Hypolasia of the Corpus Callosum (Thin Corpus Callosum) -- any neurologists out there?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone out there have this? The corpus callosum is the bundle of fibers in the middle of the brain that connects the two hemispheres. My DD has a complete CC but its thin - not super thin but noticeably thin on the MRI. As far as I can tell there's not a lot of information out there about this, or outcomes. It seems all over the map. My DD is 5.5 -- she is bright, she was reading fluently at 4, she hit milestones on time but has social pragmatic language problems and some other issues all related to speech and behavior. Its hard to hear about this kind of structural abnormality because I will never know -- are certain behaviors because of a thin cc or just typical for her age, or I don't know whether this is something that is serious enough to reset expectations. I am all over the map emotionally about this.

[Anonymous]

Never reset expectations. I have a son on the autistic spectrum who has continuously exceeded expectations. I think the key is not to think globally about the whole thing but focus on what her needs are, and the successes. try to change the things that can be changed and accept what can't. Piece by piece. Work on pragmatics, behavior. Appreciate that she has academic skills.

[Anonymous]

I know how difficult this is. We struggle with it almost everyday - just what is the cause of DS's behavior, is it the ADHD, a sensory issue, fatigue, all of it? The PP has given very good advice. Do the best you can and expect your DD to do the same.

[Anonymous]

How was the thin CC diagnosed? Was is something picked up on ultrasound in utero, or you had a reason to have an MRI after birth?

[Anonymous]

OP here. It was picked up because of an MRI that was ordered after birth when DD had a seizure.

[Anonymous]

OP, are there other health/medical issues? It can be helpful to try to look at the whole, perhaps from a genetics perspective just to make sure that there aren't other structural abnormalities that it would be best to be aware of.

In terms of what to do in terms of interventions, it might be helpful to read about nonverbal learning disorders since it is similar. There was a very good book, I'll see if I can hunt up the title for you. I believe that music, as in learning to play an instrument, has been shown to thicken the corpus callosum, might be something to consider.

One other lense is that of energy. All kids with mito issues are thought to have a nonverbal learning profile, since they are lower on energy. Mito and metabolic issues can also cause seizures. Just something else to consider. Addressing my DC's underlying medical condition has really improved brain function and helped with things like pragmatics, much more so than just a lot of therapy ever did. In our case, DC's performance varied depending on the day and demands of the situation. No idea if that is the scase for you as well.

[Anonymous]

pp here, the toddler pushed enter

that would be "case"

Just to clarify, the variation in performance had to do with the energy available on a given day or the energy demands of a situation - 1 on 1 playdates were good, complex pretend play in a chaotic classroom was not, the processing demands were just too great.

OP, was it one seizure or are seizures an ongoing issue? That can have a big impact on development as well.

[Anonymous]

OP here. How do you test for mito issues and what do you do to address them? We had lots and lots of seizures that resolved with the removal of a brain tumor. We do lots of "alternative" although I think its actually more scientific than the mds I go to. I am not sure whether they've ever tested immune function or mito functioning. My DD's performance varies widely -- from totally conversant to overstimulated and withdrawn. From level and balanced to screaming and tantruming. Is it just playing music that may help strengthen the corpus callosum or is it listening to music as well? THANKS!

BTW, I need to look up non verbl learning disorders. i don't know anything about that.

[Anonymous]

PP here, will look for links and try to post them in the next day or so OP. We first started with pushing the ped to run a basic metabolic panel with a carnitine profile. The results were not horrible but everything was slightly off. I had done a lot of reading and emailing with other SN parents and one mom said that a forward back development pattern can be characteristic of mito since they progress when they have energy and fall back when they don't. For mito testing we've only done urine organic acids, some docs will also recommend skin or muscle biopsies or genetic testing. If it is mito, treatment is with a host of common vitamins/supplements called a "mito cocktail", many have to do with energy. For other metabolic issues, especially fatty acid oxidation disorders, diet is a huge part of treatment and it was life changing for my kids. Part of their variability had to do with lacking the enzymes to break down certain fats, which then build up. They also take several supplements that help with energy production in the body. Both mito and FOD disorders have a lot of neurological ramifications and changes in behavior or altered states of consciousness or seizures can be typical if untreated. For my kids language is especially impacted. One clue to me was that if they had had candy or a lollipop, ie a recent ready source of energy, they were chatty, otherwise they were frequently withdrawn. I think I read that your brain uses 70% of the energy for your body, so if there were basically rolling brownouts or blackouts it makes sense that brain performance would vary a lot.

I think that it was playing music, I'd have to go back and hunt for that link as well but I think the reading, feeling and playing use both sides of the brain at once. We have not had a diagnosis like yours but a dev ped recommended music lessons like suzuki or piano, he had seen a lot of benefit in patients.

[Anonymous]

22:53 here, here's a link about music OP, hope it is helpful

http://www.brams.umontreal.ca/plab/research/dossiers_vulgarisation/newsweek_musicmind/newsweek_musicmind.html?Story_ID=329414