Re: Focal cortical dysplasia

Posted By Angelina Thio on September 24, 1998 at 20:37:15:

In Reply to: Re: Focal cortical dysplasia posted by CCF NSG MD /gsh on September 23, 1998 at 09:43:30:






Dear Doctor,
Sorry if I had posted this the wrong place.  I had a few more questions about my son.
First of all, I would like to thank you for your prompt reply.  After searching for his MRI report's facts, I had come to conclusion that he is suffering some some sort of cortical dysplasia.  I understand that this is an abnormality in development.  But since I found that he is 'different' from mormal childern Nov 97, I quit my job ( both my husband and I are full-time employed and I admit that I neglect my son for around three years in the hand of a relative-baby-sitter).  At that time, he is unable to walk properly, unable to run, climb stair case, jumb ..etc. Since then, I talk to him and teach him to do all the necessary things.  In less than three months, he is able to walk.  Now after 10 months, his improvement is tremendious.  He can speak to me( at least express his hunger, toilet need, anger, frustration, happiness/ unhappiness, jump on the spot, climb-up staircase, step-bu-step down staircase, draw a humand (with eyes, nose, mouth, neck, head, hair, ears, hands, leg, body plus two dots for nipples and one for cord).  His reading skill can catchup with his elder brother whom is six-year old.  Moreover, he likes schooling and do not beat, bite and disturb classmates like he used to anymore.  lastly, even his teacher praises him for his improvement.
Is he improving?  Can he be like normal if I presistently care and teach him?  Losing a job for me  is crucial for my family of three young children. I planned to use one year for him only and I need to go back to work-force again.  You see, I need to care for the other two children.  If as my doctor suggesting that he is hopeless, I will consider putting him in full-day day-care center and let him  learn to take care of himself and final.  But I do not want to be unfair to him.  He had his right to be somebody in life.  Not a burden to the society I hope.  This is very crucial for me as the decision will influent his whole life.

I understand that seizures can occur with this condition, but so far, he had none.  Will he had and other symthom in the future? Is there any past record of other patients known that had other illness?
As you mentioned, there is no specific therapy for cortical dysplasias, I do not really know what is the 'relative paucity of underlying white matter was noted over the temporo-parietal regions bilaterally'? Is the temporo-parietal region means at both temporal lobe and parietal lobe or at the center of the two region?  What is the white matter?  Is it the old cells that do not die away after the growth of new cell ( Reproduction of new cell)?  If it's at the upper temporal lobe, my son had tessed for his hearing and it's supposed to be normal.  Moreover, he had a very good memory which is supposed be of the lower temporal lobe.  The parietal lobe which let him recognize people had no problem in him.  He do had comprehension and sensational problem.  Moreover he likes to 'talk nonsense'  but speak well.  Can I conclude that he has no problem in Broca's area but had a damaged Wernicke's area which is at the upper part of the temporal lobe?
  
I would appreciate if you could recommend any neurogist to evaluate and confirm his diagnosis.  I'm living in Hong Kong.  And I do not mind to traver within Asia. If treatment can only be done in outside Asia, I would also like to find out the duration needed and cost of the surgery.
Thank you for your answer and again I appologized if I had posted this the wrong place.


Best Regards,

Angelina Thio