Today, we went for a visit to the eye doctor. My son -15 years-with LD’s in processing - mainly language arts- exam showed a problem. The doctor said his eyesight was perfect but he has problems with his field of vision. Basically, my sons left eye veers more to the left than forward and his right eye veers to the right. The examiner said this could cause focusing problems when reading. I did not tell him my son had an IEP and was surprised when he said some schools would give a student an IEP or do modifications to reroute around the problem to try to fix it rather than address it as a visual processing problem. He recommended that my son have a more extensive test from another Eye Doctor that specializes in treating this problem. The test takes about an hour and alot of writing is involved. From that point my son would go through a program of some sort that would help him.
My questions are…
Has anyone ever heard of this?? Is this balony or could it be possible?
If it is plausible, could you give me an idea of what the testing should be like? Is there a name for tests that I should be looking for?
Where would a visual processing show up in the IEP - mazes,puzzles?
I would also like to add that I really don’t know what the heck my son has…Over the years I have just helped him get through when He couldn’t do it himself and didn’t meet criteria for IEP. (and with alot of support from some awesome teachers) but this year I just want to identify “it” for what “it” really is. Some teachers (only this year) have said ADD others No signs of that at all. Other times in his elementary years, I’ve thought he has had dyslexia, (spelled backwards - Dog for God), teachers said no. Then in the eye exam today, another examiner said I should know he read the chart from right to left. When I mentioned that to the Doctor, My son jumped in and said, “Oh, thats because I just didn’t know what to do”. That just didn’t sound like a good answer to me, he knows how to read.
Because we would have to pay for this ourselves, I need to research first. My husbands first reaction is they only want money. My son was shaking his head NO,no, no in the background as the eye doctor explained further testing. The receptionist said I should force him to go if he needs it because he has seen it work miracles for kids. Before I do anything, I’m hoping for some sound advice…please. I do know this is the best place to get it… I have a trust problem with the “professionals” - especially only one opionion.
Re: Could it be a Visual Problem?
I have never heard of the specific condition you describe. Could you see what he was talking about? When my son was evaluated by a developmental optometrist I can see the lack of tracking and fixating. This helped me feel better about undergoing therapy.
My son had vision therapy for 8 months. It helped but did not totally resolve his vision problems. He now can do worksheets and copy from a book. He still has stubborn problems with skipping words or lines when reading.
He tests as being in the normal range now. I suspect his continuing problems involve the interaction of other sensory systems. He also has auditory processing problems.
Beth
Yes.....
A good website with information, and links to other websites (one of which will probably describe this problem) is http://www.childrensvision.com.
I would definitely pursue this. The child does not realize there is a problem, because it seems “normal” to him. The directionality problem (for example, reading chart from right to left) is often a red flag for developmental vision problems. My own daughter had a lot of developmental vision problems that were undiagnosed by her highly respected opthalmologist. When I took her to a really good developmental optometrist, the doctor was able to demonstrate for me several of the problems — including a field-of-vision the size of a nickel at reading distance, focusing speed of a 3yo, etc. We did 8 months of vision therapy, which corrected the functional vision problems, but then we also needed to do a cognitive training program (we did PACE, but Audiblox is another good program) to develop her visual processing skills to the point where she could finally read text fluently. She still confuses left and right sometimes, but nothing like it used to be.
The written evaluation I got from the optometrist included results for about 20 tests of visual function (tests not performed during regular eye exams). The results were provided as either an age-equivalent or a percentile score, and sometimes both.
Mary
Re: Yes.....
Thank you all for responding. I really needed some guidance. I just don’t won’t to continue to test this child & keep coming up with new things. I kind of feel the walls coming in again, what next? I’m having a hard enough time trying to learn about LDs. and now this. Its makes me feel hesitant and overwhelmed - that is why I appreciate all of your suggestions.
The website from MaryMN was fantastic. It really has alot of information. I found the problem the eye doc said my son has, Convergence Insuffiency. The checklist blew me away - He has all symtoms except the self-esteem/sport area. He also has visual discrimination and visual memory problems. And your right, how can He tell me what is wrong, if its “normal” to him. Again, Thank you all-your help meant alot to me. MaryMN wrote:
>
> A good website with information, and links to other websites
> (one of which will probably describe this problem) is
> http://www.childrensvision.com.
