vouching everything that I was researching. Very similar methods were used that I used. Just ecstatic that he's happy too, and has a something more custom for his needs. 

 

[OneStepAtATime]

So happy. My kid's diagnostician even asked me if I wanted to take classes to be a screener, because I was So scientific in my approach. I told her that my kid's color would be green, and lo and behold~It was (just a different shade of green.) And, my kid's scotopic light sensitivity was rare, because his color was green for the overlay as well as the tint of lens for his Irlen filters. So siked. He demonstrated a vestibular imbalance when his sunglasses were off. And, was holding his hand incorrectly when writing. She was shocked to see him actually thinking that there were more stair steps there than there were there. Irlen filters are ordered, and am happy that someone is vouching everything that I was researching. Very similar methods were used that I used. Just ecstatic that he's happy too, and has a something more custom for his needs. 

:hurray:  :hurray:  :hurray:

 

Awesome!

[MyLittleBears]

So happy. My kid's diagnostician even asked me if I wanted to take classes to be a screener, because I was So scientific in my approach. I told her that my kid's color would be green, and lo and behold~It was (just a different shade of green.) And, my kid's scotopic light sensitivity was rare, because his color was green for the overlay as well as the tint of lens for his Irlen filters. So siked. He demonstrated a vestibular imbalance when his sunglasses were off. And, was holding his hand incorrectly when writing. She was shocked to see him actually thinking that there were more stair steps there than there were there. Irlen filters are ordered, and am happy that someone is vouching everything that I was researching. Very similar methods were used that I used. Just ecstatic that he's happy too, and has a something more custom for his needs. 

 

 

Way to go mom for sticking to your purpose and getting answers and a resolution for your ds. I am sure it is a great relief to you and will be for him. Congrats! :)

[Heathermomster]

This is great news!

 

So, how long will he need the lenses?  Will you take him back to the VT while he wears the glasses to get re-evaluated?  Will he need OT?  I expect he will need some sort of therapies to help straighten out the visual processing issues. I'm curious about the long term prognosis.

[Hottater]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=875092945835921 This is someone else's example of Irlen. https://www.facebook.com/Dollfaceltd/photos/a.543528589038741.1073741834.265007890224147/798867800171484/?type=1&theater

 

He will probably need them all his life, but changes in hormones, changes with medication or diets may change some of the characteristics, sometimes tints change. When he is older he can wear contacts. They also sell Irlen sports goggles and frames for higher impact.  No, he won't need visual therapy, because he doesn't have the same "muscle issues" that a visual therapist deals with. Irlen is a different wavelengths of light being interpreted by the brain issue. There is nothing wrong with his eye or the muscles surrounding it. His brain interprets what he sees differently. So, he just wears the Irlen lenses or sunglasses and it fixes everything. The only thing I need to make sure to work with him is on pencil grip. As the brain calms down due to the over stimulus, he will function normally, just like he was able to tie his shoe for the first time this summer and climb all the way up the jungle gym. There are helps to people with sensory issues for people who have been diagnosed with autism, dyslexia, add,  adhd, migraine headaches, light inducing seizures, seasonal affect, and other functions because different wavelengths affect people differently. Some people get physically ill and nauseous and it affects what seems to be their balance too. My son, after having his sunglasses off, hung onto the stairwell banister for dear life, because he saw two of everything including the steps, before that, he had been compensating but was still overly cautious. He jumped 20 times over the jump rope last friday at PE with his sunglasses. :hurray: He now has colored overlays for reading and will have his Irlen lenses which look like green sunglasses, and it will help him see single vision and his colors are corrected. 

 

He has the green overlay. http://www.amazon.com/IRLEN-Colored-Overlays-Reading-Sample/dp/B003LNMHTU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414977213&sr=8-1&keywords=irlen+overlays

 

After a month of testing him with his Irlen lenses, I will be more able to determine how much more on track he will get etc.  :hurray:

Editted to add... http://youtu.be/UbwzyO3qBZU Great video on how it works. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tiramisu]

Congratulations!

 

And good job, Hottater, for being so persistent!