I just wonder if anyone has any information or experience with NovaVision. My husband has no peripheral vision on his right side since his rupture. He has shown improvement on the left side but the eye specialist say his loss is most likely permanent. NovaVision is expensive and I just wondered if its really an option. Also, does anyone else with vision loss ever regain the ability to drive? I'm really praying that my husband will be able to again. Thanks for any input on any vision challenges.
Survivor's wife...
I have not had NovaVision...I did have 14 months of vision therapy...beginning 22 months s/p treatments/discharge...including two major f/u angios... Yes, I have my driver license - much below...
I-had-lost-reading-comprehension-...and could-read-each-word...tho I could not have told you what I read and/or what it meant. When one word intrigued some old memory, I saved the article, newspaper or magazine...and, I have not yet been able to complete/delete my decade of accumulated squalor..
RE: vision therapy; there was a one hour session weekly...and, instructions for daily "homework"...
If I could not comprehend those the next day I'd call for attempted re-direction; and, they knew when to tell me to retreat to the prior week...for retraining...each was one step...
I do not know (and possibly you do not know clearly...if hubs can read/comprehend?)...If not, select some things for him to read to you...for your/his judgment in how you / he proceed ...After he has read, start some conversation of it...and, attempt to "sense" if he reads/comprehends ...and, remembers. You may have done all this already...
In daily living, spouses usually share everything in some form/subjects of high interest...the news...the newspapers, tv, internet...and, you will likely have your judgment on that already...
There are numerous pieces of our brain in that central base area ...which is also the "access" area of arteries to get into our brain... and, in that course from the groin...it comes up the aorta, to the aortic arch, where (typically) three main branches supply blood from the aorta/heart to our neck and on up in the brain and/or other areas/limbs/lungs...whatever else.
Did the doctor(s) you have discussed this with...explained which cranial nerves are related to the vision portions affected?
In the 'category' of resources there is Visual pathways ...a list of the cranial nerves related to our vision...eye control...from the retina to the various muscles...which may help in asking questions of the docs and, or your own research online to better understand.. .
I will note more later on driving...and other factors so intertwined...and, which all overlap.. .
Same w/hearing...Has he had his tested? (I am memory blanking) on an auditory portion name that is close behind our vision portions behind our eye ..I will note that also...later...
P.S...one thing I meant to note: hemianopsia (or is this a duplicate?) ..
search it online: Loyola Univisesity Middle Cerebra Artery
" hemianopsia
There data is easy to read...see graphs of the diff parts...IF, they are updating something, a portion may not be readily available..
But can search also: heminaopsia anatomy and physiology and/or
middle cerebral artery anatomy and physiology
To view other sites...
I am so slow at getting done ...somewhere in my new(er) stack...I have an image which displays the auditory area (maybe right word to search?) ...as right now I am not able to forward a website for it...that sooo impressed me..
Once more....Auditory Cortex ...
The gyri of Heschl and adjoining area of the superior temporal gyrus form the primary auditory cortex.
It is behind the eye...and the vestibulocochlear cranial nerve (CN VIII)... essentially at the connection of the top of the temporal lobe (superior ) and the lower portion of the frontal lobe. The "section" between the lobes is commonly called the sylvian fissure (aka lateral sulcus...)
The cochlear portion of CN 8 relates to hearing...
The vestibulo portion of CN 8 relates to balance...
A reason I have been so entrenched in pursuing brain data...is because...we are not given much of it...
and, we get the varied terms...like the one above...fissure and/or sulcus...
I was given the extensive hearing tests...by a neurotologist... and, I will skip most of it.
but the records note "sensory neural hearing" which can be researched online...
I am not all thru w/what I have been working on...I had begun the auditory long back...when I still could not read/comprehend or remember..
Yes, I had regained my reading - comprehension...I am yet not near normalcy...
In some months I will be back in for my neuropsych testing update...to help guide which direction I need...(and may be able to benefit from???)
Patioplans,
Thanks so much for all your information. The terminology is over-whelming. I'll look into it. My husbands comprehension is pretty good. He has alexia without agraphia...which means he can spell and write words but can't read them. He's working hard on re-learning to read. It's slow and very hard but he's making progress. We go to speech therapy twice a week. I'm glad that you have recovered your reading and comprehension. That's huge! My husbands hearing is fine. Just vision- no peripheral vision on the right side. (rupture was on his left).
Once more....Auditory Cortex ...
The gyri of Heschl and adjoining area of the superior temporal gyrus form the primary auditory cortex.
It is behind the eye...and the vestibulocochlear cranial nerve (CN VIII)... essentially at the connection of the top of the temporal lobe (superior ) and the lower portion of the frontal lobe. The "section" between the lobes is commonly called the sylvian fissure (aka lateral sulcus...)
The cochlear portion of CN 8 relates to hearing...
The vestibulo portion of CN 8 relates to balance...
A reason I have been so entrenched in pursuing brain data...is because...we are not given much of it...
and, we get the varied terms...like the one above...fissure and/or sulcus...
I was given the extensive hearing tests...by a neurotologist... and, I will skip most of it.
but the records note "sensory neural hearing" which can be researched online...
