vision test results

Well, these are all very *high* percentiles except for the visual-motor which is low and the copying which is dead-on average. The issue of focus also is important, but it puzzles me how all the scores are so high if he is not focusing.

I would tend to look for other sources of difficulty because vision seems to be a high skill area for him in general.

victoria,

Thanks for the reply. I thought so too. We saw a Pediatric Opthmologist yesterday afternoon and I showed him the results. He told me my son should never had been put in bifocals and that he does not need vision therapy, that it was a rip off.

We have our last appointment with the educational psychologist on Monday, I can’t wait to talk to her about this . She is the one who referred us to the educational optomotrist and supports his findings.

We know there are “other things” going on as well. We are seeing a Developmental Behavioral Neurologist the first week in August. I am hopeful.

Thanks!

Well, I *would* try to see what could be done about that visual-motor issue and about tracking. This is important in many areas of life, not just reading.

And from the reports I see here from trustworthy people, I *don’t *think that vision therapy is a ripoff overall. However your local practitioner may be going too far recommending treatment to everyone (and in that way lowering the reputations of more responsible people, a pity).

I would also ask about the bifocals — does your child act any different with or without them? In what ways? Does he act better or worse, or some of both? The best thing to do is to spend a day or two with them and a day or two without them, and make notes. Does he play more or less actively? Does he catch a ball better or worse? Does he watch TV more or less? Does he complain of headaches or fgatigue? Make notes so you remember and don’t fool yourself.

Hi victoria

Thanks for the input, you bring up some very good suggestions. I spoke with the Educational Optomotrist yesterday expressing my concerns and I feel comfortable with his explanations. I’m still not going to proceed till we get back from the Neurologist. I appreciate you taking the time to reply to my message.

Thanks again!

taximom

The only visual efficiency problem I see in these test results (without studying them at length) is a convergence problem. Forty in-office visits in addition to home therapy seems excessive to me. I would consider getting a second opinion.

You may want to check out http://www.homevisiontherapy.com , as I believe that software addresses convergence problems. The total package including pre- and post-testing (and the software) is usually under $300.

If you haven’t already, I would get an occupational therapy evaluation, as it seems as if there is a problem with visual-motor integration. OT may be helpful for that.

Finally, I would suggest a cognitive skills training program — especially for the visual sequencing/memory (but other skills also). Audiblox would be especially appropriate for a 7yo. Website is http://www.audiblox2000.com

If the astigmatism is severe, there is a good chance that it has contributed to any visual efficiency problems that show up (such as the convergence problem). The un-spherical shape of the eyeball can make it harder for the muscles to do what they normally do. This is where vision therapy can be very helpful, because it exercises those muscles in order to strengthen them and give them better control over what they have to do.

Nancy

Nancy,

The Educational Optomotrist said the same thing you did regarding the convergence problem.

He also said my son over converges, going from the board to his paper. And because of the other “issues” he felt the bifocals would take some stress off him converging.

I did look into home vision therapy, it looked like you have to go to a provider. Is that right?

I will look into Audioblox, I haven’t heard of it, sounds good.

I will find out how severe the astigmatism is. The Opthamologist and 2 other Optomotrists did not see it. Their perscriptions were pretty similar.

And I plan on getting a second opinion before we proceed with treatment.

I tried to get my insurance company to cover this and they denied coverage, saying it was not medically necessary!!! I’ll Appeal!

Nancy, thanks soooo much for your reply and suggestions. It amazes me how knowledgable and helpful so many people are on this board. I am grateful!

If two other optometrists and an opthalmologist did not see the astigmatism, then it cannot be severe and would not account for the convergence problem. Of course, a convergence problem can exist without astigmatism or other eye problems. Personally, I would probably not use this educational optometrist. He/she may be well-meaning, but the recommendations are out of sync with the test results, and it’s unusual to prescribe bifocals for a 7yo even when there is a convergence problem.

For the home vision therapy software, you need to go to an optometrist who is licensed to dispense it. The website, http://www.homevisiontherapy.com , lists all of the optometrists who use it. You would need to go to one of them for the pre-testing. All of the posts I have seen about this have been positive. However, I know that the computer software does not address all types of developmental vision problems — just some of the more common and easily correctable ones.

Most people pay for vision therapy out-of-pocket. Some have gotten it covered when the only alternative has been surgery. Someone said that you should *not* look for coverage under the eye portion of your medical insurance, but rather in the general medical section. They said that if it is not explicitly excluded there, it should be covered. However, my own suspicion is that it won’t be covered unless it is demonstrated that surgery is the only other viable option.

