You know, I am not surprised one iota about the 'clinical diagnosis' given to me yesterday. In my heart of hearts, I knew he was going to tell me S had Aspergers. I think I am just so frustrated with feeling the need to learn all I can, now.
I realize no one is making me do this, but my sense of 'right' tells me that it just makes sense to learn about your children in any/all ways available. I had done some research about Aspergers a while ago, and when I did, it just 'fit' with S, but now that I know this for sure...well, I just don't know what I am feeling.
When we were at the doctor's yesterday, we ran out of time before we could start to discuss the actual therapies he would want to consider for S. The information was relatively new to the doctor, also, and he really hadn't had a lot of time to absorb it all, and plan for the next step. We will continue to touch base electronically, and start to devise a "plan of attack" that way.
I had a chiropractor appointment yesterday afternoon on my way home from work, and the doctor and I discussed the results of S's testing in depth. He has suggested that we consider some C1 and C2 specific adjustments for S. C1 and C2 are top two areas of the spine - right below the plate the brain actually sits on. He has worked with a severely autistic girl for 7 years, and he said that he and the girl's mother have been able to establish a pattern for this girl, and he feels that often times, if he notices a variation in her C2 area, and he is able to adjust the C2 on a regular basis, if she still has a seizure, it is much milder than what she has experienced in the past.
Now, he did tell me that this type of 'therapy' will take time to actually find a pattern, and he told me that he wanted some time to read some information about what I told him, and he also wants to prepare a chart of sorts to see if a pattern can/will eventually start to show for S. For example, C1 was shifted to the left, S exhibited this...and see if his body always shifts in one way (or another) before, during, or after any particular events/stessors, that sort of thing. I have gone to this chiro for a number of years, and I often take the boys in, too, but the type of adjusting he is talking about will be specific to the top of the spine only. He will only adjust there. I am going to start setting appointments for S. I'm sure the specialist would tell me that this will not be of any benefit, but then again, he did tell us to start giving S omega 3 capsules, so who knows?
Got a letter in the mail the other day from the A-man's specialist at the Tourette clinic. She is going to be taking 6 months to a year off due to an adoption that is being complete, so the A-man will be monitored by the referring paediatrician for the next little while. Less of a drive for us, but less 'specific' a specialist, too. Now that we know what is happening with him, though, I don't know that seeing a specialist really makes that much of a difference - he has tourettes, it is somewhat mild, and we cope. He is doing SO much better, so I guess seeing the referring doctor won't really make that much of a difference.
Just got a call from Boss a few minutes ago - he advised that I just stay put today, given the weather conditions. I am okay with that. Not feeling 100% anyway, so I think I will just head back to bed. Boys are on ANOTHER snow day, so it will be another jammie day for the three of us!
Oh, and another piece of news that isn't specific to either of the kids! Hubby got a call at work yesterday - our bid for a new ATV has finally come through, so we will be getting one in time for Spring. The boys were over the moon excited about that. The A-man's main question - what colour is it? Answer is 'camo'... (sigh... I was hoping for pink - guess that isn'tgoing to happen when you are the only girl in the family...) Oh well, maybe I will get a pink helmet!!
Showing posts with label therapies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label therapies. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Left Brain vs. Right Brain
The results of the fMRI are in. Based on the findings, S functions primarily with the left side of his brain. Very little, to almost none, of functioning is completed on the right side of his brain. New information - very little taken in. He showed zero response to novel concepts. Additionally, I was told that what is taken in, comes in slower than 'normal' and comprehension about 20% below the norm.
I am dazed and confused right now, I will be honest. Oh, and did I mention that, clinically, S has Asperger's AND a non-verbal learning disability. Yeah, he does. Am I surprised? Not really, but I guess part of me was holding out hope that we wouldn't be told this.
There were all kinds of medical lingo thrown around this morning, and my poor wee non-medical brain is having quite the time absorbing all of this. I've done some Internet searching - as I am prone to do - and have found a few websites that might be able to help me understand a bit further.
One website, called Wired, has a pretty good summary about the left and right functions of the brain. It told me,
I am dazed and confused right now, I will be honest. Oh, and did I mention that, clinically, S has Asperger's AND a non-verbal learning disability. Yeah, he does. Am I surprised? Not really, but I guess part of me was holding out hope that we wouldn't be told this.
There were all kinds of medical lingo thrown around this morning, and my poor wee non-medical brain is having quite the time absorbing all of this. I've done some Internet searching - as I am prone to do - and have found a few websites that might be able to help me understand a bit further.
One website, called Wired, has a pretty good summary about the left and right functions of the brain. It told me,
"The left hemisphere handles sequence, literalness, and analysis. The rightThis site also has a very interesting 'diagram' of the human brain and 'how' it functions:
hemisphere, meanwhile, takes care of context, emotional expression, and
synthesis."
