Update on Devon
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Update on Devon
| Fri, 06-02-2006 - 12:09pm |
The MRI and one of the results came back recently. So far, things are looking "okay".
The rest of the results will take a few weeks to get back.
If things are looking "okay", how is it that his autism is severe? How can his mind not be functioning on a normal level and yet seem "okay" on an MRI?
I thought these tests would result in answers. For now, they are causing more confusion.
I don't mean to rant and rave. I just feel confused right now.
Thank you for letting me share and vent.
~ Darla

Darla,
I totally understand your confusion and frustration. Simple concrete answers would be so helpful. Yet we are left with test results that are "normal". I guess we should be happy about that but we are still left with a child who is not "normal" despite what the test tells us and instead of feeling relieved we feel frustrated and confused because we still don't have answers or know what to do.
Recently Cait went for an EEG after a seizure. The EEG came back normal. WHAT!!!! This is a girl of multiple EEG's and none have ever been normal. So now that she is having seizures it is normal or is she not having seizures? It was quite frustrating. It felt like the test left me more confused than I started out with.
Thing is, these tests are infallible, particularly EEG's (not sure about MRI's sorry). So despite a normal EEG she still has epilepsy, still had a seizrue and likely has frequent abnormal brain waves, they just weren't able to pick it up on the EEG this time.
Hope you get some answers soon.
Renee
I have not heard that autism even shows up on an MRI, but that they are given to make sure there is not something even more severe happening in the brain. Malcolm had an MRI when he was 3, but it was normal. I again think it is about ruling other things out, but have never heard of a ANY medical test that proves autism, only by observation of behavior and how they learn, etc. They actually do not know that much about autism and causes, etc. even to this day.
Sara
ilovemalcolm
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How very true what both of you said. I think that with a regular medical MRI they are trying to rule out any medical problems. One I have heard alot of is a Chiari malformation.
For some reason I was thinking fMRI because I have been looking up research lately on MRI's and what they are showing for kids with autism. It does show the brain differences.
Mostly I want an MRI because of Cait's normal EEG and her motor skills have somewhat declined so I am worried about something medical but getting my insurance to ok an MRI and getting my neuro to order it is a totally different matter all together so I thought I would go the research route.
Renee
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Well, I have heard of brain scans that can show where a brain is different and help determine which meds to use. There is a place called "The Amen Clinic" in LA that does this with SPECT scans (seems like MRI to me but more precise maybe? I think that is the same type thing as the guy on Dr. Phil.
However, on local email lists in our area there are a number of people who have tried the Amen Clinic and there are mixed reviews of how much it helped or worked. It is like 3K to have done and it isn't covered by insurance.
Renee