Vision problems- Miriam

[Guest guest]

Miriam,

Thanks for the tip about potential vision problems and AS kids. Did you go to a neuro-opthomologist or someone else? Who checks vision tracking? ...A regular opthomologist?

Alyssa

From: Miriam <callis4773@...>Subject: ( ) Re: Symptoms as a baby? Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 2:53 AM

is 11 and is in a regular classroom with a 1:1 support person (they're called paraprofessionals or paras here). He is obsessed with computers and video games. He loves to read but is no longer so obsessed with letters and numbers that he puts himself in danger. He used to run across streets to get to street signs or license plates. He HAD to touch anything with letters on it. If we go to a museum he reads a lot of the plaques up next to displays. He struggles with comprehending stories with people. He does better with nonfiction. But he does LIKE to read stories. He was stuck on curious george for ages even though his reading ability was way beyond that. Part of the reason for that is his vision problems. He has convergence insufficiency and tracking difficulties. I think anyone with a child who has asperger syndrome or HFA should check for eye movement problems. is getting vision therapy

and wears glasses with prism lenses.Miriam> >> > Although each AS child is very different, I was just curious as to > > what others have noticed as signs in their baby of AS? Also,

what > age> > (s) did you notice those behaviors?> > > > We have a 1 year old who may have AS (and we have a little family > > history to suggest so as well). He is far from the age of being > > diagnosed, but my mommy intuition is really saying he may have it. > He > > has already been diagnosed with sensory seeking SPD and along with > > that, refuses solid foods (among other symptoms).> > > > If you knew your child had Asperger's at a young age, what are some > > things you would recommend doing in order to help? Are there any > > therapy programs that would help in your opinion?> > > > Thanks so much!> >>

[Guest guest]

Very interesting. We went to the zoo for the first time last weekend and literally I would point to the owl... right in front of us... and he couldn't follow my point!!!! I kept saying, Nick, it's right there! It's right there. And he couldn't see it or scan the area for the animal. I found it frustrating actually and very strange. It felt like he missed half the zoo. I definitely think he needs an eye exam after hearing about this.

He saw his PT today and she said she has seen kids who were toe walking a lot stop when they started wearing prism glasses. Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks for the ideas,

Alyssa

From: Miriam <callis4773@...>Subject: ( ) Re: Vision problems- Miriam Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 6:33 PM

Regular optometrists or opthalmologists don't know anything about it. I asked a bunch of them about why would look in the wrong direction when I pointed to things and they all said, "Well, he has 20/20 vision. No clue at ALL about vision therapy.I went to my old doctor's website, Dr. Shidlofsky, and found the directory of optometrists. In the list you can put in all your information and I believe put in what your needs are and find someone board certified in Vision therapy. They work with kids who have crossed eyes, lazy eye, convergence insufficiency and those kinds of things.Dr. Shidlofsky was recommended to me by a bunch of parents whose kids are like mine. He is also acknowledged in the book The Out of Sync Child in the latest edition. He knows about sensory integration dysfunction. He referred me to a DR. where I'm living now (NH) with whom he went to

school. Dr. Chauvette. I also found the same person on the directory.Some of the eye contact issues are related to these vision problems, I believe. started making more eye contact when he got glasses. likes to cover one eye when looking at things sometimes. You can sometimes do things yourself and see some of the issues. Ask your child to focus on your finger. Move your finger closer and closer. Can your child do this until his or her eyes are crossed? If they can't then there's a good chance of convergence insufficiency. If they can then there still could be that problem since they might not be able to hold the focus to the right distance. I'm not sure what that distance is, so I can't instruct further on that. Also, with , I would point at something and he'd look in the direction about 45 degrees away from where I was pointing. He still can't see when I point to things. It must

be frustrating. There is such a thing as over-convergence. http://www.optometr ists.org/ eye_doctors. htmlif you want to learn more about vision issues treated by vision therapy optometrists go to Dr. Shidlofsky's site:http://www.dr- s.net/Dr. S is fantastic. You probably could email him and he'd point you to doctors. He joined an autism support group because he is very interested in helping that population. He doesn't blatantly advertise himself on there. He wants to learn about the issues. So he's a very cool guy. He's in Texas but knows a lot of people in the northeast since he grew up in New York.Miriam>> Miriam,> > Thanks for the tip about potential vision problems and AS kids. Did you go to a neuro-opthomologist or someone else? Who checks vision tracking? ...A regular opthomologist?> > Alyssa>