Relief or guilt?
Perry saw a developmental optometrist. We picked out frames for his new glasses, bifocals with prisms. He has severe developmental delays in vision. Per the doctor on a 0-10 scale of severity, we're looking at an 8.
We still have to get the psychologist report next week and then decide to keep or cancel the appointment with the psychologist who prescribes drugs. Having finally reached the conclusion that behavior, diet, etc... Wasn't working and accepting a need for medication it's difficult to hear the eye doctor recommend against medication. He thinks with the glasses and vision OT the aggression and attention deficits will disappear w/in 6 months. I want to believe that, I just don't know. I hate how one doctor does the testing and then a second doctor prescribes the drugs but you can't talk to the drug doctor without agreeing to accept drugs. It makes no sense to me that there is a legitamit medical specialty that does no evaluations of its own but just writes prescriptions for medication.
The idea that we have found a problem and we can treat it is such a relief. Of course having been down the OT/IEP road with Galen I know it's not as simple as it sounds.
Then there's the guilt. I knew learning disabilities run in our family. How could I let this go on so long without getting him evaluated? But Galen's OT sees Perry at Galen's sessions, she's never noticed issues. Perry should be awful at reading but he's three grade levels ahead! The school only recently noticed any eye issues. Still.... And of course there is the fear for Virgil. How do I protect him? Who do I take him to for testing! At what age? What could I be doing for him right now to help him?
And the shock/horror/wonder of trying to find the time to fit in more doctor appointments and exercises. Perry's so thrilled to be getting glasses. He can't stop announcing it loudly and enthusiastically to everyone we meet. It makes me wonder how much of his nonchalance over his behavior is really a mask to hide self loathing? The idea that glasses would help him pay attention and that it wasn't his fault he ignores adults had him dancing. I hope it really is as magical as the doctor claims.