Questions & Answers

WHAT IS VISION?
WHAT IS VISION TRAINING?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VISION TRAINING?
WHAT SYMPTOMS OF A VISION PROBLEM SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR?
WHAT SYMPTOMS OF A VISION PROBLEM ARE INVISIBLE?
WON'T MY CHILD OUTGROW POOR READING/LEARNING/COORDINATION ISSUES?+
AT WHAT AGE SHOULD I BRING MY CHILD?
WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS PASSED THE 20/20 EYE CHART?
WHERE CAN I GET ADDITION INFORMATION ABOUT VISION TRAINING?

WHAT IS VISION?
Vision is more than having healthy eyes or being "20/20." It is the connection between your eyes and brain that allows you to understand what you see. There are over 25 visual skills required to do well in school and most careers. These include the ability to track, focus and coordinate our eyes, as well as decipher, understand and remember visual information. Even eye-hand coordination and handwriting are visual skills.
Most of us take our vision for granted. But for those who struggle to read, fall behind in school and think they are slow or unintelligent, improved vision may be a missing gift. Inadequate vision can be an obstacle to success now and in the future.

WHAT IS VISION TRAINING?
Vision Training is a program that trains the eyes and the brain to receive information more efficiently. Patients use special optical equipment and computer programs to strengthen their visual skills. We can also prescribe glasses to relieve symptoms and improve the speed and efficacy of Vision Training and other learning therapies, too.

More than just eye exercises, your vision therapist gives feedback for correct eye and brain use so you can take those skills onto higher grades, college and careers. Specific techniques are used to improve eye movements, eye focusing, eye coordination and visual processing in reading, spelling, math, handwriting and sports.

Vision Training is performed in our office once or twice a week with home activities 20-25 minutes a day. We create an individualized program that is fun, challenging and effective. Our program is goal-oriented and timely so that you experience vision improvement as quickly as possible. Vision Training can work with other therapies to improve outcomes and help people achieve academic, behavioral and personal goals.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VISION TRAINING?
Anyone can benefit from learning these visual skills, even professional athletes. Our Vision Training graduates do better in school, sports and jobs with less stress and more confidence. The benefits of Vision Training include:








Better Academic Performance
Increased Self Confidence
More Time to Spend on Family Activities
Increased Reading Speed and Ability
Reduced Headaches and Eyestrain
No More Carsickness
Better Comprehension






Better at Following Directions
Better at Sports
More Willing to Try New Things
Less Anger and Frustration
Less Hyperactivity
Increased Attention Span

WHAT SYMPTOMS OF A VISION PROBLEM SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR?





Eyes that cross or turn, even a little bit.
Tilting/turning the head or covering/closing an eye.
Blinking, grimacing, squinting or poor posture with near tasks.
Short attention span, avoidance of close work and activities.




Low frustration level and irritability.
Headaches, dizziness, nausea, carsickness or light sensitivity.
Academic or Professional performance is "below potential."

WHAT SYMPTOMS OF A VISION PROBLEM ARE INVISIBLE?








Delayed progress or difficulties in school
Complains of headaches and eye strain
Mixes up words with similar beginnings
Poor handwriting
Struggles with math, especially word problems
Awkward, clumsy, accident-prone
Complains of car or motion sickness
Can watch TV and play videos but avoids reading and homework













Trouble completing homework (takes forever, procrastinates, frustrated)
Behavior issues, especially when asked to do schoolwork (irritable, disobedient)
Must use finger to read, often loses place, slow reader, skips words
Avoids reading or close work (distractible, "bored", tires quickly)
Trouble following directions, remembering things and organizing time and self
Pediatrician/Teacher has hinted at Dyslexia or ADHD but something just doesn't feel right about this assessment.
Teacher reports inconsistent performance, not trying hard enough, behavior issues.

WON'T MY CHILD OUTGROW POOR READING/LEARNING/COORDINATION ISSUES?
No. They cannot "grow" out of the problem. Extra effort and inefficient skills lead to avoidance of reading/certain careers and poor self esteem. Many bright children (and adults) can learn with a lot of practice and effort but these "splinter" skills only compensate for poor vision. As the demand increases, the child falls further and further behind. Vision Training does an excellent job to improve enthusiasm for learning and makes other therapies/tutoring work better.

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD I BRING MY CHILD?
If there is a family history of poor vision or lazy eye, your child should have an exam by 6 months of age. We are part of Infant SEE program that offers free exams to children under 1 year old. Otherwise, a developmental vision evaluation (NOT just 20/20 eye chart screening at Pediatrician or school) should be done at 3 years old, again before Kindergarten and then annually after that. The good news is that we can detect and prevent many visual skill issues BEFORE they become a problem.

WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS PASSED THE 20/20 EYE CHART?
There is an inverse relationship between 20/20 and the incidence of vision-related learning problems. Seeing 20/20 does not indicate if your child can:





See clearly all day long
Focus between a blackboard & a book
See single rather than double
Read without getting a headache



Track, focus and team eyes when reading
Understand what they read and do well on tests
Have good depth perception and reaction time


WHERE CAN I GET ADDITION INFORMATION ABOUT VISION TRAINING?
There are many great resources on the web about Vision Training and the benefits it provides. Please click here for a list of links to those resources.




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