Apr 24, 2009

Color Vision Deficiency

or color blindness. We confirmed today that Gavin is in deed color blind. He was tested at 5 years old and we were fairly certain then, but waited to be 100% sure of the diagnosis with re-testing a year later.

His pediatrician went through the Ishihara color test with him.



He failed to see even one digit or path aside from the control. It looks like my X chromosome carried down this genetic red-green colorblindness. 2 of my Mother's brothers are color blind.

The colors of the rainbow as viewed by a person with no color vision deficiencies...


How Gavin sees color...


It's very interesting how Gavin has trained himself to correctly identify colors. He has connected the shade that he sees to the correct color term. When colors become a bit ambiguous (like paperless crayons or different shades of a color) is where he has trouble. His teacher told me that he has also figured out how to read the color words on crayons.

It's a little sad to know that he will never see things in a normal way, but I guess we have to realize that this is normal to him.

7 comments:

T- said...

Wow. Poor dude at not being able to see normal colors. I couldn't imagine.

Heather said...

I know several men that are color blind. It would kill me not to be able to see PURPLE and red. Poor little man!

~LL~ said...

My daddy is color blind....blue/green issues. He barely got into the service. LOL! I wonder if any of my boys have issues. Isn't it weird the things that can plague men, but not women? Yet we carry it? hmmmmm....

My daddy was a preacher, and when my mother was gone, I would have to match his clothes. If we were both gone, we would tie matching ensembles with twisty ties. LOL!

Happy Elf Mom (Christine) said...

Ok, I'm guessing red isn't his favourite colour... Poor Gavin, I said to bring me the MAUVE towel!!

Heidi said...

Tahd's color blind. He does remarkably well with it. His grandfather is color blind, and was actually an electrical engineer (who needs to be able to decipher wire colors to make the correct connections). They both have developed good coping strategies, and for the most part, Tahd can always tell colors unless there is a tightly patterned fabric with reds, browns, and greens in it.

The biggest disappointment was that Tahd wanted to get into law enforcement. They don't take color blind people. So maybe if Gavin starts heading down that road, you can steer him elsewhere early to save him some disappointment.

TC said...

Well, isn't he smart to figure these things out!

heidi said...

Aww, that sucks. :-(