Re: What is Vision Therapy

[Guest guest]

Here are some links on vision therapy

http://www.vision-therapy.com/

http://www.vision3d.com/

http://www.children-special-

needs.org/vision_therapy/what_is_vision_therapy.html

Personally, the reason why we pursued it is because Ethan was a mover-

-he was constantly moving. The reason being, he was not getting

visual feedback of where his body was in space, so movement was one

way to help him " know " where he " was " . After the vision issue was

corrected, he was no longer in constant motion. He also was able to

focus and learn to read. What it entailed for us was twice weekly

therapy sessions with a therapist--just depends on who/what is in

your area as to what they will recommend.

The results are that Ethan doesn't " trip " over things that seem

obviously in the way now, he can run better, he can draw, he can

write, and he can read. Would he have learned to do these things

without the therapy? Probably yes. However, I do think it would

have taken a loooong time for things to get to the level that they

are at now. Meaning, he might have been labeled special ed for

reading/writing if this had not been pursued at a young age.

W

> Can you or anybody explain what vision therapy is and entails,

outcome,

> results?

> What and why would be the reason for this therapy?

>

> Thanks

>

> n

[Guest guest]

I have my 3 1/2 year old in vision therapy for preschoolers. She got

glasses at 2 1/2 but I still suspected problems. Now I can see how

she can't use both eyes together for up close activities. She

doesn't look at what she is doing (coloring, opening a zip lock bag,

etc)activities requiring eyes and hands to work together. She spent

a lot of time before she got glasses looking out the side of one eye

and I still saw her doing this once in a while after getting

glasses.

She has made progress, in my opinion, since starting vision therapy.

I now see her coloring more on the picture instead of all over the

page, she can make one circle instead of just going round and round

in circle with the pencil, she can make the cross now, lines are

looking straighter now-before they were really jittery looking lines,

etc. We've just completed our 5th time.

My understanding of vision therapy in very simple terms-it helps the

eyes to work together and the eyes communicate with the brain. Our

session is once a week. We do " exercises " every day at home. Many

of the exercises we do are gross motor related and we're now working

towards fine motor exercises. If you want more details on the

exercises let me know.

Many with 20/20 vision still need vision therapy. I really think

this is one of the keys with our daughter. Glasses fixed a lot of

problems and now we hope this will help the gross motor and fine

motor skills.

check out www.covd.ord www.minnesotavisiontherapy.com has many

links

Best wishes

Becky

> Can you or anybody explain what vision therapy is and entails,

outcome,

> results?

> What and why would be the reason for this therapy?

>

> Thanks

>

> n

[Guest guest]

Oh Great, you have touched on a few things my daughter does.

She will not do the eye hand co-ordination either, i will ask her to

explain a photograph picture and she takes a glance at it but stares into

open space and try to explain it, of course she isn't gonna get it right

cause she isn't looking/studing it, so it all gets flustered. I have to

tell her to keep looking at the picture then she will look again then

look at me, nothing comes out of her mouth-obviously. I pointed at

something about 15 feet away from me but lined up directly in front of me

and she was a little off to the side sitting but not alot, she should had

still been able to get the right item i was pointing to--anyways she

would guess at things that were 1' away to the left from what i was

pointing at--now what could that be peripheral vision? Same as her motor

skills,

on the TV remote i say turn it up three more notches, she holds onto it

and goes about 8 notches, so then i say turn it down a few notches and

she turns it completely down, is the gross or fine motor skill problems?

And she has 20/20 vision. She can do the coloring with pastels and fine

pencil crayons inside pictures-beautifully tho. I'm going to another

Optometrist/second opinion in a few weeks, told him of this above and he

is going to test her and i asked if vision therapy could be a

possibility, he said yes, so i hope this can be added.

Do you go to the Optometrist for your weekly vision therapy. How long

can vision therapy go on for? Even if a person has 20/20 vision would

they still or could they still recommend glasses with vision therapy or

would they rather not and just continue with vision therapy.

Thanks

n

[ ] Re: What is Vision Therapy

> <html><body>

>

>

> <tt>

> I have my 3 1/2 year old in vision therapy for preschoolers. & nbsp; She

> got <BR>

> glasses at 2 1/2 but I still suspected problems. & nbsp; Now I can see

> how <BR>

> she can't use both eyes together for up close activities. & nbsp; She

> <BR>

> doesn't look at what she is doing (coloring, opening a zip lock bag,

> <BR>

> etc)activities requiring eyes and hands to work together. & nbsp; She

> spent <BR>

> a lot of time before she got glasses looking out the side of one eye

> <BR>

> and I still saw her doing this once in a while after getting <BR>

> glasses. & nbsp; <BR>

> <BR>

> She has made progress, in my opinion, since starting vision

> therapy. & nbsp; <BR>

> I now see her coloring more on the picture instead of all over the <BR>

> page, she can make one circle instead of just going round and round

> <BR>

> in circle with the pencil, she can make the cross now, lines are <BR>

> looking straighter now-before they were really jittery looking lines,

> <BR>

> etc. & nbsp; We've just completed our 5th time.<BR>

> <BR>

> My understanding of vision therapy in very simple terms-it helps the

> <BR>

> eyes to work together and the eyes communicate with the brain. & nbsp;

