Memory loss in 10yr old

[wolfandmaiden]

My daughter was born a preemie and had pneumonia at birth  She spent 2 weeks on a vent, but has not had any major problems since.  We have noticed some unusual memory loss for several years.  In school she does ok in math and spelling (subjects that are very repetitive).  It takes her a while to learn a word or math fact, but once she gets it she has no problems. Her major problem is in the other subjects where she has to read something, remember it and be tested on it.  We thought about learning disabilities but the memory loss goes beyond reading.  For example, she spent the night at my parents house and asked 7 times before dinner if she had spent the night yet.  She also can't remember routine schedules or if she has taken her medicine each day.  We have asked the doctors and school for years for help with no answers.  She has started having bad mood swings and violent tendencies towards her siblings lately too.  Unrelated to this, she is diagnosed with chronic hives, ADHD and left ventricular hypertrophy.  Any help would be great.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

This sounds quite serious and if I were you I would go beyond school and your regular doctor and ask for a neurological and psychiatric consultation with a doctor trained in  pediatric care. It may have nothing to do with her birth, so keep yourself open to that possibility.

[wolfandmaiden]

She has a consult scheduled with a neuro-developmental pediatrician in Dec.  That was the first available appt.  We did find out today that she has an arachnoid cyst, but her dr doesn't think that is the cause of her problems.