Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

what age do they check for colour blindness?

15 replies

Nemo1977 · 26/01/2006 10:17

hi
probably worrying over nothing but ds 2.3yrs knows all his colours but have noticed he doesnt seem to be able to see red. If he is playing with blocks etc and we are doing colours he can tell you every one apart from red. If you ask him to find a red one he looks really confused and just cant seem to see it despite looking. Just wondered at what age they tested for colour blindness and what would be implications if he was?

OP posts:
BearintheBigBlueHouse · 26/01/2006 10:28

DS (2.3 too) confuses green and red sometimes, but not all the time and if he's aware we're 'testing' him he sometimes guesses the other one 'cause he thinks that's what we want to hear. I'm interested to know the answer to your question too.

nutcracker · 26/01/2006 10:28

I think it is when they have their eye test at about age 4 ish.

Not sure all areas do it anymore though.

GDG · 26/01/2006 10:31

I don't think they look at it till they are at least reception age. When ds1 had an eye test at about 3.5-4 I asked about it because we do have colour blindess in our family and he'd been getting blue and purple confused (my brother is colour blind and as well as the red/green/brown confusion, he mixes blue and purple as well). Anyway, they said they don't do it until later because it's hard to pick out the letters and numbers in the pictures and also they need to be able to know that if they can see a '4' that it is a '4' iyswim (they have to be able to recognise numbers adn letters!).

As far as implications go, well I don't think it really impacts them that much. I'm not aware that db had any issues at school with it and in fact, he's now a graphic designer!

I know that you cannot become a police officer or go into the forces though.

Original poster
Nemo1977 · 26/01/2006 10:33

bear at first i thought it was ds just being bored but he looked genuinely perplexed yesterday when we were doing the colours while building. Dh did it with him this morning too and he had the same problem.

nutty why do some areas not do it?

OP posts:
Original poster
Nemo1977 · 26/01/2006 10:35

thanks gdg

he does know numbers and letters but will obviously have to wait until he is older.

OP posts:
nutcracker · 26/01/2006 10:36

Well dd1 had it at 3 or 4, when she had an eye test at the health centre, but dd2 didn't have an eye test until school, so I think they may have stopped doing it before school in some places.

GDG · 26/01/2006 10:38

Nemo - yes, ds1 could but she just wouldn't do it.

I suppose it's not all that common so they wouldn't do it routinely and then by 5 it would be very apparent if they were still getting those colours mixed - then they could be tested if there was real suspicion. I suppose at 2-3 it could still just be confusing shades or whatever (I don't agree but I'm just trying to think of their reasoning!)

GDG · 26/01/2006 10:38

Nemo - yes, ds1 could but she just wouldn't do it.

I suppose it's not all that common so they wouldn't do it routinely and then by 5 it would be very apparent if they were still getting those colours mixed - then they could be tested if there was real suspicion. I suppose at 2-3 it could still just be confusing shades or whatever (I don't agree but I'm just trying to think of their reasoning!)

alexsmum · 26/01/2006 10:39

remember that colour blindness is passed down by the mother so if it's not on your side of the family it's unlikely.
my fil and his brothers are all colour blind and its so funny sometimes.fil looked at some horrible khaki coloured curtains once and told his wife they were the same colour as her hair.

geekgrrl · 26/01/2006 10:40

oh, I've just been to a governors' meeting where this was discussed and apparently it is very common? One in 10 boys has some degree of colour blindness they said.

The HV checks for it here at the pre-school check. You could ask yours to check early if you're concerned.

GDG · 26/01/2006 10:41

that's right - my Mum's dad has it and so does one of my brothers. I could be a carrier so there's a possiblity one of my 3 boys could have it but then again, I may not be a carrier at all!

Anteater · 26/01/2006 10:45

They found out I was colour blind when I painted my toy soldiers hair green aged 6

Original poster
Nemo1977 · 26/01/2006 10:47

just found an online test and he couldnt see the things a colourblind person wouldnt see..if that makes sense. I am not particularly over worried just want to know if that makes sense. Thing is I wouldnt know if it was in myt family as i know nothing about my fathers side of the family.I think my mums grandad was colour blind and her uncle was but will have to double check.Will see what hv says.

OP posts:
BearintheBigBlueHouse · 26/01/2006 10:51

where's the test Nemo1977 please

DW isn't colour blind, but her astigmatism means that greens sit back (I think) and reds leap out at her - she sees Ceefax in Imax-style 3D

Original poster
Nemo1977 · 26/01/2006 11:04

online test
obviously its not set in stone that it means he is colourblind..lol he may just be a manipulative 2 yr old picking up on my anxiety

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page