Knowing S, when I saw this summary of which side of the brain controls certain things, it certainly explains some things:
Left brain functions
sequential
analytical
verbal
logical
linear algorithmic processing
mathematics: perception of counting/measurement
present and past
language: grammar/vocabulary, literal
Right brain functions
simultaneous
holistic
imagistic
intuitive
holistic algorithmic processing
mathematics: perception of shapes/motions
present and future
language: intonation/accentuation, prosody, pragmatic, contextual
S is very literal in all that he does. He is not able to conceptualize how his present actions will/can affect his future. He doesn't have a very good imagination - to come up with something new and unique is not his forte...
The main question now is - can it be 'fixed'? We ran out of time before the doctor was able to fully establish a therapy plan of attack, but this will be done with both him and I, via email for the next little bit. In the interm, I will continue to do research!
Results day
Today is the day we get the results of S's fMRI. I know we won't have any miraculous breakthroughs or anything like that, however, I am hoping we will be able to get a copy of the DVD to watch. Again, we won't really know what we are watching, but I still think it will be very fascinating!
I am also very interested to find out what types of therapies the doctor is going to recommend, and which - if any - mental health issues they should address. I'm sure it will be a very long, yet informative appointment.
Yesterday's "ice day" was pretty ironic - it was 8 (above freezing) for most of the day, and all of the snow/ice on the driveway melted, and a lot of the snow off the deck melted. Crazy to think they called the buses off the road for such a nice day! The R-man informed me this morning, though, that they are calling for a winter storm tonight. Nice. March - lion to lamb...I guess we have to see the lion part to appreciate the lamb, right?
Speaking of lamb, I am going to be heading down to Cuz's house this weekend to go to the Canada Bloom's Show. She doesn't live real close to where the show is held, but at least she is closer than I. Now, that said, I have made a big boo-boo, and done a wee bit of double-booking myself this weekend. But, I think a workable plan has been hatched, and we will STILL get to spend some quality time together - which we have not been able to do as much as we like to do normally.
Cuz, I won't be able to arrive until close to supper time on Saturday evening - Hubby is working Friday night, and I have an appointment/date with Jazzy's mom earlier on Saturday, so I thought I would be able to make it for drinks on Saturday, then we could head to the show on Sunday. Would that work?? I won't rush away after the show, but I think that is going to be the most workable option right now.
The A-man just read my last sentence over my shoulder and said, "Ugh...you are leaving again?? Every weekend you leave us...you hate us don't you?" He knows that is not true, but he sure does know how to pull on those heart strings...
Speaking of the A-man...toes are still looking icky, but I think we have been able to drain most of the infection. I am going to monitor things, and continue to pick at things, for a couple of days, and if I don't think I am going to be able to be successful with the hang nail, I will be making a doctor's appointment.
Hubby and I have made an appointment with a nutritionist for March 17. We have been planning on going to see her for quite a while, but the past few months have been just far to chaotic to even consider doing major dietary changes, too. It is time.
I am also very interested to find out what types of therapies the doctor is going to recommend, and which - if any - mental health issues they should address. I'm sure it will be a very long, yet informative appointment.
Yesterday's "ice day" was pretty ironic - it was 8 (above freezing) for most of the day, and all of the snow/ice on the driveway melted, and a lot of the snow off the deck melted. Crazy to think they called the buses off the road for such a nice day! The R-man informed me this morning, though, that they are calling for a winter storm tonight. Nice. March - lion to lamb...I guess we have to see the lion part to appreciate the lamb, right?
Speaking of lamb, I am going to be heading down to Cuz's house this weekend to go to the Canada Bloom's Show. She doesn't live real close to where the show is held, but at least she is closer than I. Now, that said, I have made a big boo-boo, and done a wee bit of double-booking myself this weekend. But, I think a workable plan has been hatched, and we will STILL get to spend some quality time together - which we have not been able to do as much as we like to do normally.
Cuz, I won't be able to arrive until close to supper time on Saturday evening - Hubby is working Friday night, and I have an appointment/date with Jazzy's mom earlier on Saturday, so I thought I would be able to make it for drinks on Saturday, then we could head to the show on Sunday. Would that work?? I won't rush away after the show, but I think that is going to be the most workable option right now.
The A-man just read my last sentence over my shoulder and said, "Ugh...you are leaving again?? Every weekend you leave us...you hate us don't you?" He knows that is not true, but he sure does know how to pull on those heart strings...
Speaking of the A-man...toes are still looking icky, but I think we have been able to drain most of the infection. I am going to monitor things, and continue to pick at things, for a couple of days, and if I don't think I am going to be able to be successful with the hang nail, I will be making a doctor's appointment.
Hubby and I have made an appointment with a nutritionist for March 17. We have been planning on going to see her for quite a while, but the past few months have been just far to chaotic to even consider doing major dietary changes, too. It is time.