Nancy

Nancy, you seem so knowledgable in these areas. Id like to ask you a couple questions.

Here’s a little background:
My son is age appropriate for 2nd grade(Oct. b-day) he started school late, and skipped 1st grade. I regret this!
He went from a private school kindergarten into a highly gifted school 2nd /3rd grade.mix.

Beginning of the year his handwriting was horrible (understandably so) the teacher said by mid year he would catch up. (he is left handed)
He could not put thoughts to paper, but verbally could expound on any subject.

Doing 4th grade math pulling 90% Reading and comprehension 12+ yr old.
HIs teacher would tell me she had no idea how he learned or came up with answers, because he appeared to be doing 10 different things and not paying attention. Would not finish work in the class room, but when tests came he would pull high scores.

His hearing is so hypersensitive any noise distracts him and upsets him. Ear plugs did not help, headphones worked the best. He is like this at home as well.(when he is trying to concentrate)

At the end of the school year handwriting only improved the last two weeks with glasses. Thoughts to paper never improved.

That is what took us to the Educational psychologist, and what is taking us to a Development Behavioral Neurologist in 2 weeks.

What is your opinion on this? You can send me a bill!!
‘

Thoughts to paper- well, writing is the hardest task of all. It combines so many skills. But I have to say that many 3rd graders have problems with this and many 3rd grade papers are very disjointed. The art of the paragraph is not typically ‘there’ for a 3rd grader.
However, your son must be very, very talented to go from kindergarten to a 2/3 grade gifted mix. I’m sure the thought of pushing him too fast, too hard has occured to you. I suspect you were encouraged to move him on soo fast due to his very high IQ. You may have the best solution but watch for his overall development including social development. some cognitive skills such as reasoning don’t develop until a certain age regardless of IQ. What is the school doing about providing him with social interaction with his own age group? Being with his peers may bore him to death in the classroom but socially might be just right.

My experience with vision problems was that it was more of a problem with reading (losing one’s place, tracking problems, sore eyes after 20 minutes). My experience with vision therapy was very, very positive but we did it at home (but vigorously and very structured, twice a day). If your son is holding his own in the 2/3 gifted class except for writing then I would suspect he needs explicit, direct writing instruction. Many times the gifted kids are so bright that you show them once, they have it and move on.

My daughter was unable to write until she had verbally expressed her ideas. She had very high language skills-vocab, etc but a processing disorder. I would keyword her ideas, jot the keywords onto yellow stickies and leave her with the stickies and a blank sheet of paper and no problem. But skip the verbal processing and we got nothing. I would strongly suggest graphic organizing for writing preparation. try http://www.graphic.org/ to see what I mean.

Have you had a discussion with the school that maybe your very talented son is normal in some areas? Ask to see some samples of second grade writing. The school took it upon themselves to put this child far ahead of his peers and they have a responsibility in making sure that his development is appropriate.

Hi mmm

Thanks for the reply. Yes I agonize over my sons developmental, social and emotional needs daily. We sought out professional guidance regarding the academic decision and regret it.

The school is extremely supportive (I’m very lucky) I have several options for next year. Keep him in the 2nd/3rd grade mix (only about 15 kids), the school will give him a 504 and pretty much work with us with whatever he needs. Or we put him in a new school, regular 3rd grade class(probably 20+ kids) he won’t be as challenged but maybe less stressful.

I really just want him to be happy, enjoy learning and feel good about his accomplishments.

My son is the same as your daughter having to express verbally before writing. I would draw a circle in the middle of the paper with the main idea and then lines out from that. I like your idea with the stickies, I’ll try that. And I will check out that web site.

He likes to write cursive so we have been practicing daily, it’s a chore. He had such a tight grip and pressed so hard on the paper with a pencil, I got him a fine point pen, which helped tremendously. Some great information I got from the message board.

So there’s no confusion he is age appropriate for 2nd grade, slightly on the younger side. Because of his B-day we started kindergarten late.

The Educational Psychologists also feels he has language processing problems to add to the mix, we see her again today.

