Question:
Trying to find out some information on dislexic type learning disabilities
and was also wondering if anyone heard of binocular deficiency. My son is
in the middle of testing that is pointing towards a dislexic type learning
disability, but when phoning around to set up an appt to get his eyes
checked, was told about the later, and a ?controversial? technique of vision
training. They would test for problems with the muscles in his eyes, and
would then have sessions designed to train his vision so he would be able to
see ( would fix
the problem/dislexic vision) as it is there experience that this problem is
not really neurological but actually a problem with the muscles in his eyes.
Any thoughts, experience? This training is not covered under any insurance,
but if it is something that could truly help my son, how could I possibly
not take advantage of it? (In the testing it is showing things like he is
in the 98th percentile for verbal expression and in the 5th percentile for
written). Any information about Vision Care Direct?
Answer:
Check out oep.org for a bit more information. I think it helps to
distinguish between the dyslexia and vision problems. No ethical
developmental optometrist I know claims to cure dyslexia. But often,
when the visual problem (binocular vision, eye movement, etc.) is
resolved, many of the signs of dyslexia may be diminished. This is
not because anything was done for the dyslexia, but because the signs
of dyslexia (reversals etc.) are also signs that are symptoms of
visual deficiencies. One thing I find amusing is that what Ralph
Nader once called "the war between ophthalmologists and optometrists"
now elicits the demand for controlled, double blind, randomized
studies that "prove" vision therapy/orthoptics cures dyslexia. This
is a straw man argument since it is a rule of sciene that one cannot
prove anything with a study, and secondly it ignores the fact that no
organization in the field has ever claimed that vision therapy cures
ANY non visual problem.
The good news is that a developmental optometrist (hard to find) will
be able to tell whether there is a visual component that can be
resolved with an initial comprehensive exam--usually at a very modest
exam fee. I am familiar with the clinical studies that demonstrate
the efficacy of therapy for certain vision problems and with the
medical literature that goes along with it.
More importantly, I, my wife, several grandchildren, a number of
friends and their children have benefitted profoundly from vision
therapy. So I don't care much about the fight over who gets to
collect fees from vision care. I just want to see people with
potential vision problems or complications getting an appropriate
evaluation and then any care that would help them.
oep.org can give some information, or try
http://www.electriciti.com/vision/covd7.htm for a white paper on
vision and dyslexia by an organization that certifies doctors in the
specialty.
I will be happy to direct you to an appropriate developmental
optometrist if you wish. I work with optometrists for a living and
know a fair number of good ones. -- Thomas
