Vision Therapy at Home

Vision therapy (or visual therapy) and visual learning programs are quickly gaining recognition because they have been proven effective in treating adults and children with vision and learning-related problems. Common vision-related problems are caused by a number of factors such as genetics, fatigue or even certain medications.  Learning problems are attributed to various factors as well and poor or impaired vision can play a key role.

The following information can demonstrate the difference between visual therapy and visual learning, while helping you gain a better understanding of both.

Are the two programs similar in any way?

Visual therapy and visual learning are two distinctly different programs, each with their own set of techniques and objectives.  Vision therapy deals with a patient’s entire visual system.  Specifically, neurological control system of the eyes, visual learning is a style of teaching and learning where candidates attempt to associate images and techniques with data, concepts and other pieces of information.

However, the common aspect that binds the two programs is that both impart vision-improving and visual learning skills and techniques and can be easily practiced at home. Of course, one can safely conclude that both therapies are complementary to one another.

Why are the two programs so important?

With millions of professionals and students spending several hours on the computer or doing other close-up work every day, the incidence of vision problems has dramatically risen around the world. Also the dramatic rise in the number of people living with dyslexia and other learning-related disabilities – significant causes of learning problems, especially among young children and teenagers.

Today, vision therapy and visual learning is prescribed by professional optometrists as the therapies of choice.  They can address both vision and learning problems with a great degree of success. This is precisely why the two programs are so important and why millions of people are turning to them for help.

What is involved in a vision therapy session?

In a vision therapy session, adults and children suffering with common vision-related problems are taught a variety of eye exercises under the supervision and monitoring of a professional optometrist. These exercises are simple and patients are strictly advised to reinforce the vision-improving skills and techniques they learn during such sessions by practicing them at home. A typical vision therapy session is held in an optometrist’s office once or twice a week, each lasting for about 30 minutes to an hour. The common vision problems that vision therapy address include – amblyopia (lazy eye); strabismus (crossed eyes); convergence insufficiency (double vision), and a variety of other non-acute eye disorders.

What has visual learning got to offer?

The techniques used in classroom or home-based visual learning programs are specifically designed to boost critical thinking, strengthen retention (memory) power; increase levels of comprehension, and help with organizational skills. These techniques include the use of concept and idea maps; graphs and graphic organizers; illustrations; plots and more.

Research conducted on the effectiveness of visual learning techniques among students found that they could easily recall information which was presented both verbally and visually. Secondly, students with prior knowledge were seen to be in a better position to comprehend new concepts. Lastly, research also revealed that students demonstrated better organizational skills by featuring high levels of information through simple, easy-to-understand diagrams.

To get the big picture on vision therapy and visual learning, www.visual-dynamix.com is the site to see.

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!