My priest’s daughter (3rd grade) has significant reading problems. Though she has had traditional eye exams and wears glasses - I would like to have someone with experience in learning disabilities and eye problems to get involved in some testing. Does anyone have experience (I think I remember reading a line of this a couple of years ago) to help me help them know exactly what to ask in searching for a quallified professional? We live in Gainesville, Florida with a two hour drive access to Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando. We are a six hour drive from Miami and Atlanta. Thanks so much. Ken
Re: Optometry and reading??
Hi, Ken,
I am thinking you are looking for a developmental optometrist. Here is a site with professional listings:
www.covd.org
Janis
Re: Optometry and reading??
Why do you think the reading problems are eyesight-related? It is more common that they’re related to processing sounds - though “more common” doesn’t matter if it’s your child of course! Does she experience things like the words moving around, or headaches?
Re: Optometry and reading??
I appreciate all the help and am forwarding it. I think it may be a “sight” problem because a lot of other areas have been explored to no avail - there is a sight problem - and I remember a rather lengthy discussion on this board which said this is a neglected area of search. (Much like in the world of behavior we have neglected TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury.) Again, thanks.
Ken
Re: Optometry and reading??
Ken,
Here is my two cents: use the COVD list but look for someone who sees vision more holistically—not just flat (computer, book) exercises but whole body.
We did vision therapy for maybe 7 months with a COVD certified optometrist who did not incorporate body work. It helped—my son could follow worksheets while before he could not. However, he still skipped lines when reading.
He doesn’t do this any more. Several things helped.
1. Improving his decoding because then there was more energy left for tracking (which was still abnormal). My observation is that poor reading often has several causes.
2. Neuronet, particularly balance exercises. We saw 2 years of development in 1 in a year we did nothing else (measured by the developmental optometrist)
3. Seeing Stars (LMB)—he went back to the developmental optometrist after doing SS and he no longer needed glasses. He had worn overprescription glasses which had helped with tracking.
Our neuronet provider gave us the name of someone in South Florida who evaluated my son (this was after we got some progress with first guy). She refers cases she thinks are too complex for her to someone in Boca (the other guy doesn’t do therapy—just evals) I could get you these names but that’s pretty far for them.
There is a Neuronet provider in Orlando who is part of a larger center offerring a variety of types of therapy. That may be a place to get a name.
Beth
Re: Optometry and reading??
Thanks, Beth. I copy and paste and forward these. Your input is appreciated, Ken.
Nancy3
A website with good information about developmental vision problems is http://www.childrensvision.com
Developmental vision delays are not assessed in regular eye exams. I would favor a developmental optometrist over a pediatric opthalmologist because most PedOs do not incorporate vision therapy into their practices. They are surgeons and tend to look for surgical solutions first.
Only some developmental vision problems — those intertwined with sensory integration disorder, for example — require bodywork for effective therapy. Some children need bodywork along with vision therapy, but many do not.
If there are visual efficiency problems, correcting them with vision therapy may not be enough to significantly improve reading and other academics. Often the child needs follow-up cognitive skills training to develop visual processing skills — especially if the visual efficiency problems were severe. PACE, BrainSkills and Audiblox all work on visual processing skills.
Nancy
Ken,
As a child I had 2 eye surgeries for strabismus and subsequently I had years of vision therapy. I would suggest she see a pediatric opthamologist as an optometrist just doesn’t have the background if there is something wrong with her eye muscles or in the nerves going from her eye to her brain. Not to mention an optometrist can’t order an MRI to see what is going on in her ocipital lobe. Another thing that occured to me is perhaps she has had a TBI or the way her brain is wired is causing some of the difficulty.
Vision is so complex, I never realized how complex until I became a speech pathologist. When people have strokes it can affect their vision as the vision field is split 4 different ways. It is absolutly fascinating….
I work with many children who have severe handicaps, hemiplegia, some have had strokes, have motor issues, inability to talk and some have low IQ’s who can’t read, let alone write but they can identify symbols and pictures using the programs writing with symbols and boardmaker. I am not saying that is an issue with your young friend but it may be something to think about. If I can help you in any way please let me know…