son had to leave college after 4 weeks

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He loved it, was social, in the right school, roommates were great etc etc. Started getting visual disturbances, confuse and headaches which interfered with getting assignments completed, and after a few weeks he gradually experienced them more often and I signed him out on medical withdrawal. He saw a neurologist at home who says they are auras with migraines. He wants to go back to school in January, so we only have til Nov. 15th to reenroll him. MRI and bloodwork will be on Wednesday. He is acting totally normal except for just now when I asked him to tell me what he wa able to find out about some treatment suggestions by googling and all of a sudden - a bad headache came on.

He has lost this year's merit award, most of the first semester tuition, an another small scholarship. 600mg of ibuprofen that the neurologist suggested does not help.

I need suggestions for what to do next? We only have a month to decide!

So, the headache came on when he was googling?
This sounds like a form of epillepsy to me, triggered by the flickering of computer screens.

If this is the case, perhaps try different types of screens (LCD, plasma, LED, CRT, OLED) as wel as "irlen" overlays, which change the hue of the screen and reduce visible flicker. That might work

I don't think he was googling when the headache came on in the example I gave, but overnight I did research Irlen Syndrome and I think that totally fits his symptoms. I just don't know if it can come on at 18 when he never had these symptoms before. But he always kept his contrast on his devices so low that I could never see the print, and always read books with the lights off. Although the lighting never was needed to be adjusted in general before - not at home, in school, what have you. However, I have already contacted a center not far from me and already received a response (in the middle of the night! An insomniac like me responded immediately!!) So I am definitely going to follow up immediately with that. It makes total sense and hopefully it will be the answer!! ! Fingers crossed!

I spent time googling Irlen Syndrome and it totally fits!! I am very hopeful that that is the issue and we have an appt. with a leader in the field in a week. He had always used devices with such low contrast that I could never see the words, and didn't mind reading with hardly any overhead light. That's not to say that he never used overhead lights!

He spent 2 summer academic camps at this school and was doing fine initially in his classes and was doing great socially. He had accommodations, and multiple support opportunities.

I am thrilled to have this appt. next week and if we're right, tinted lenses should alleviate the issues!! Our provider is a leader in the field and happens to be in my husband's hometown, so DS will be visiting with his grampa for a few days!

I will update you after the appt. Fingers crossed!

I hope you find out what the issue is soon, accomodations will help greatly, if you make the right ones.

Irlen is easily accomodated for (like printing exams on colored paper), so if this is indeed the issue, you can consider the academic problems gone in weeks.

The mentiones of reading in "darkness" make it seem like this is the problem indeed, i also prefer to read with no overhead lights, reflections on paper are partially blinding, so non-shiny, yellow paper fixed the problem there (and polarized glasses for those times where glossy-white was the only option)

Maybe go to a doctor and get checked about the headaches when reading.
There is not much evidence for Irlen syndrome being a real thing rather than a bunch of different issues lumped together to sell Irlen lenses, for which there is also not much evidence that they do anything.

btbnnyr, we've got many doctor appointments - thanks. I realize Irlen Syndrome is controversial, but just like my work as a speech pathologist, we see certain auditory sensory type programs work for many people - and still there are those who like say they don't have any evidence that they work. I am a firm believer that these type of solutions aren't necessarily going to work for everyone, and not every type of program is the panacea for anyone's full set of issues. However, I have seen enough individual cases where people are responsive. I am optimistic - if it works, we'll know pretty quickly. If it doesn't, then we will look for other solutions. It makes perfect sense to me!

Why did the doctor just give him ibruprofen? He should have gotten sumatriptan (Imitrex). It's generic now, and cheap. If he's having migraines they take them away like magic. If they're not true migraines they won't do anything and so migraines can be ruled out. I would take him to a different doctor. Sometimes migraines are underdiagnosed in men because they're not as common as for women.

Yesterday at the followup appt, after determining that ibuprofin did not work, she did order the triptan med to try, so we will try it - I appreciate your thoughtful input, SocofAutism!! !

Follow-up post: DS had his Irlen screening and most of the diagnostics today - he definitely has Irlen and my husband and I were both tearful with joy at this conclusion. He fatigued during the appointment - having been there for 3 hours, so will return tomorrow for a shorter session to finish up and determine his tint color for his lenses. He is also being treated for increased mucosal lining of his maxillary and temporal sinuses, which may be a 2nd issue. I am also going to get him seen by an ENT and Allergist asap.

Thank you to anyone who made the suggestion of Irlen. I may also become a certified screener, as it relates to some the work I do as a speech language pathologist.

Update: DS has been back at school for a month with his Irlen lenses and performing without any of the initial issues that led to his withdrawal from college! However, I have no idea how he's really doing except he thinks he's passing classes so far. He's always too busy studying to talk - we get a few text exchanges once or twice a week.

I have since become an Irlen screener and have already found this in several of my current patients and in some of their parents, and I seem to be attracting new ones too! I have at least 4 severe cases discovered by the screening. Absolutely amazing!

Thanks again to those of you who suggested Irlen Filters!!