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According to the Optometrist’s Network, there are a disturbing amount of children who have been misdiagnosed with a variety of different learning disabilities. Often, medication or remedial education is recommended, until someone knowledgeable about functional vision problems steer parents toward an evaluation by a qualified developmental optometrist. In many cases, it is not a learning disability that has been plaguing these children, but a functional vision problem.

When advised of this, parents have implemented vision therapy in conjunction with home vision therapy with great success. The testimonials received have affirmed when a functional vision problem is corrected, many times children previously diagnosed with a learning disability have improved and even excelled in their class, completing homework and reading at a level that until now, had been out of reach.

The frustration for both parents and students can be quite stressful and even life-changing. Doug and his parents struggled for years with his reading problems, until evaluated by a specialist in developmental vision problems. He was diagnosed with functional vision problems and treated with vision therapy, and his parents are overjoyed at the changes. “Vision Therapy has changed our lives”, says Jane Mortenson, Doug’s mother. “With the functional vision problem corrected, it gave us a foundation on which to start remedying the learning skills Doug had missed along the way.” Doug is now taking college prep courses and doing great.

Over and over, parents have described the frustration level of their children, affecting the entire family and inspiring fear their child will be labeled as having a learning disability, which could affect a child’s entire educational career. They describe children who are angry, surly, and struggling with tasks so easy for their peers. When properly diagnosed with a functional vision problem and vision therapy is implemented, the improvement has been impressive and a big relief.

“When Alyson was initially evaluated for Vision Therapy, she was not reading for pleasure at all; it was too frustrating, slow, and straining to her eyes. She felt she was “not smart enough.” She also had regular headaches,” says Patty Seitz Butter, Alyson’s parent. “Alyson noted improvement in her reading ability from early on in her Vision Therapy program. By the end, she was truly enjoying it! Her writing, spelling, and self-esteem all improved!” The only regret Patty has, she said, is they didn’t start vision therapy sooner.

It is difficult for a parent to fight a learning disabled diagnosis from the experts. However, unless the evaluation has included a thorough examination for functional visual problems, it may be a good idea to ask more questions and seek better answers than a misdiagnosis of a learning disability and inappropriate treatment. Vision therapy under the supervision of a qualified specialist in conjunction with home vision therapy can make a huge difference in the life of a child – and the whole family.

Reasonably good, if not perfect, vision is indispensable to success in every facet of one’s life. Unfortunately, there is a significantly large number of people who suffer from one form of vision problem or another.

Vision therapy is prescribed because certain vision problems cannot be completely resolved by the use of contact lenses or glasses alone. This is why a sustained program of vision therapy is an effective alternative and one that is highly recommended by qualified optometrists today.

Understanding Vision Therapy

Vision therapy is basically a progressive, in-office or at-home program that is specifically designed to address perceptual-cognitive and/or visual-motor deficiencies in people affected by various vision problems. Vision therapy sessions are tailored to an individual’s specific vision problem and supervised by highly qualified developmental optometrists. However, to determine whether or not a candidate requires vision therapy, the first step taken is a comprehensive examination and evaluation carried out by a qualified developmental optometrist.

What Vision Therapy Involves

In –office vision therapy sessions are held in an office, under close supervision and monitoring of a qualified developmental optometrist with each lasting for approximately an hour. These sessions are held on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. However, the total duration of a vision therapy program is dependent on the specific nature of each case and can extend from a number of months to more than a year.

A typical vision therapy session involves the following:
• A series of in-office/at-home eye exercises and vision-improving/enhancing techniques and skills
• Highly advanced computer software programs
• Optical filters
• Goggles and eye patches
• Visual-motor-sensory integration training

However, the use of some advanced optical devices involved in a vision therapy session is regulated, among them:

• Prism lenses
• Corrective lenses
• Therapeutic lenses

To reinforce the visual skills acquired during vision therapy sessions, vision therapists prescribe supplementary vision-improvement techniques and exercises that must be practiced at home, specifically, during the period between office visits.