I am not all thru w/what I have been working on...I had begun the auditory long back...when I still could not read/comprehend or remember..
Yes, I had regained my reading - comprehension...I am yet not near normalcy...
In some months I will be back in for my neuropsych testing update...to help guide which direction I need...(and may be able to benefit from???)
Survivor's Wife...
I have been working on data on our Temporal Lobe... our main area...(tho other lobes/.their structures are so interrelated)
A website:
www.aiimsnets.org/...General/Temporal%20Lobe%Anatomy.pdf
it should work...if my typing/proofing is clear...and, read,
It is in "presentation" format...easy to read compared to most story-formats...
between the pages (which have 2-4 sentences in large basic print...easy to read except some terms I set up in a glossary for me in my reading/typing/storing...
They also have graphs (drafts?) at varying portions (pages) of the temp lobe...w/names of all those sections/structures...
I wish I had found/knew of this site years prior...the "power point" type format is so easy vs those websites in story format...So hope you will glance at it...One thing...is there is reference to the language area... which includes visual and auditory and their interactions...and close proximity...
"Brodmann" is a long-time (history) mapping of the brain by #...so Area 41/42 relate to the one I have been so committed...to learn...
You/hubby are blessed if he does no have hearing loss...and initially I'd not have known I did...and, I know a few others of us who have also experienced it...
When you find time to browse the site...would so appreciate/cherish your giving your opinion on how it is put together on the temporal lobe... When, any of us are in recovery...depending on status, it was even difficult to identify/describe symptoms...and family/friends to not challenge answers of questions to the doctors... Some are blessed to have it...
Survivor’s Wife, I have never heard of NovaVision. I will have to research it, thank you.
I have peripheral vision loss, photophobia and some higher occipital lobe damage. In my State, NC, I am allowed to drive. Some states don’t allow driving for awhile after an SAH. My loss did improve but it’s not perfect, and I know where I can drive and where it’s just too much for me, country vs city. I stay off I40 and all the other freeways, even as a passenger it scares me to have a car suddenly appear. I stick to the two lanes and in areas of deer, I drive a little slower. I also don’t drive after dark. The car lights really hurt even now. My doctor advised me not to drive until I was comfortable as a passenger. I’m very lucky in some aspects to live in a small town in a rural area. I can get to most places I need to go. Also I don’t drive when school buses are on the road. I limit myself because driving is a privilege to me.
One of my biggest days was driving the new dog to our vet of twenty years. The vet is about 18 miles from us. Ok, they had me stay in the office until I calmed down and that seems to be her rule now. I think it was almost a year after rupture that I took that drive. I have to call them and tell them I’m heading their way, text partner when I get there and reverse the process on the way home. They all let me bring Ohana for the occasional bath. Tub is high and I don’t have to bend. One day I hope to be able to walk the dogs that stay there, but for now walking my own is enough.
I was able to go to Speech Therapy, but the hospital is only three miles away and I can get there on the back roads. But even with my self set limits, my aphasia worsens as does my tremor when I drive. I definitely won’t be playing poker, lol. Hope this helps.
My partner has to take me to see my Neurosurgeon and now the new SLP because we have to take the freeway.
Moltroub,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. It gives me hope! I know that my husband may never drive on the interstate again, but we do live in a smaller city and I think he'd do fine. We have to see a rehab driving instructor to get the release to drive. My husband has driven some...without my consent! lol He showed up at my job on day just smiling. Thankfully it is all back roads to my job. I know this is a HUGE thing for him and having the hope of driving again is very important. I'm happy for you and all that you've been able to do. Thanks!
Moltroub said:
Survivor's Wife, I have never heard of NovaVision. I will have to research it, thank you.
I have peripheral vision loss, photophobia and some higher occipital lobe damage. In my State, NC, I am allowed to drive. Some states don't allow driving for awhile after an SAH. My loss did improve but it's not perfect, and I know where I can drive and where it's just too much for me, country vs city. I stay off I40 and all the other freeways, even as a passenger it scares me to have a car suddenly appear. I stick to the two lanes and in areas of deer, I drive a little slower. I also don't drive after dark. The car lights really hurt even now. My doctor advised me not to drive until I was comfortable as a passenger. I'm very lucky in some aspects to live in a small town in a rural area. I can get to most places I need to go. Also I don't drive when school buses are on the road. I limit myself because driving is a privilege to me.
One of my biggest days was driving the new dog to our vet of twenty years. The vet is about 18 miles from us. Ok, they had me stay in the office until I calmed down and that seems to be her rule now. I think it was almost a year after rupture that I took that drive. I have to call them and tell them I'm heading their way, text partner when I get there and reverse the process on the way home. They all let me bring Ohana for the occasional bath. Tub is high and I don't have to bend. One day I hope to be able to walk the dogs that stay there, but for now walking my own is enough.
I was able to go to Speech Therapy, but the hospital is only three miles away and I can get there on the back roads. But even with my self set limits, my aphasia worsens as does my tremor when I drive. I definitely won't be playing poker, lol. Hope this helps.
My partner has to take me to see my Neurosurgeon and now the new SLP because we have to take the freeway.