dandy walker varient??

[Melbee2]

every time my 12 year has a brain mri.. its suggest dandy walker varient and his docters claim he would have to be mentally retarded in order to have this..which he is not... but... has been dx with aspergers,learning issues, spina bifida occultta, tethered cord  with syrinx and scoliosis. his symtoms are poor gait, weakness in hand feet and legs, synscope, headaches, learning difficulties, ataxia. degenerative myopia and tremor.. to me it sounds like it has to do with both the brain and spine..he just took a three spine mri's and they came back ok.. my question is there a mild form of dandy walker?? and how come the dr's arent seening this?? also does anybody know symptoms of dandy walker varient??

[Phillyeaglefan2004]

Hello, not sure if this will get to you as this post is old but I am 45 and just diagnosed with Dandy Walker variant after a mri after an auto accident.  I know that it does not always lead to mental retardation as I am very intelligent, graduated high school at 16, worked ahead of my class in school staring in the second grade, graduated from college and had a almost pefect memory until recently and have always tested at the low end of genius on iq tests, even as a child.  That being said I am also very concerned about what this means to me. I also have been diganosed with hyrdocephalus and minimal microvascular disease.  All of this came up after an auto accident where I experienced extreme headaches and started writing letters in words out of order, had balance issues and urinary issues along with spine issues.  I am getting more tests ran this week but I hope it helps to know that there must be various versions and not all affect iq and development.  Good luck. I hope I will have answers myself soon.

[Melbee2]

i think your so right.. i just want answers!! thanks for replying to me

[sue984]

Unfortunately it may take changes in his doctors to see, and think "outside the box."  I'm not a doc, and can't answer your questions, but it would seem that your boy doesn't quite "fit" the explanation(s) you've been given, and I think you're well within your rights to ask as many questions as you need to,  
I certainly hope it's not too long before you get answers; take care,