Benefits of Vision Therapy

In addition, vision therapy sessions are specifically designed to augment the brain’s capability to facilitate control; over common vision problems. This is achieved through a program of visual exercises and technique which deliver benefits that include:

• Maintaining precise eye alignment
• Improving all-round eye movement
• Augmenting focusing ability
• Raising visual processing ability
• Facilitating overall visual efficiency, comfort and ease

Candidates for Vision Therapy

Vision therapy does not target any particular age group because vision problems are a common occurrence among all groups of people – young children, adults and the elderly. Vision therapy is highly effective because of its proven ability to treat a diverse range of vision problems that different people face. Some of the main vision problems that afflict both children and adults and which can be treated effectively through vision therapy sessions include:

• Vision impairment or “lazy eye”(Amblyopia)
• Abnormal alignment in one or both eyes (Strabismus)
• Visual problems induced by stress.
• Vision problems caused by nature of work or environmental conditions
• Learning-related visual deficiencies
• Improper binocular coordination (eye teaming)

While vision therapy can, to a great extent, treat and cure many vision problems, it is imperative to seek optometric attention as soon as you experience some form of visual difficulty. The consequences of neglect can be substantial in physical, economic and social terms. In most cases, early intervention through vision therapy can indeed save one of the most precious gifts given to you … the gift of vision.

For a wealth of information on vision therapy, www.visual-dynamix.com is a great place to start.

Not too long ago, medical experts ruled out any link between vision-related problems and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – ADHD. However, extensive research over the years has revealed that there is indeed a close and oftentimes overlapping link between the two. In fact, recent studies indicate a 3-fold increase in the incidence of Convergence Insufficiency involving children diagnosed with ADHD, and even ADD – Attention Deficit Disorder. Since the association between vision problems and ADHD / ADD was established, children now examined for the latter two disorders often undergo a mandatory eye test as part of the examination.

To better understand the correlation between convergence insufficiency and ADHD / ADD, it would help to learn a little more about each of these treatable, disorders … read on.

What is meant by the term Convergence Insufficiency?

Convergence insufficiency is one the most common vision disorders which greatly impedes a patient’s reading and learning abilities. It occurs when both eyes fail to work in unison in the manner they are required to, especially when reading at a normally accepted distance. Convergence insufficiency affects both adults and children alike. However, what’s alarming, is the fact that 1 out of 20 school-age children suffer from convergence insufficiency – the focus of a recent nationwide study, financed and conducted by the Nation Eye Institute (NEI) and the National Institute of Health (NIH).

What are the symptoms of Convergence Insufficiency?

There are several symptoms of Convergence Insufficiency, some of which are often confused with those of ADHD and ADD. Here are the main symptoms to look for.

• Eyestrain (asthenopia)
• Double vision (diplopia)
• Blurred vision
• Periodic headaches
• Squinting and eyestrain
• Irritability
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Inability to concentrate
• Low self esteem
• Low attention span

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as the name suggests describes different behavioral traits found in many children. Such traits can often be seen in children who seldom sit still, struggle to pay attention to instructions and respond with loud, inappropriate verbiage when corrected. While most people would label such children as plain naughty or undisciplined, more often than not, the cause of their abnormal behavior could be ADHD or ADD.

What are the main symptoms of ADHD / ADD?

ADHD and ADD have 3 basic characteristics, i.e. hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. The symptoms of both will depend on which of the following 3 characteristics a particular child demonstrates:

• The child is hyperactive and impulsive with the ability to pay attention.
• The child is inattentive, but neither hyperactive nor impulsive.
• The child displays all 3 characteristics – inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (the most common symptoms of ADHD / ADD).

It is now an accepted fact that ADHD and ADD have a close correlation with convergence insufficiency as well as other vision-related problems. Therefore, if your child experiences some form of discomfort during reading, or displays abnormally hyperactive patterns of behavior, have him or her evaluated immediately for convergence insufficiency.

For more info on Convergence Insufficiency and ADHD / ADD, set your sights on www.visual-dynamix.com.

For almost 20 years I have been working as a developmental

optometrist in Minneapolis directing the Minnesota Vision Therapy Center (MVTC) – one of the most successful vision therapy practices in the nation. I’ve heard thousands of wonderful stories from former clients about how much vision therapy changed their life or the life of their child, and that is very rewarding.  Many of these individuals were diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, learning disabilities, and other labels before they solved their learning-related visual problems (LRVP) through vision therapy and eliminated the symptoms that generate these labels.

This blog and my new website (www.visual-dynamix.com) have been developed to discuss these stories as well as answer your questions, talk about functional vision in general, and hear your comments about your experiences with vision therapy.

I’ll be back next week to discuss primitive reflexes and how they can cause all kinds of problems if they are retained. Later you will see blogs on visual development of young children as well as lots of comments about learning-related visual problems, visual learning, vision and sports, and many other interesting a fun topics.

I’ll see you there!