Autism and Visual Therapy with a Behavioral Optometrist
Improved vision and confidence are two of the biggest benefits of seeing a behavioral optometrist
A behavioral optometrist uses visual therapy to help people process and integrate visual information when they have difficulty doing so efficiently.
For example, many patients will be asked to follow an object with their eyes, but they find it difficult to stare directly at the object. In other words, people often have problems with their central and side vision due to poor coordination. When they try to follow an object with their eyes, they tend to look at the object’s side, and they often find it very difficult to maintain visual attention. A trained behavioral optometrist will be able to help a patient correct these problems or improve them. Improved vision and confidence are two of the biggest benefits of seeing a behavioral optometrist.
Visual therapy can also help a person is who is tactually defensive
Visual therapy can also help a person is who is tactually defensive by improving their visual defense, or help a person. If a person is tactually defensive, then they are over stimulated by input via touch. This means that they were constantly moving and wiggling around. People who are tactually defensive avoid making contact with texture. People who are visually defensive tend not to avoid contact with texture, but instead they avoid visual input.
Some people who are visually defensive also tend to have hypersensitive vision. In an attempt to gain meaning, people tend to take in visual information by constantly scanning for it. Basically, they have a very hard time visually holding still, meaning that they have a hard time focusing on anything visually. Visual therapy can help people deal with such symptoms.
Visual therapy can also improve other aspects of the visual system
The visual system is connected to and interacts with speech, motor, cognitive and perceptual abilities. When a person has trouble processing what they see with their vision, then all of these things related to the visual system may be affected. This is another reason why people should see a specialist. The more they work with a specialist, the more their visual system will improve, which means that things such as their speech, motor skills, perceptual abilities and cognitive abilities will also improve over time.
What to expect when seeing a behavioral optometrist
There are a few procedures that will take place when a patient sees a specialist. In addition to testing related to eye movements and performance, some of the testing procedures that visual therapists and behavioral optometrists consider include ophthalmoscopy and retinoscopy.
Additionally, Bellaire Family Eye Care is thrilled to provide patients with insight gained from our NeuroSensory Diagnostic System, an incredible breakthrough that allows us to provide a complete set of non-invasive, electro-diagnostic tests of vision, hearing, balance, and touch.
Autism Statistics
According to the CDC, about 1 in every 88 children in America has some form of autism.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in every 54 boys has autism.
Research shows that the numbers are still increasing.
Choosing a specialist in behavioral optometry
A behavioral optometrist will be able to determine if visual therapy is warranted and provide an initial treatment plan that may be modified as treatment progresses.
As visual therapists, the doctors and staff at Bellaire Family Eye Care pay very close attention to our patients. We understand that kids are still kids, regardless of whether or not they have autism, attention or visual attention difficulties, visual information processing challenges, or are tactually defensive
This means that as specialists who work regularly with kids and adolescents who have a diagnosis within the autism spectrum, we treat our patients with the utmost respect and care.
People who have autism benefit in many different ways when they participate in visual therapy at Bellaire Family Eye Care because they see professionals who can provide them with help.
If you have a child for whom you would like to gain insight and learn the option that visual therapy may provide, please contact us.
