Does chiari have effects on focusing

[tonya193]

My son has chiari type I and is having a hard time this year staying focused in school. He has always been a straight A student and always above his grade level in everything and this year he is forgetting his books that he has homework in and not remembering his vocabulary words that we study all week and when he takes a test on them he acts like he has never seen these words and definitions and this is going on in just about every subject. He is getting very fustrated with school and he has never been this way. Just wandering if anyone else has experienced this or has a child with chiari that has experienced this and what was done to help the situation. He is 10 and will be 11 in Oct. and is in the 5th grade. I am just searching for answers before I watch him get kicked out of the Honor program and fall behind in his work, if there is something that help please let me know if anyone else knows.

Very fustrated mom

Tonya (in Alabama)

[psychishelpful]

Since being diagnosed with Chiari is a hard pill to swallow, not to mention all the symptoms and options re: surgery vs no surgery, has anyone ever had their neurosurgeon or neurologist suggest seeing a psychologist to work through some of the thoughts, feelings, learning coping strategies, or generally just receiving support? A psychologist, especially a pediatric or behavioral health psychologist, can help with pain management techniques, relaxation strategies, etc. Just wondering. I found it helpful for many of my patients.

[Shane99]

Wow, 23mm beats me. Mine was 20mm and I had my surgery 3 weeks after discovery.  

Poor little guy.

Good luck and keep is posted on how he's doing.

[nangem]

My son was diagnosed with Chiari type 1 in August. He is 9 years old. He had a chiari decompression and duroplasty within a week. His case was a bit severe with a syrinx that runs from C1-L2 and the cerebellum decended 23mm. Usually 5mm is operable. The syrinx will never disappear but it has drained significantly. He couldn't stay focused at school all last year and had problems with his grades. Now he is doing great and loves school once more. I would suggest you find out how severe the chiari is and if there is a syrinx how big it is. We had the surgery done at Childrens Hospital at Dartmouth in NH. The surgeon was excellent and the follow up consistent, every month so far. Good luck! nangem

[Shane99]

I know you were just joking, but I'm only 38. That's not quite a senior - yet! :)

[selmaS]

Good luck on ur recovery from the surgery and the fog!!

"selma"

[Lottie205]

hello im lottie and im fron england and i jst have the decompression surgery jst two weeks ago and about the brain Fog.. i found that the opperation has helped it a bit. I found that i often wud be in a conversation with some one and have no idea wot they had said by the end of the conversation.
I still have a long way to go but havin only had the opperation done two weeks ive noticed a difference already.

Lottie,

[Kitty8675309]

hey selma, it's me. I just read this question and comments, but I don't forget about conversations or anything like that. although I tend to space out, I've only forgotten a conversation once or twice the past year. but I'm definitely going to get an MRI ...

[selmaS]

I know of quite  a few people with the forgetfulness it's called a senior moment!! lol....so how old r u...?? lol just joshing ya.

[Shane99]

The surgery I had really hasn't help noticeably on my memory or spacing out. I'm not real bad about that, but I often lose my train of thought or forget what I'm getting at the store or in the kitchen etc.

[selmaS]

join the club of foggers....Shane99 has had surgery and can answer your questions. I havae not had surgery, but always thought I must have been bored since I couldn't focus. I was mediocre in school....just thought I wasn't smart. But found at times I can focus better then others.

good luck
Godspeed
"selma"

[erica943]

Can anyone tell me, do you know if this brain fog can be improved from the decompression surgery or is something you will always live with. I have had this
my whole life and I have recently found out that I have chiari.  I also fog out, when
people are talking to me and then I come back. Sometimes I even talk and don't remember what I said.
erica

[Shane99]

It's possible that things he experiances (sees, reads, hears, etc) may not be correctly storing chemically in his brain. I have that problem. My wife and I can have entire conversations and I won't recall them at all - even though I may be completely lucid and participating during the conversation.

Perhaps, if you talked to his principal or someone at the school board, something could be done for him so he doesn't loose his GPA or fail. Like untimed tests or a little leeway in homework. I know there are services in place for disabled children (I know you don't want him stuck with the disabled stigma, but if the problem gets bad enough you may have to have him take advatage of some of these programs).

Check into montessory schools. Something like that could possibly be what he needs. He can learn at his own pace.

[selmaS]

...not sure of ne meds....but u may b able to get him to realize when he "drifs" off so he get bring himself back. I have had this problem as well.....I find if there is alot going on, I have a harder time focusing.IE: tvs on , someone on the phone and child talking to me....argggh. I need to turn tv off, move to another, compose myself to focus on what my child needed. It can be done, may b he needs to focus by taking notes when the teacher is speaking. Have him practice at home..start small 5 mins and build.It's like ne thing else...learn to recognize when it happens and find a way to avoid it happening when u need to focus. If he takes time to relax when he gets home prior to homework, he may find it easier. Also music lessons do help, or just add music as he way to relax.
Let me know if this helps!
Good luck and Godspeed
"selma"

[aiMelissa]

I have attension issues that I'm sure are because of my Chiari.  I was in college a few years ago, had a 4.0 GPA, did wonderful majoring in nursing and pre-med.  In 2004 my symptoms got a lot worse, I had a hard time thinkign straight.  Since then, it's been even worse.  My 4.0 GPA dropped to 3.6 beacuse I got 2 Cs.  I know that sounds trivial but it was a BIG deal for me and I was devastated.

I was just dx with Chiari and now know that it has severely impacted my intelligence in a negative way.

Good luck to you both.  

Melissa

[tonya193]

Sorry it took so long to get back with you been very busy and we have all had that stomach virus. (NOT FUN). I talked to his teacher yesterday and she says that there are times when Gabe has glassy eyes and she does notice that he is not focusing on what he is doing. she says that he is not doing anything else but just sitting and staring off into space. when this happens he does not remember anything that she was talking about at that time or gets confused on his test if it happens when he is taking a test. this is very fustrating and i don't know what to do to help him. Have you heard of any medicines that can be given for this or not. Thanks for you support and help.

Tonya

[selmaS]

Unfortunatly yes chiari can cause brain fog.....and it does cycle, so maybe it won't last the entire year.
I went thru this in school, but was never on the honnor roll. I felt like I was just stupid.And I was not dx with chiari back then.Try and keep a journel on how he feels and see if anything may compound his symptoms.ie: cafine,diff bedtimes( may need diff routine -no tv 1 hr b4 bed ect) even certain foods may affect him.Try and keep him balanced w/ school work and after school activities so he does'nt stress over the grades.
Stress is not a good thing for anyone esp.a chiari person.
Attack his school work in small bursts not long sessions.When he begins to get frustrated, have him walk away for a while and retry after he's relaxed.
5th graders are known for being sidetracked and forgetful.....so it's prob a 50/50 situation.
Just teaching him to walk away and return later will help him now and as he gets older in dealing with stress.

Good luck and Godspeed
"selma"