If you think that being colorblind is a rare phenomena in humans, then you may not catch the warning signs that your child is colorblind. As many as 8-percent of all men and .5-percent of women today suffer from color vision deficiency, which is the clinical name for being colorblind. While most cases are inherited, many hereditary disorders skip generations, and you may not be aware that you had a color-blind great-grandparent or other ancestor. Here is a guide to why it is important to determine if your child is colorblind at an early age and a few of the first signs that your child may have this disorder.
Why Early Colorblind Detection is Important
While colorblind adults you may know have likely learned to live just as happily with their disorder than without, children who are color blind may first be suspected to have learning difficulties. This can occur when your child is learning the names of colors and doesn't seem to "get it." This can lead to unneeded stress and worry that your child may have learning problems when the true source of this problem is color vision deficiency.
Also, some forms of colorblindness can be managed with special tinted glasses prescribed by your ophthalmologist. The sooner your child is diagnosed, the sooner he or she can begin wearing the lenses.
Early Warning Signs That a Child is Colorblind
Red-green color vision deficiency is the most common type of colorblindness, but there are other types to watch out for, including tritanopia, which is blue-yellow colorblindness and monochromacy, which results in gray-scale vision (this type is very rare). There is a great online tool that lets you see objects as if you were color-blind.
Here are some signs that your child may be suffering from some form of color vision deficiency:
Once you suspect that your child may be color-blind, your ophthalmologist can perform tests to determine if your child is suffering from vision color deficiency and what type. You can work together to determine just what visual intervention is needed, if any, and begin working on helping your child adapt to his or her disorder.
For more information, contact Cripe Stephens & Stickel or a similar organization.
Share20 October 2015
Growing up, one of my best friends was also my cousin. This special cousin and I shared something in common. We both had fiery red hair. When we were kids, many people thought we were sisters when they saw us together. Sadly, my cousin was born with crossed eyes, and because of her condition, she was often ridiculed by the other kids at school. As we grew older we began researching modern ways to correct her problem. Together we found the perfect solution. If you were born with crossed eyes, don’t despair. You do have hope. On this blog, you will discover the latest treatments optometrists use to help cure a patient’s crossed eyes.