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If you've noticed a difference after omega supplements, can I ask a question please?

5 replies

moosemama · 14/04/2011 15:51

So, ds1 started taking the veggie omega and dha supplements just under a month ago. I had a thread a week or so ago about how I felt there had been a positive effect on us all, not just ds1 from taking them.

He seems happier (as in less despondent and anxious about anything and everything) is sleeping much, much better and is more sort of 'here' than spacey, which you would think is a good thing - but ... I don't think he's handling it well. He seems to have completely lost the ability to tune the world out and is getting really irritated by noise and movement around him, especially because its stopping him from being able to read.

Ordinarily, he can immerse himself in a book and forget the world exists and this is how he destresses and is a bit like his safe place. I get the feeling from him that now he can't find anywhere to escape to.

Apart from him now constantly telling his brother and sister off for making a noise while he's reading so he can't concentrat, he has been telling me that he just can't take anything he reads in. He says its like he gets to the end of the sentence and hasn't actually absorbed one word of it - so he is having to go back and re-read things several times and even then still isn't taking it in.

The end result is that my boy, who was previously never seen without his nose in a book, has just stopped reading. He had the new Beast Quest series and a subscription to Nintendo magazine for his birthday last Sunday and hasn't read any of them. Today a back issue, special edition of Nintendo Magazine all about Pokemon Black and White arrived and he hasn't even tried to read it. He's pretty upset about it and I don't know what to suggest.

This morning I asked him to read out loud to me and he did say it went in a little better, but he hates reading out loud and its not feasible for him to do it all the time, especially as he uses his books as his escape from the world. He used to be able to sit in a room with his brother watching tv and his sister playing noisy games and still be able to lose himself in a book. This morning he exploded at his brother for counting something in the same room as him while he was trying to read. Sad

Could it be the omega supplements that are causing it? I was wondering if they have woken him up a bit and brought him more into our world and now he can't adjust to all the noise, movement and activity etc around him that he was previously oblivious to.

If it is that, am I best to persist with the supplements and hope he adjusts over time, or am I being cruel by doing that?

The only other thing I can think of is whether its to do with his eyesight again. We haven't had his appointment for the eye clinic through yet, but I was wondering whether it could be some sort of worsening of his visual problems, which are making it harder for him to concentrate, so that the effort of reading is superceding the comprehension of what he's actually reading, iysqwim.

I am so worried about him, not only has he stalled in maths and literature at school, he's now not reading, which was at least one way that he was able to still learn and progress.

Any ideas?

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EllenJane1 · 14/04/2011 16:16

Sorry moose. I had nothing but positive results. My DS is hypo-sensitive, however, generally to all sensory stuff (except hot food!) Perhaps ear defenders or just comfy earphones? It does sound like his hypersensitivity is being affected somehow. Might not be the omega oils?

Triggles · 14/04/2011 16:48

We've had positive results with DS2. I will admit he's had more meltdowns lately, but not sure if it's related or not. He's been ill as well, and between that and starting on inhalers for his asthma, he's been a bit off-kilter recently.

If it is the noise bothering him when he is trying to read, I'd second the suggestion of ear defenders maybe.

It does seem like a double edged sword, doesn't it? Confused

zzzzz · 14/04/2011 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

moosemama · 14/04/2011 17:37

Thanks Ellen and Triggles, I hadn't thought of his ear defenders, he's only ever needed them for really loud stuff like fireworks and drag racing in he past. Worth a try.

zzzzz, its the sudden change from being able to devour a book in the middle of the equivalent of piccadilly circus, to not being able to ignore even slight distractions that's worrying me.

Have just asked him and he says he can't even take in what he's read if he reads on his bed, alone in his room. So am now thinking it might not be the noise after all. Perhaps the visual problems are a more likely culprit after all. Confused

He's just picked up his special edition mag, so I'm going to quietly observe what happens and see if I can pick up on anything. I've noticed so far that he's holding it a lot closer than he normally would.

His actual sight is fine though - he had his vision checked in December and has better than 20/20 vision - but very poor convergence and binocular vision. Since then he's had the weird visual interference problem, but he gradually learned to tune that out and says he doesn't see the spots anymore.

I wish I knew what to do to help him. If he doesn't get some reading/down time soon he's going to end up having one helluva meltdown. I can see the stress building up in him.

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moosemama · 14/04/2011 17:37

Oh sorry, zzzzz, he was 9 last Sunday. Smile

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