>
> I would definitely pursue this. The child does not realize
> there is a problem, because it seems “normal” to him. The
> directionality problem (for example, reading chart from right
> to left) is often a red flag for developmental vision
> problems. My own daughter had a lot of developmental vision
> problems that were undiagnosed by her highly respected
> opthalmologist. When I took her to a really good
> developmental optometrist, the doctor was able to demonstrate
> for me several of the problems — including a
> field-of-vision the size of a nickel at reading distance,
> focusing speed of a 3yo, etc. We did 8 months of vision
> therapy, which corrected the functional vision problems, but
> then we also needed to do a cognitive training program (we
> did PACE, but Audiblox is another good program) to develop
> her visual processing skills to the point where she could
> finally read text fluently. She still confuses left and
> right sometimes, but nothing like it used to be.
>
> The written evaluation I got from the optometrist included
> results for about 20 tests of visual function (tests not
> performed during regular eye exams). The results were
> provided as either an age-equivalent or a percentile score,
> and sometimes both.
>
> Mary
another question
I just got off the phone with the dev. optometrist. She believes she can help him with the convergence problem, but of course wants to test first to see if he can benefit from therapy. Insurance does not cover this - they feel its an educational problem and Schools do not provide this type of therapy-its a medical problem (Although I do have a call into the school right now just to make sure). This therapy is expensive, well to me anyway. 125. for testing and approximately $70. per session, twice a week. I can deal with the testing, but the therapy will be over $500. a month. Is this what it costs you?
Also, can I do some of this myself? The audiblox -Is it for Visual processing - Would it be benefitial to try that first?? I don’t believe I’ll be able to swing this bill right now. But don’t want my son to miss out on something that could help. Why is it the Insurance Companies get to pick what they want to cover?
and Why do they schools ignore this problem? Is this considered “experimental” ? It is so frustrating.
Re: another question
Our therapy was $70 a session as well. Don’t ask me why, since my insurance does not cover speech, OT, audiological testing ect, but our insurance covered most of it.
I would ask them to design a home program for you and cut it down to one session a week.
Beth
Audiblox
Audiblox works a lot on visual and auditory processing, sequencing, memory, concentration, directionality, and logical thinking. Visit their website. www.audiblox2000.com. I strongly believe in their program. I use it daily in my reg 5th grade class. This is the first time in all my years of teaching I feel like I am actually helping my students to learn.
With kids with learning difficulties, I would recommend you would order a customized program for them. The programs are very reasonable in price.
Here's a link to a recent post
on the Special Needs homeschooling board, regarding insurance coverage of vision therapy: http://www.vegsource.com/homeschool/special/messages/6571.html
If you read this post, also click on the original post (click link is at the top of the message), which describes another mother’s experience with getting VT covered by medical insurance.
Between those two posts, maybe you can figure out how to do it with your insurance company.
Also, ask your developmental optometrist if she would be willing to design and supervise a primarily home-based program of vision therapy. Many optometrists will do this, although some will not. With this kind of program, you come to the office for re-checks and training in how to do the exercises at home on a daily basis.
In my opinion, you really should do vision therapy before doing Audiblox, or at the very least do VT at the same time as Audiblox. Cognitive skills build on sensory/motor development, so you really want to correct a physical problem such as convergence insufficiency before trying to train visual processing skills.
Mary
Also, here's a link to a computerized vision therapy program
used at home: http://www.homevisiontherapy.com/ and a link to a post from someone who is using it:
http://www.vegsource.com/homeschool/reading/messages/33819.html
The poster said the package was about $300 all-in including office visits (except for initial testing).
This package is undoubtedly no replacement for a developmental optometrist, but it seems to do a reasonable job of correcting some basic problems, such as convergence insufficiency.
Mary
I have read of a condition like you are explaining. Audio visual something or other. I had even received a fact sheet once on this problem, i’ll see if i can round it up and let you no more. Did the eye doctor say how much of it could be corrected? You no my hubby says the same thing yours does, they just want more money, but I really don’t think the doctor would tell you this if he didn’t see that your child had this problem, exspecially if he didn’t no your child even had the iep in the first place. I think that copying form the blackboards and stuff also pose a difficulty to this kind of eye problem. I hope i helped some. Good Luck!