Vision Therapy

Contributed by Patricia S. Lemer, M. Ed., NCC.

Vision problems often interfere with learning and behavior in autism.  Anyone with visual symptoms deserves a FULL vision evaluation that includes more than eye health and acuity.  Vision is learned and vision problems can be remediated with proper intervention.  Vision therapy can be an integral part of an educational therapy program.

Specially trained optometrists all over the world offer in-office and at-home vision therapy.  Since children do not "outgrow" delays in visual development without intervention, vision therapy (VT) cannot start at too young an age.  VT can sometimes be the important trigger that turns on attention and comprehension especially in nonverbal individuals and those with significant cognitive, language and social emotional challenges.  For higher functioning students, it can make the difference between requiring full-time special education and a classroom assistant or being able to work independently in a mainstream setting.

Vision therapy typically takes place once or twice a week in a doctor's office, supplemented with 15-30 minutes per day of home therapy to reinforce skills.  While improvement is often seen in a month or so, therapy frequently continues for an average of three to nine months, and sometimes for as long as a couple of years, depending on the child and the severity of the visual dysfunction, to stabilize and solidify learned skills.  At the heart of vision therapy are activities individually designed to teach a person's eyes to move, align, fixate and focus as a team.  The brain learns to coordinate new messages from the eyes for improved perception and cognition.  Vision therapy tools include lenses and prisms (sometimes colored or tinted), balance boards, walking rails, chalkboards, balls, beanbags, computers, metronomes, and paper and pencil, all used in the context of movement.  During vision therapy, learning to use the eyes together first requires a conscious effort.  The ability to perform complex visual-motor activities – like skiing or writing - develops gradually.  The ultimate goal is for patients to learn to use the two eyes together effectively, and to integrate vision with movement and the other senses effortlessly and automatically.

Related Sites

http://www.pressvision.com/family_eyecare_associates_autism.php  This is the web site of Dr. Leonard Press. Dr. Press has been recognized internationally for his work in the field of learning-related vision problems.  He has many patients on the autism spectrum and his web site discusses vision related symptoms and treatments for children with autism.
http://www.visiontherapydc.com/special-needs-vision-therapy  The Vision and Conceptual Development center offers a broad array of vision therapies geared toward children and adults. Each patient receives his or her own individualized, custom-made program. This is developed by the VCDC optometrist and provided one-to-one to the patient by the VCDC vision therapist. They help patients develop the visual skills necessary for success in life.

Books

The Role of Vision in Autism Spectrum Disorders: More than Meets the Eye by Patricia S. Lemer, M. Ed., NCC.
Description:  This is a two part article.  In Part 1, learn that visual dysfunction often interferes with many aspects of development in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  Part 2 discusses the vision therapy aspects that specially trained optometrists and educators can provide.

Seeing Through New Eyes: Changing the Lives of Children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome and other Developmental Disabilities through Vision Therapy  by Melvin Kaplan.
Description:  Seeing Through New Eyes offers an accessible introduction to the treatment of visual dysfunction, a significant but neglected problem associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other developmental disabilities. Dr. Kaplan identifies common ASD symptoms such as hand-flapping, poor eye contact and tantrums as typical responses to the confusion caused by vision disorder. He also explains the effects of difficulties that people with autism experience with ambient vision, including a lack of spatial awareness and trouble with coordination.

Eye Power: An Updated Report on Vision Therapy [Kindle Edition]  by Ann M. Hoopes (Author), Dr. Stanley A. Appelbaum (Author), Dr. Leonard J. Press.
Description:  "Eye Power" is a must read to help open doors of insight and help gain answers for those who struggle with Eyestrain, Visual Fatigue, Deteriorating Vision, Focusing Problems, ADHD, Autism, Acquired Brain Injury, Sports and Learning.  "Eye Power" can help turn your challenges into success!  Enjoy this very easy to read book that can greatly improve your family and friends quality of life.  Learn how a reluctant reader can become an avid reader by doing the procedures described in this book.  For many, this insightful book will open new vistas and opportunities related to our dominant sense, helping us see new possibilities for our vision and our lives.

Tools

Eyegames: Easy and Fun Visual Exercises: An OT and Optometrist Offer Activities to Enhance Vision!  by Lois Hickman (Author), Rebecca Hutchins (Author).  This book contains an overview of the development of vision, with a checklist of warning signs of vision problems-based on the studies of behavioral optometry, a discussion of the importance of integrating all the senses equally in the development of optimal visual skills, rooted in the field of occupational therapy, and practical, playful activities designed to improve visual skills in both adults and children. Excellent for use at home, in the clinic, at school, or amid outdoor settings.
Developing Ocular Motor and Visual Perceptual Skills: An Activity Workbook  by Kenneth Lane OD FCOVD (Author).  This book contains daily lesson plans and practical tips on how to successfully start an activities program.  Other helpful features include a glossary of terms and a reference list of individuals and organizations that work with learning-disabled children to develop these skills.  The book utilizes a learning approach by linking the theories with the remediation activities to help learning disabled children improve their perceptual and fine motor skills.

Parent Forums

(Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.)
Forum Name:  Vision_Therapy
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/vision_therapy/info   This Yahoo group for parents, teachers, doctors, and others interested in vision therapy.  Vision therapy is performed by behavioral optometrists to treat binocular vision problems such as amblyopia, strabismus, lazy eye, wall eyes, etc.