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Vision and Learning
As a former teacher, Dr. Cline, was in charge of teaching children through the
visual system. Eighty five percent of what a child
learns in school comes through the visual system. Notice that I did not say
learning develops through what they see. As a teacher I knew nothing about
how the visual system worked. It would be like working on an
engine but not understanding how internal combustion works.
Through Optometry school and extensive
learning Drs. Cline and Askew have become knowledgeable about the visual system,
its inner workings, and the treatment of dysfunctions of the visual system.
Vision allows one to track, focus, use
two eyes together to get one image, to understand and interpret what we see,
draw what we see, and ultimately to use all these skills together at one time.
Vision also allows us to know where we are in space, where someone else is in
space, identify what we see in space, and then tell someone about it with the use of the speech auditory system.
Assessing the visual
system in detail can often reveal problems in various parts
of the visual system. Tracking problems, focusing problems,
eye teaming problems, perceptual problems, and visual motor
problems can interfere with how a child learns. Have your
child's VISUAL SYSTEM checked out today.
WHAT ARE THE COMMON SIGNS OF A VISION PROBLEM?
- Rubbing eyes
- Closing or covering
an eye to read
- Holding books
or reading material close
- Skipping lines
and words while reading
- Difficulty copying
from board to book
- Double vision
- Blurred vision
- Tilting or turning
a head to read
- Headaches during
or after school
- Short attention
span
- Using finger
to read
- Reduced comprehension
- Reversals of
numbers or letters
If you notice any of the above signs
have your child's vision checked not just their eyesight.
What is Vision Therapy?
Vision Therapy is the treatment
of a visual dysfunction through the use of excercises. If you or your
child has one of the above symptoms it may be the result of a dysfunction of the
visual system. With vision therapy the patient will meet with a therapist
once a week, one on one, to work on and individualized set of activites focused
on improving their visual skills so that they will have comfortable vision.
SUCCESS STORY
When Mark first
started vision-therapy my goal was to make reading easier
for him. Reading was hard for Mark and only with a great amount
of effort on his part and time on mine could he keep up with
his class. He read to me every night and most of the time
he ended up in tears. His eyes hurt, he was tired or he just
didn't feel like reading. Now Mark loves to read-he picks
up books and reads for long periods with no prompting. He
has moved from the lower 20% of his class in reading to the
top 10%. Mark worked hard during therapy sessions and at home
and it paid off. I believe because of vision therapy everything
in school will be easier. His confidence is so much better.
Kathy S.
WHAT IS A VISAGRAPH?
Research has shown
eye movements are an important part of the reading act. The
Visagraph is an instrument used to measure 4 variables of
eye movements in the reading process.
- Number of fixations
- Number of regressions
- Span of recognition
- Duration of
fixations
The number of fixations
is the number of stops the eye makes while reading. The regressions
are the number of times one backs up while reading. Span of
recognition is how big a "visual bite" one can take.
Duration of fixation is how long does one stay on each "visual
bite".
These variables
have been normed from 1st grade through 12th grade, so results
can be compared to age matched norms. A high number of fixations
and regressions for ones age may indicate a tracking problem.
VISION THERAPISTS
BECOME BOARD CERTIFIED
Clara Seay and
Kathy Cillessen completed the challenging process of board
certification. They both had to have over 1000 hours of doing
vision therapy as a therapist under Dr. Cline; complete an
open book examination, and a closed book exam; and oral testing
to qualify. Congratulations, Clara and Kathy.
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