Vision Therapy

Why Mothers say, “look at me when I'm talking to you!” Have you ever had a moment when your mom said “ look at me when I ’ m talking to you,” and it made absolutely no sense? Surprisingly, there is actually scientific evidence behind this saying! Scientists have been studying the parallels between auditory and visual processing for years – from how we pay attention to conversation or a movie scene, to even helping people with language impairments. By understanding these processes of capturing information through both sound and vision, it shows us why our moms always insist on having direct eye contact for their instructions. Let ' s explore some of the ways auditory and visual perceptions develop together in order to improve our communication skills - big thanks goes out to all the mothers who tirelessly tried teaching us this concept since childhood! The Power of the Human Voice The power of the human voice is truly remarkable. Our voices have the ability to convey emotion, e...

  Vision Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders and Optometry's role Autism Spectrum Disorders, or ASD, refers to a range of developmental conditions that impact the way people communicate, socialize, and behave. ASD can manifest in varying levels of intensity, with some individuals having mild difficulty only, and others having more severe challenges in terms of socializing, communicating, and relating to others. While the cause of ASD is still not fully understood, research has revealed several factors that may contribute to its development such as genetics, environment, and brain development. Understanding ASD is essential for creating supportive environments that can help individuals with ASD manage their condition and live fulfilling lives. By acquiring knowledge and developing awareness of ASD, we can offer support and compassion to those who are affected by it. Optometry plays a crucial role in helping those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through vision therapy, which ha...

  Behavioral Optometry  and Occupational Therapy Collaboration Should I consider a treatment approach that includes both vision therapy and occupational therapy? Behavioral Optometrists and Occupational Therapists have been sharing ideas and collaborating for many years. When a patient is seen by one or both professionals, parents often wonder if they need both or which to do first. In trying to explain each role, we will hopefully provide some clarity for parents. Let’s take one example of a visual and motor skill: eye-hand coordination. New research in https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq2960 from the Institute of Neurosciences, states that eye-hand coordination begins in the womb before we are born. It requires the use of several visual and motor skills. Proprioception is used to determine where we are in space, where our body parts are, and where one body part is in relation to another. The eyes make saccadic movements to find and fixate on a target before the ...

The Big Game - The Optometrists' role in concussion treatment The Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event of the year, and with it comes a lot of excitement and fun. But there is also a lot of pressure on the players to perform at their best. This can lead to some serious injuries, including concussions. As optometrists, we play an important role in concussion treatment. We are able to help diagnose concussions and provide proper treatment to ensure that our patients recover fully and safely. As concussions become an increasingly prevalent issue in contact sports, the role of the optometrist becomes more important in concussion management and treatment. While many people still think of optometrists simply as vision specialists, they can actually play a vital role in detecting and managing concussions. Here’s a look at how optometrists can help with concussion treatment. Optometrists play a major role in concussion treatment, which often includes vision therapy. Vision therapy is a...

Building Confidence Through Vision Therapy It is no secret that building confidence and raising self-esteem in children and adolescents is often key to their success.  When a student finds themselves falling behind their peers despite feeling as though they are doing the absolute best that they can, frustration sets in. A frustrated student leads to an overall frustrated child both in and out of the classroom as their lack of confidence spills over into other areas of their lives.   So, how can vision therapy boost confidence and self-esteem?   When most people think of the word vision they immediately think of clarity or acuity. In fact, some parents are often under the impression that their child’s vision is fine as they have passed vision screenings at school or even with an optometrist. Vision therapy goes beyond acuity by addressing deficits in functional vision and assessing the essential visual skills needed for learning.  Individualized treatment plans allow ...