Neuro news
I had a video conference with another neurologist from Baltimore the other day. I keep getting a lot of information on Oscar’s condition. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really shed any light on what this condition means to him going forward. The somewhat interesting news is that it does not seem to be the case at all that a person’s corpus callosum stops developing at birth. The other interesting news is that his doctors have a theory about what could have caused his “issue.” I don’t call it a problem.
From what I’ve been told by three neurologists now, there is a good chance that Oscar’s issue with his corpus callosum could have been caused by lack of attention in the orphanage. There are apparently a number of studies that have shown that the corpus callosum (callosa?) of kids who have been neglected or abused significantly atrophy over time. I’ve written about the state he was in when I adopted Oscar, but I’m not sure I would necessarily call what he went through “neglect” or “abuse.” I doubt he was coddled, but what the doctors have tried to make me see is that lack of attention to the point that his poor little head flattened out like it did could be the culprit here. Ultimately, I don’t know that what caused this situation is all that relevant. It happened. It’s over. Move on. Well, I would like to be that mature about it, but I’m not. In addition, it is somewhat relevant, in that if this was the cause, it’s a somewhat helpful fact, as a lot of kids with this condition have it because of other organic issues (just imagine all of those brain maladies that you read about while pregnant or waiting for your adopted child – that’s what else there could be). Oscar doesn’t have any of those, so they’re looking at this as a possible explanation. Who knows.
What I do think is relevant that there is also a study that showed that the corpus callosa of a number of six year olds who played piano for 2.5+ hours a week grew significantly. That, to me, is important. I just need to figure out how to grow this tiny little part of his brain. Playing the piano seems a bit like torture, but if it helps, Oscar is going to be getting a piano for his third birthday (starting him now seems premature). Why wait until he’s six?
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I am so glad you are getting some info, but everything seems to make his diagnosis seem more confusing, right? My offer stands in you ever want/need to come to Hopkins – you can stay with us.
Good news about the piano – my kids’ school always talks about the math and music centers of the brain being so close and interdependent – my boys take ukulele (I just couldn’t even consider fitting a piano into my house!)
Anyway – I really wonder what in the heck actually went on in the orphanage with their caregiver – by all appearances, she never put Olivia down and catered to her every whim. Maybe Olivia was so demanding that Oscar got ignored – I wouldn’t put it past Olivia to do that – or maybe there was a different caregiver situation or something for most of his time there? What a mystery – I wish we knew more about what it was like in the orphanage – how can mine come out spoiled and yours ignored – it’s bizarre and unfair. I hope that doesn’t sound insensitive – I just completely feel for you guys both because Oscar seems like a great kid and because I know that I could just as easily be in your shoes, but for who got what referral, you know? I only wish there was some way we could know more.
All the best,
Laura
Try getting a key board it is a lot smaller and cheaper then a piano. It is more fun for little kids to play too. They don’t need a piano until they get advanced into pedals
I think I told you before that Meliah’s head was so flat on one side and the IA Dr said in his experience she most likely spent 22 out of 24 hours a day lying in a crib. Breaks my heart. Yes in my opinion that is neglect. It is so sad that if this is what has caused Oscars issue it was totally preventable by someone just HOLDING him. The Nannies should really be better educated about the long term problems they can cause these babies and how they could prevent these issues with a little attention. If no one takes the time to educate them how will they ever know
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