Hi, my son has a visual motor integration delay, and when I asked the opthalmologist at the local children’s hospital about it, he said there is nothing that can be done but to help him. I’ve seen some websites that recommend vision therapy. Has anyone tried it, and does it really work? Does insurance cover that?
OR: Is there a specific kind of OT that would help with that?
Thanks!
Nancy3
Also check out the thread just below this one on the board. Vestibular development can affect vision and visual motor integration. NeuroNet would be another therapy that addresses visual motor integration problems.
Nancy
Re: Vision therapy?
Many opthalmologists are sort of trained about vision therapy - they’re taught that it’s a scam, much the way ‘traditional’ MD’s are often taught that alternative approachs such as chiropracty and acupuncture are not to be believed.
Opthalmologists are not trained in visual motor integration, so are often not well informed on the subject.
Have you seen an occupational therapist? There are OTs who go on for specialized training in sensory integration. If you can find one of these, I’d try that first. Even OTs without the training can still very good in this area.
Some developmental optometrists incorporate visual motor integration exercises into their practice. You can find board-certified DOs at http://www.covd.org . Since many DOs do not incorporate visual motor integration exercises, you would need to call ahead to ask. If you can’t find a DO with the complete approach, you can use a regular DO while doing OT. (In this case, it can be better to do the OT first, or at least get halfway through it, before starting vision therapy.)
There is a good book describing graduated visual motor integration exercises you can do yourself at home. This is the Etta Rowley book on “Integrating Mind, Brain and Body through Movement” available at http://www.oep.org for about $35.
Balametrics is another home program that works on visual motor integration. Website is http://www.balametrics.com . (I don’t know about the current version, but the older version I had was somewhat difficult for a parent to know how to implement. Their newer videos and manuals may be better.)
Nancy