Side effects of a shunt

[Godknowsbest]

My son Chase is three and a half months with sb L5-S1, hydro, and a vp shunt. My question is: Does anyone have any experience with side effects of having a shunt? My son startles very easily, gets scared easily, etc. If I am holding him and I sneeze, he starts screaming, and is so hard to calm down. I have four other children, so our house is hardly quiet, and it's extremely hard to "tiptoe" around him. Is this common???

[LillyPie]

My daughter was the same way when she was smaller, I too have a house full of kids. She got used to most noises, now its just thunder and unexpected knocks at the door. When she was a a baby she would avoid everything she could by closing her eyes, even while awake, she would catch me looking at her and she would close her eyes. I always thought it was over stimulation but I understand now that it not the shunt, but an effect of Chiari II malformation. Hope as time goes by it gets better, it'll just take time to adjust to noises.

[Ziggy]

Micah was the same way until he was 10 or 11 months old, when I realized I could use the ice dispenser without him crying hysterically.

[jellolegs23]

Hi,

The inability to handle loud noises is actually caused by something called the Non-verbal Learning disability. The non-verbal Learning disability is caused by the Hydrocephalus.

A good a few good threads to look back on for more information about this are: Nonverbal Learning disability and Relationships started by me, Does anyone know started by Nataly, and Educational Issues among Children with SB started by Holly. You can also type in "nonverbal learning disability" into search on this website and it will take you to those threads.

This website may also be a bit of a help as well http://www.nldline.com/.

[cadon's mum]

My daughter always closed her eyes when she did'nt like something or someone, i always found it cute that she thought that if she could'nt see them they could'nt see her!! She does not have SB or Hydro. All four of my children have hated the vaccuum, Lawn mower and even sneezing!!! Iv'e always assumed it was just a baby thing.

[Dodger67]

Making things or people dissapear by closing eyes is definitely normal baby behavior. Its what makes peekaboo so much fun.

[georgie]

I dont know if it is due to the shunt but reading different comments and through various readings and research it doesnt sound uncommon. In general i read somewhere that such symptoms get better. I hope this helps its like the blind giving info to someone who has more experience.

[Summer25]

My mom was told when I was little that some of the noise and touch issues were due to the fact that when we are born our little nervous system is so messed up, that any little stimuli bothers us much worse then a "normal" child.

[LillyPie]

JelloLegs, you say;
"The inability to handle loud noises is actually caused by something called the Non-verbal Learning disability. The non-verbal Learning disability is caused by the Hydrocephalus."


OOOH, thanks for correcting me, I thought it was the chiari II... I knew it was something I had read on here and now that you say that, I do remember because I looked it up after you mentioned it.

None of my other 3 kids had nor have those symptoms, so its def related to hydro in Lillys case.

[Jill]

It's a developmental milestone to startle or awaken to sudden or loud noises. Should be happening by about 2 months of age. All my kids did/do it - sneezing, laughing, yelling (not that I ever do that ;)), even talking after a long silence.

[LillyPie]

Well, in Lillys case it continued past infancy and the toddler stage, and still now into her 5th year of life is terrified by loud noises, (as I mentioned before in a previous post) to the point of anxiety attacks. Her reaction to loud noises is NOT "normal" and never has been. I have 3 other kids that NEVER reacted the way she has, yes they startled at noises during infancy, but never reacted the way Lilly has for the last 5 1/2 years.

[Godknowsbest]

Lilly pie- I have to agree with you. Yes, I do understand that startling to loud noises as a baby is completely normal, but Chase's reaction to any noise is not normal! I have four other children, and none of them "loved" loud noises, but Chase is terrified! That leads me to my conclusion that this is not just a "baby thing, or even a "developmental milestone", but rather an effect of sb or hydro or something.

[Dodger67]

Look on the bright side - she's not likely to want to go to too many rock concerts! :Banane21:

[Godknowsbest]

That is true- never hurts to look on the bright side!!!!

[Summer25]

Look on the bright side - she's not likely to want to go to too many rock concerts! :Banane21:

Lol, actually so not true. I hated fireworks. I however, went to a TON of concerts. I would either wear ear plugs or just cover my ears when I was sure fireworks would go off. If you like a band, fireworks or loud music isn't going to keep you away. Atleast not me. By the age of 16 I had already gone to close to 100 concerts. It actually got me over my loudness fear.

[Jilleyann]

My daughter just turned 2 (May 27th) and we still struggle with her sensitivity...I remember the first time I vacuumed around her I didn't think anything of it until I looked over at her and her face was all red from screaming, now she cries when I pull it out...she cries when the dog barks, when a toy vibrates, or squeaks, when we bathe her...when anything startles her at all, which we never really know what will. At her birthday party yesterday she received an Elmo live encore doll, she LOVES elmo, when that thing opened his mouth and started talking, she FREAKED...I guess it doesn't help that I do tiptoe around her, I'll watch the tv muted with closed captions, etc. I have only been told that she might have a hyper sensitivity to noise and never really thought to relate it with her sb or hydro (she has mylo, huge hole, paralyzed, club feet, the works) She is smarter and talks more then most kids her age, able to sing barney songs and knew her abc's at 1, so I just don't worry too much that she's a sensitive Susy, I'm sure when she gets older and understands more, she won't cry at the vacuum, unless it's when she has to do it =P