gobsmacked....................

[chris]

The other day Chris went for his first eye test(he is 3)anyway after being asked questions about his eye sight the eye specialist proceeded to do the eye test,now I was all prepared for some kind of 21st centuary equipment to test his eyes well needless to say I was gobsmacked when the specialist came out with cards with picures on them expecting Chris to rattle of what he was seeing ???I explained to the specialist he has d.s and does not talk yet although he does have a few signs but not enough to be tested fairly her response was for Chris to learn the appropriate signs and then come back ::)surely this is not common practice in this day and age,there has to be an better way of testing our kids . Does this experience sound familiar ....or do any of your kids get a 21centuary test :)I would be intrested to hear.thanks chris

[MB]

Thought you made up the word gobsmacked. I was pleasantly surprised to find the definition - flabbergasted, astounded, shocked.

From now on, whenever someone asks how I reacted when told my child had Ds, I am going to respond, "gobsmacked."

Thanks for the new word!

The eye thing. I remember my ped. opthomologist using both pictures and a machine.

MB

[justinsmom]

Chris when Justin had his first eye exam I think it was around 2yrs. ago and even now they use prisms with him since he is unable to communicate, they also use alot of shiny stickers yes stickers, for instance if she wants him to look straight ahead she will put a sticker on her nose and poof he is looking straight ahead at the sticker on her nose , she uses a sticker taped on an aaaah stick ok tongue depressor when she wants him to follow an object. We see a Pediatric Opthamologist so don't know if that is the difference or not as regular Opthamologists like at D.O.C.'s and such aren't equipped to check special needs kiddos at least not here. Hope that helped oh and by the way Justin did and does wear glasses thanks to her persistance and patience with our little man.

[ashliesmomheidi]

Wow, I would definitley go get a second opinion!

Ashlie has always seen a Ped Opth since a few months of age, She started wearing glasses at 10 mos old. Our Ped Opth. sees a lot of kids with Diff. Disabilities so the lack of Communication he suspects.

Ashlie's Opth has always used little kids meal toys and similar to the stickers he puts the toy on his nose to get her to look forward and takes the toy side to side to get her to look sideways, He then uses these Eye Glasses with diff. Prisms on them to get the right prescription in her eye.

[shellk]

I know when Kourtney had her eyes check they used a machine, they triple dialated her eyes and he said he was doing this so he could watch the reaction of her eye or something like that..It had been awhile ago..But, he never used pictures..And she could not really speak at that time either. Don't know what to say about how they tested your little guy. Good luck though


Michele

[Tammy]

We see an Opthalmologist for Lewis eye checks...
He Dilates Lewis eyes using the drops, then checks using the Prisms. He also has a small toy to get Lewis attention and to have him looking straight or to the side etc.

It always looks funny when we leave cause Lewis pupils are soooooo big and looks like he has black holes for eyes!!... Takes a few hours to go back to normal, and have to keep him out of bright light for this time.

[MaggiesMom]

Go see an opthamalogist! They can do everything without asking any questions. They have been checking Maggie's eyes annually since she was 6 months old.

The doc could tell us exactly what she could and couldn't see and how she was doing with her muscle coordination etc.

Ask other parents and see if they can refer you to a good doctor. Think of the younger kids you know that have glasses. That's usually a good place to start.

Take care.

Robin M

[angela2]

Brandon first went to the opthamologist when he was about 18 months. She dialated his eyes and then looked at them with an instrument. She also had him looking in certain directions, at a stuffed animal on the wall.
My other son, (non ds) who is five, had an eye test at his pediatrician's office where he had to look at cards and say what was in the picture (from a certain distance). But he was 5 yrs old at the time, and could talk very well.

[Ericsmomma]

Chris,

Hmm...I would definetly see an opthamologist.
I do a screening with pictures at the pediatric office, but its just a screening. Then the doc uses the lighted scope to check tracking, pupils, etc. If she suspects ANYTHING, she will make a referral to any opthamologist. And she recommends children with down syndrome see a opthamologist every year no matter what.
Eric has been going to see one since he was 6 months old. He was a premie, and in oxygen too, so this is a given.

Dolly

[meghans_mom]

Our pediatric opthomologist uses the picture cards but also has other things for kids who are non-communicative. Moving animals across the room and small animals for up close.
they also use the eye machine thing, I think to check that the glasses MM wears are the right strength.
Our guy sees tons of kids w/ disabilities...almost all my friends (who have kids w/ DS) go to this guy, and I trust him although I wonder just how accurate he is -- I mean just HOW do they know?

But the reaction/answer you got -- go home, teach him the signs and then comeback...that "medical professional" has ALOT to learn...yeah, I'd get a 2nd opinion.

laurie

[donnita]

Cassandra just got glasses a month ago. Her eye doctor specializes in pediatrics. She dialated Cassie's eyes and looked into them, and then used different lenses to pick the right prescription for her.

Donnita

[Annie S]

I would take him into a Ped optmologist...we took Sonny last year and he used a new machine that measures the retna and It can tell the if the eye is not seeing correctly....Annie S

[momofrussell]

I agree with the others, Chris. I don't know if your doc is a Ped Opth or not, but if so, the doc doesn't sound experienced with kids w/spec needs. Or non verbal ones.

Russell has been seeing a doc since birth. A Ped Opth. We saw her for almost 4 yrs, until we moved, she was very knowledgeable with testing. When we moved to IL/MO we found a good doc that was also familiar with our special litte kids My son has been tested the way the others are discribing, dilation, prisms, ect.. as well as had numerous EUA's (Exam's Under Anesthesia) to get a correct reading on his eyes. There is also some test for non-verbal children, Like my son Russell now 6 yrs old, called a Facial Brushing test? or something like that. It is the ONLY other way to get an accurate reading other then an EUA for children that are non verbal, according to our doc. I only thought they could do an EUA but this test is offered too.

You might want to look on line or ask around for a Ped Opth that has seen kids w/DS as well as kids w/Spec Needs in general. They would be better suited for your situation. Maybe even call a children's Hosp close to you. They are good at refering docs for spec things.

I have never heard of an eye doc saying that to anyone. Very strange....

Good luck!!!

A.

[chris]

Thanks to all you guys who responded (is'nt it great having the net)
I loved reading all the stories about your kids,it is heart warming to read about the specialists who really take the time to make sure the dx is right,intrestinglyI notice that there is time difference in when our kids get tested....hmmm.anyway I had a giggle about Lewis and his large pupils that was so funny exuse my ignorance here but what is prisms - it seems to be the 'in thing' at the moment,anyway I the idea that the ped opth is the way to go now dont get me wrong the young lady I saw was trying her best but I was disapointed when she brought out the cards I knew it would be a waste of time however Chris is learning the required new signs for his appointment next month I will keep you all posted and here's hoping maybe we will see "prisms"lol. chris

[justinsmom]

Chris I guess the easiest way to describe a prism is it's like a crystal, different sizes and such.