> Our <BR>

> session is once a week. & nbsp; We do & quot;exercises & quot; every day at

> home. & nbsp; Many <BR>

> of the exercises we do are gross motor related and we're now working

> <BR>

> towards fine motor exercises. & nbsp; If you want more details on the

> <BR>

> exercises let me know.<BR>

> <BR>

> Many with 20/20 vision still need vision therapy. & nbsp; I really think

> <BR>

> this is one of the keys with our daughter. & nbsp; Glasses fixed a lot of

> <BR>

> problems and now we hope this will help the gross motor and fine <BR>

> motor skills.<BR>

> <BR>

> check out www.covd.ord & nbsp; & nbsp; www.minnesotavisiontherapy.com & nbsp;

> has many <BR>

> links<BR>

> <BR>

> Best wishes<BR>

> Becky<BR>

> <BR>

> <BR>

> <BR>

> & gt; Can you or anybody explain what vision therapy is and entails,

> <BR>

> outcome, <BR>

> & gt; results?<BR>

> & gt; What and why would be the reason for this therapy?<BR>

> & gt; <BR>

> & gt; Thanks<BR>

> & gt; <BR>

> & gt; n<BR>

> <BR>

> </tt>

>

> <br><br>

> <tt>

> =======================================================<BR>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, a person can have 20/20 acuity and still need vision therapy

because vision therapy is not necessarily helping acuity--it is

helping the eyes see more properly. My son's one eye kicked outward

everytime it had to focus at certain distances, and this was shown to

us in a way that we as laypersons, could actually SEE it happen. It

made sense in that when he would go to read, things would " shift " on

him because that one eye was kicking out. But his vision was still

20/20. Do you see what I am saying here? The need for vision

therapy doesn't have to do with acuity. That's why you need to have

a proper person do the diagnosing--because if you go somewhere and

they measure acuity alone, and tell you your child is fine, then you

still don't know anything about how the eyes are working, are they

working together, what is the brain seeing, etc.

Vision therapy can go on for as long as it is needed... it can vary

from person to person. Ask them what their estimate of time is, and

then add three to six months on top of what they tell you.

W

--- In , " n Murray " < Even if a

person has 20/20 vision would

> they still or could they still recommend glasses with vision

therapy or

> would they rather not and just continue with vision therapy.

>

> Thanks

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree with what W replied with.

It sounds like your daughter may need some vision therapy. A good

optometrist who is familar with vision therapy would be able to

advise you. We go to a place that only does vision therapy. Check

out www.covd.org for a list of certified places that might be near

you. Also, ask around as there might be some good places that don't

get certified through covd. Occupational Therpists might be able to

recommend some good places. Our program is for preschoolers (my

daughter is 3 1/2) and we do a lot of fine motor and gross motor

activities that work in specific ways with the visual system. Sorry

I can't answer your other questions.

Best Wishes

Becky

<BR>

> > & gt; Can you or anybody explain what vision therapy is and

entails,

> > <BR>

> > outcome, <BR>

> > & gt; results?<BR>

> > & gt; What and why would be the reason for this therapy?<BR>

> > & gt; <BR>

> > & gt; Thanks<BR>

> > & gt; <BR>

> > & gt; n<BR>

> > <BR>

> > </tt>

> >

> > <br><br>

> > <tt>

> > =======================================================<BR>

> >

[Guest guest]

> Can you or anybody explain what vision therapy is and entails,

outcome,

> results?

> What and why would be the reason for this therapy?

>

> Thanks

>

> n

There are links to a few websites about vision therapy, here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~moriam/HOW_TO_find_doctor.html

Look for the section about Vision Therapy.

In general, I think VT involves training the person to use

their eyes differently. I think there are several kinds

of VT, and a number of different " problems " that it might

address.

I went through VT because my eyes were not working together

properly, and I had problems with convergence. A behavioral

optometrist can check for many vision issues which are often

not tested.

good wishes,

Moria

[Guest guest]

>.... now what could that be peripheral vision? Same as her motor

> skills,

> on the TV remote i say turn it up three more notches, she holds

onto it

> and goes about 8 notches, so then i say turn it down a few notches

and

> she turns it completely down, is the gross or fine motor skill

problems?

> And she has 20/20 vision.

20/20 is a measurement of " visual acuity " . It is how clearly

you see things from a specific distance. There are many other

skills involved in vision. Unfortunately, most vision tests

only test visual acuity-- at various distances. And a couple

other things. Behavioral optometrists will test for many

more things, such as whehter both eyes are being used,

whether they are working well together, ability to converge

and diverge (focus), light sensitivity, and so on.

> She can do the coloring with pastels and fine

> pencil crayons inside pictures-beautifully tho. I'm going to

another

> Optometrist/second opinion in a few weeks, told him of this above

and he

> is going to test her and i asked if vision therapy could be a

> possibility, he said yes, so i hope this can be added.

> Do you go to the Optometrist for your weekly vision therapy. How

long

> can vision therapy go on for?

I don't think I am the person you were asking, but I went to

VT once a week for about 9 months. (I also did exercises at

home every day during that time.)

> Even if a person has 20/20 vision would

> they still or could they still recommend glasses with vision

therapy or

> would they rather not and just continue with vision therapy.

In general, VT is not mainly addressing visual acuity.

So, someone with 20/20 vision might need VT.

My visual acuity improved somewhat while I was doing VT.

I'm not sure if that answered your question or not.

good wishes,

Moria