Thanks for the suggestions!
taximom

My brother and I and my daughter were all pushed a year ahead as gifted students. It worked well for me and my daughter, not well for my brother. In his case the school was teaching reading by memorize-and-guess and telling the parents to leave reading to the “experts”, and we are none of us guessers. My daughter and I learned to read before school so we did well.
All of us took our time learning to write, daughter and I being notably late after age 7-8 which was of course even later in comparison to our advanced grade levels. With help it all worked out in the end.
If he’s having fun with the rest of the class except the writing demands, I’d say go on and just help him keep up to the minimum that he absolutely must do, and as he matures it will even out. If he’s fatigued and stressed in many areas, then that;s the time to look at changing classes.

My 7 year old son is just finishing up 32 sessions of vision therapy. I feel it has been worth the time and money. His reading level went from a 1.0 grade equivalency to a 2.8 in six months. He doesn’t need his glasses anymore. I feel his vision problems (farsightedness, convergence insufficiency, and accommodative insufficiency) were part of the problem. Our next step will be having his auditory skills more closely looked at.

Hi MCMOM
WOW! What great success you had with the VT. What a confidence builder for your son, and no longer needing the glasses what a plus!
It’s nice to hear actual experiences that are positive. I know each child is different and the prognosis may vary.
Good luck with the Auditory Skills, hope it’s as successful as the VT.

THanks for the reply!!
taximom

One thing that jumps out at me is the hypersensitivity to sound. For that I would recommend The Listening Program (http://www.advancedbrain.com ). This is almost always effective at normalizing sensitivity to sound, and can have other benefits as well. It is a very gentle and safe sound therapy you can use at home.

Nancy

Hi Nancy,
I looked into the advanced brain products. They look great, enhancing auditory, visual and cognitive processing. They are not very expensive and you can use it at home, I like that.

Thanks so much for the suggestion. I truly appreciate.
taxinon

It is common for gifted kids to have hypersensitivities and uneven development.

He is probably developing very normally for himself, KWIM?

Boys can have notoriously poor handwriting. I have three, 2 of whom are identified G/T, and they ALL have horrid handwriting. By the 4/5 grade teachers tend to back off complaining about sloppy handwriting. By junior high, it is a non-issue!

Putting words to paper is another story-I would certainly watch that but not obsess. Its quite possible his physical hand skills simply need to catch up with how quickly his brain is moving

I would not invest in vision therapy with that profile. Im not saying its always a scam but the numbers just dont support expensive intervention, especially if reading is going well!

Try Handwriting Without Tears over the rest of the summer or being a scribe for him as he ‘dictates’ an assignment once school starts. See if those gentler methods, along with a little time(you started him in K late so Im guessing motor skills were ? then….)will help

I’d also visit some boards for gifted kids-I used to co-CL one on parentsplace.com. Your sons profile is VERY common there !!!!!!! :D

Marycas,

Thanks for the suggestions. His handwriting is getting much better, especially since we went to cursive and pen.

Last year I would have him start writing reports and when he got tired I would scribe. The teacher actually recommended it. It took a lot of the frustration away.

There are a few other things going on behaviorally that need to be addressed.(Not just BOY or late development). We are seeing a Develomental Behavioral Neurologist next week, and we’ll discuss the vision therapy at that time as well.

Thanks!

My son did VT for 5 months, 2x weekly, during 3rd grade and is going into 7th now. He also has ADHD but a “Convergence Excess” was making reading horrible for him. In 2nd grade he scored a 94 Vocab and 99 in both Math Concepts and Computation on the CATS but a 48 in Reading Comprehension. He had already done a year of Corrective Reading and his decoding issues were resolved. Much research led me to a Developmental Optometrist, insurance refused (but paid to me under major medical when submitted post payment!) and both my Pediatrician and Opthamologist said things I don’t want to repeat.

After the in office VT, he did 18 months of home therapy via the computer program listed in Home Vision Therapy but that was for Visual Processing Issues and as a follow up. His CATS in 3rd grade jumped to 81 for Reading Comprehension and he wasn’t finished therapy yet!!!

Just like there are people out there who have “issues” with medicating children, there are those (even MD’s) out there with “issues” regarding therapy they haven’t heard of. I absolutely recommend anything that works, and it can’t hurt. And as far as the OT evaluation, that got shot down by the CST because though some scores were way BELOW age level, some were way ABOVE. I couldn’t even get OT for the handwriting, an issue that comes up at every Parent Conference and I address the fact that since the CST didnt feel it was enough of an issue to warrant therapy, there is not anything they can say about it. That usually fixes that! I have tried Handwriting without Tears, and nothing helps. Don’t expect too much help from the CST is that regard.