My son (R) is 30 years old and was diagnosed as having Asperger’s Syndrome when he was about 5 years old. He also was also identified as having soft muscle tone and proprio sensory disorder. Just over a year ago he had a routine eye test and the optician referred him to hospital for further tests. At the time they said that there was a possible, slight problem of glaucoma and wanted to leave it a year and repeat the tests to see if the problem had progressed. Earlier this month he was called for the repeat tests. Shortly after that he was called back to hospital for further tests. Last week he was called back for another set of tests.
Glaucoma is serious as it can lead to loss of sight in the long term if not treated. Treatment cannot reverse the effects, but can stop them from progressing.
I sat in on all the tests and, when it seemed appropriate, pointed out how his conditions might be affecting the tests. Some of the testers responded positively, for example trying out different ways to communicate what was needed. Others appeared to ignore what I was saying.
One of them, when I said R had Asperger’s Syndrome replied: “What’s that?” and then tried to look it up on her mobile phone, as I explained. Despite this, she decided that the problem with the test was that R was “not concentrating”.
This despite the fact that we had completed a long “Check-in” form in which I detailed his conditions and the possible impact of this on the tests.
In various tests R was asked to keep his eyes wide open while they did things that involved touching his face with their fingers or with bits of equipment. This caused him real difficulties. Some of them responded positively and found other ways of doing things. Others did not. In one case I suggested that R held his eye open with his own fingers and that did help on that occasion.
After all that, the last thing we were told was that R will be invited back for more tests.
I am now at a loss to know what to do to get a diagnosis carried out in a manner that meets R’s specific requirements.
Any advice or information about glaucoma and autism or Asperger’s syndrome will be much appreciated.