If you are like me, and upon first hearing the term Septo-Optic Dysplasia (or SOD) and thought HUH??? This is an excerpt from the
information on ONH and SOD at the Magic Foundation's website.... (for more
information follow the link below!)
A child with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia has optic nerves
that are small and poorly developed. Instead of having over 1 million
connections (nerve fibers) from each eye to the brain, people with Optic Nerve
Hypoplasia have far fewer connections. The more connections between the eye and
the brain the better the vision. Some people with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia have
near normal vision in one eye, others have decreased vision in both eyes, and
others are severely affected and nearly blind. An eye doctor (Ophthalmologist)
can diagnose ONH by looking inside the eye with an ophthalmoscope. The front
surface of the optic nerve (optic disc) appears smaller than normal. Most
people with ONH have a nystagmus (unusual eye movements). The eyes may seem to
move around with no real pattern or purpose. This occurs because the eyes are
not able to focus well enough to hold still.
Typically people with Septo Optic Displasia have abnormalities of the brain. These abnormalities may include how the brain is formed (brain structure) and how the brain works (brain function). While both usually occur, sometimes a child has a problem only with the structure of the brain and at other times, a child has a problem only with the function of the brain. All problems with the brain can range from mild to very serious. When a child is diagnosed with Septo Optic Dysplasia he or she will undergo a number of evaluations and brain function tests (neurologic tests). A brain specialist (Neurologist) can look at the brain structure through the use of CT (computerized tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). After these tests are performed your doctor should be able to tell if there are major problems with the brain structure.
However, doctors cannot always predict if a child will or will not have problems with brain function. When a child is less than 3-4 years of age, it is often difficult to predict future brain functions such as speech, intelligence and learning. It is sometimes difficult to assess the brain function and overall development of a child with poor vision. Visually impaired children must be taught and tested in ways that are different than children who are not visually impaired. Be sure that your child is tested and treated by professionals who have experience working with children with poor vision. Testing to determine how you child is developing and to screen for learning problems can be done by specialists such as: pediatricians, psychologists, occupational therapists (OT's), speech therapists (SP's), physical therapists (PT's) and teachers of the visually impaired (VI's). Testing can be done in several different settings including your own home, schools, hospitals, or other clinical settings.
Contributing Medical Specialists
Francine R. Kauffman, MD, Endocrinology & Metabolism Director,
Comprehensive Childhood Diabetes Center,
Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, California
Neal Kauffman, MD, M.P.H.,
Director, Division of Academic Primary Care Pediatrics,
Chairholder, Guess?/Fashion Industries,
Guild Chair in Community Child Health,
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,
Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health, UCLA Schools of Medicine and Public Health
Typically people with Septo Optic Displasia have abnormalities of the brain. These abnormalities may include how the brain is formed (brain structure) and how the brain works (brain function). While both usually occur, sometimes a child has a problem only with the structure of the brain and at other times, a child has a problem only with the function of the brain. All problems with the brain can range from mild to very serious. When a child is diagnosed with Septo Optic Dysplasia he or she will undergo a number of evaluations and brain function tests (neurologic tests). A brain specialist (Neurologist) can look at the brain structure through the use of CT (computerized tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). After these tests are performed your doctor should be able to tell if there are major problems with the brain structure.
However, doctors cannot always predict if a child will or will not have problems with brain function. When a child is less than 3-4 years of age, it is often difficult to predict future brain functions such as speech, intelligence and learning. It is sometimes difficult to assess the brain function and overall development of a child with poor vision. Visually impaired children must be taught and tested in ways that are different than children who are not visually impaired. Be sure that your child is tested and treated by professionals who have experience working with children with poor vision. Testing to determine how you child is developing and to screen for learning problems can be done by specialists such as: pediatricians, psychologists, occupational therapists (OT's), speech therapists (SP's), physical therapists (PT's) and teachers of the visually impaired (VI's). Testing can be done in several different settings including your own home, schools, hospitals, or other clinical settings.
Contributing Medical Specialists
Francine R. Kauffman, MD, Endocrinology & Metabolism Director,
Comprehensive Childhood Diabetes Center,
Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, California
Neal Kauffman, MD, M.P.H.,
Director, Division of Academic Primary Care Pediatrics,
Chairholder, Guess?/Fashion Industries,
Guild Chair in Community Child Health,
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,
Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health, UCLA Schools of Medicine and Public Health
More information can be found here
