Children's Vision Month

303-2200McPhillipsStreet,Winnipeg,MB R2V3P4 Ph:204-633-5566|Fax:204-633-5558|grandvisiontherapy@gmail.com LEARNING-RELATEDVISIONPROBLEMS M any students' visual abilities just are not up to the level of the demands of classroom learning situations. Unfortunately, developmental vision disorders can interfere with the ability to learn. Even intelligent, motivated students can be negatively affected by a vision dysfunction. In fact, approximately 1 in every 4 people is likely to suffer from a learning-related vision problem. During a regular eye exam, the doctor will check to ensure that your eyes are healthy and free from disease, as well as determine whether a prescription for eyeglasses is or is not necessary. However, a regular eye examination does not provide insight into the functional abilities of the brain to operate the visual system efficiently. AcompleteDevelopmentalVisionEvaluationidentifies problemswith: •theabilitytotrackalineofprint(eyemovementcontrol) •theabilitytooperatebotheyesasateamforbinocularvisionand depthperception(binocularity) •theabilitytogetobjectsintoclearfocusquicklyandsustainthat clarity(accommodativefunction) •theabilitytoefficientlyprocessandretaininformationina meaningfulandusefulway(visualperception) Therearemanysignsandsymptomsthatindicateastudent mayhavealearningrelatedvisionproblem. • Difficulty learning to read • Skipping words, losing place frequently when reading • Moving head excessively when reading • Using finger to keep place when reading • Holding head too close to page when reading or copying • Difficulty recalling what was read • Difficulty paying attention or concentrating • Intermittent blurring of print when reading • Intermittent double vision • Watery or itchy eyes • Headaches after performing near work or after school For a list of learning related vision problems, visit the following websites or contact GRANDDevelopmentalVision Institute for more information or to book an evaluation. grandvisioninstitute.ca covd.org visiontherapy.org visionandlearning.org TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH THE GIFT OF VISION THERAPY Children's Vision Month - 07 By Donna Minkus For the Free Press M ost children have no idea how they are supposed to see and may not tell anyone, even if they think they are having dif- ficulties with their vision. So how can a parent tell if a child is having vision problems? Physical clues might include squinting eyes, eye rubbing or excessive blinking. Performances clues could include frequent loss of place when reading and omitting, inserting or rereading words. Undetected vision problems can lead to behaviour issues and are of- ten mistaken for learning disabilities or attention problems, so it's essen- tial children receive proper testing, according to Dr. Matthew Anderson, co-founder of GRAND Developmental Vision Institute. "Certain visual skills are required to read and learn. These skills involve the ability to point eyes together, focus the eyes clearly, and scan across the page properly," Anderson explains. "Vision screening (or a basic eye examination) doesn't test for all the visual skills that are required for read- ing. If there are signs that show one cannot read in a fluent and comfort- able manner, visual skills and perceptual testing should be conducted and visual therapy may be recommended," he says. It was the desire to make visual skills testing and treat- ment available to people experiencing vision problems that prompted Anderson and his father, Dr. Arnold Ander- son, who operated a family optometrist practice, to open GRAND Developmental Vision Institute. "We were seeing patients we could not treat through methods of lenses only or patching only (a treatment used for disorders such as lazy eye)," he says. "We wanted to be able to treat all vision disorders that interfere with the patient's ability to perform visual tasks in comfort." The doctors of optometry connected with vision therapist Dawn Grandmont and together they set up GRAND Developmental Vision Institute in 2013. Located at 303-2200 McPhillips St., it has become the premier institute to treat vision disorders. Optometrists at the clinic include Dr. Tyler Anderson and Dr. Andrea D'Mello. Each has extensive training in developmental optometry and vision therapy. The clinic also includes Head Vision Therapist Grandmont and two vision therapists. Flanked by this team, the clinic can accommodate referrals from oc- cupational therapists, teachers, psychologists, eye-care professionals, neurologists, sport coaches, and traumatic brain injury rehab clinics. "We assess all visual skills, such as tracking (words), focusing to clear words and eye-teaming skills, as well as visual perceptual skills, includ- ing visual memory and hand/eye co-ordination. If the vision problem cannot be solved through lenses alone and disease has been ruled out, a binocular vision evaluation and vision therapy should be considered," Anderson says. Binocular vision evaluations show whether both eyes work together efficiently, while vision therapy works on the eyes and visual system cre- ating or enhancing visual skills and visual processing through the use of high-tech equipment and lenses. "Vision therapy is like a gym for the eyes and the brain. It trains the neurons in the brain to develop a new or modify an existing neural tract," Anderson explains. "This is done through the hands-on stimulation of focusing, eye teaming, eye tracking and visual perceptual centres in the brain with the aid of lenses and/or prisms. The patient experiences visual stimulation while going through developmental milestones that were previously missed through early development or lost through trauma." The clinic also treats children with special needs such as ADHD, Autism and other pervasive developmental delay disorders. Adults who suffer from strain and headaches can also be assessed at the clinic and may benefit from vision therapy, Anderson says, adding that vision problems can also impact sports performance, so athletes ex- periencing hand-eye co-ordination problems should be evaluated. "It's never too early or too late to treat visual disorders," Anderson con- cludes. "The first step is an evaluation and if there is a problem, we can treat it with vision therapy." For more information, check out the website grandvisioninstitute.ca or call 204-633-5566. HEALTHy EyES VITAL fOR LEARNINg The institute features a range of equipment used in vision therapy, a treatment likened to a "gym for the eyes and the brain." Submitted photo

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