Friday, January 4, 2008
fMRI
I have been very remiss in keeping this blog updated over the past few days. I guess the main reason is because things have been INSANE at work, and also because the day-to-day life with the boys hasn’t quite got in to full swing yet, since they aren’t back to school until Monday. That, however, doesn’t mean there haven’t been all kinds of things going on!
Wednesday was “back to work” day for Hubby and I. That afternoon, S had a doctor’s appointment with his specialist. I was surprised that it was so late in the day – 4:45 pm – but it actually worked out better for me, so I wasn’t complaining. The appointment was about a full hour, and it was in anticipation of the upcoming fMRI that will be happening at the end of the month. I was very happy to have this meeting, as I really didn’t have much information about what this test was, or what it was hoping to achieve. Now I know.
An fMRI is a functional MRI. As you know, an MRI is basically a ‘brain scan’ that lets the doctors look at the brain. This test is actually going to monitor how S’s brain ‘fires’ its signals. Although S won’t be able to speak or move for the hour he is being scanned, the doctors will talk to him, flash various pictures, etc., across a screen on his eyes, and ask him to think about certain things. As he thinks about what they ask, they will be able to see how his brain sends the signals. How cool is that?
After they have this base-line ‘test’, the doctors will then create a specialized therapy to assist with any deficits (or mis-firings) they may find. Of course, the doctor wasn’t able to say what type of therapies they may use, because they don’t currently know where his signals are lacking, but it could be a chemical imbalance that could benefit with medication, or they may find that treating with this therapy and that therapy could assist his thought patterns, that sort of thing. Then, after about 6 months or so of following a treatment plan, S will under go another test, to see if the various therapies have been beneficial to him.
This is all very new. S’s doctor, and the doctor’s at the University hospital are going to be doing this with about 50 or 60 patients, only. S’s results will be compared to those of average twelve year olds, so this will also let us know what are typical actions/reactions/behaviour of a child this age, and what is a direct result of his brain’s ‘hard wiring.’ They are then going to see if various therapies will assist with certain deficiets, etc.
Yeah, S is going to be a bit of guinea pig, with respect to this testing, but Hubby and I figure that if we have a better understanding of how S’s brain fires, we can only benefit, right? If the therapies, etc., work, all the better. If not, no harm done. There are no chemical injections, or radiation, etc. It is a very harmless test, and it will actually help us, and the specialist, have a stronger foothold when we approach things. Right now we are only going on ‘theories’ – after this test, we will be going on an actual brain scan.
I, personally, am glad we are on the entry level of this new testing. I am looking forward to learning more about this. Google it – it’s quite fascinating!
Wednesday was “back to work” day for Hubby and I. That afternoon, S had a doctor’s appointment with his specialist. I was surprised that it was so late in the day – 4:45 pm – but it actually worked out better for me, so I wasn’t complaining. The appointment was about a full hour, and it was in anticipation of the upcoming fMRI that will be happening at the end of the month. I was very happy to have this meeting, as I really didn’t have much information about what this test was, or what it was hoping to achieve. Now I know.
An fMRI is a functional MRI. As you know, an MRI is basically a ‘brain scan’ that lets the doctors look at the brain. This test is actually going to monitor how S’s brain ‘fires’ its signals. Although S won’t be able to speak or move for the hour he is being scanned, the doctors will talk to him, flash various pictures, etc., across a screen on his eyes, and ask him to think about certain things. As he thinks about what they ask, they will be able to see how his brain sends the signals. How cool is that?
After they have this base-line ‘test’, the doctors will then create a specialized therapy to assist with any deficits (or mis-firings) they may find. Of course, the doctor wasn’t able to say what type of therapies they may use, because they don’t currently know where his signals are lacking, but it could be a chemical imbalance that could benefit with medication, or they may find that treating with this therapy and that therapy could assist his thought patterns, that sort of thing. Then, after about 6 months or so of following a treatment plan, S will under go another test, to see if the various therapies have been beneficial to him.
This is all very new. S’s doctor, and the doctor’s at the University hospital are going to be doing this with about 50 or 60 patients, only. S’s results will be compared to those of average twelve year olds, so this will also let us know what are typical actions/reactions/behaviour of a child this age, and what is a direct result of his brain’s ‘hard wiring.’ They are then going to see if various therapies will assist with certain deficiets, etc.
Yeah, S is going to be a bit of guinea pig, with respect to this testing, but Hubby and I figure that if we have a better understanding of how S’s brain fires, we can only benefit, right? If the therapies, etc., work, all the better. If not, no harm done. There are no chemical injections, or radiation, etc. It is a very harmless test, and it will actually help us, and the specialist, have a stronger foothold when we approach things. Right now we are only going on ‘theories’ – after this test, we will be going on an actual brain scan.
I, personally, am glad we are on the entry level of this new testing. I am looking forward to learning more about this. Google it – it’s quite fascinating!
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