Pamela  Nazer, O.V.T.  / Christina Bressler, O.V.T. /  Amber Konop, O.V.T.   When visually-related learning problems are diagnosed and treated, great improvements in the ability to learn can result.  It is not the answer for all learning problems, but now it is easy to find out if this may be the cause of school frustration.   Symptoms Slow performance of visual tasks; reversal of letters and numbers; headaches when reading; avoidance of near work; difficulty copying from the board; skipping and rereading words; and disorganization and frustration when copying.   Step 1 - Schedule a comprehensive Vision Exam (CVE) Step 2 - Based on Doctor's findings a Visual Processing Evaluation (VPE) will be scheduled on a seperate day.  The evaluation consists of series of tests that take about one hour Step 3 - Consult to discuss results of testing, usually 1-2 weeks after VPE Step 4 - Schedule Vision Therapy Sessions   If you, your child, or someone you know is having these problems, please call us today at 715-381-1234   800-428-2399  or send us an email at visiontherapy@christensonvisioncare.com to begin the evaluation process.   Visual Processing Therapy Program We are pleased to have a multidisciplinary team to help children and adults overcome visually-related learning problems. That is why we have made our visual-processing improvement program available to children and adults in Western Wisconsin and the metropolitan area. Evaluation includes testing of learning-related vision skills: Eye Teaming and Focusing Letter Reversal Frequency (confusing b, d, p, q) Visual Memory Eye Tracking (related to skipping and rereading words) Visual Motor Integration (copying/writing work) Visual Processing Speed (ability to perform a visual task without frustration in an acceptable time frame) Research has demonstrated the importance of visual processing for learning. Forty-one percent of school children in the lower third of their classes and sixty-eight percent of students in special education programs have visual problems that can be corrected.   Unfortunately, most routine eye exams investigate only eyesight. In other words, they only ask the question "Can your child see 20/20?" The necessary visual skills for the classroom go far beyond merely seeing 20/20.    What is the Program Strategy? When a problem exists in visual processing, the child/adult is greatly disadvantaged in daily life. The first step in correcting a visually-related learning problem is testing. If testing reveals problems, then eyeglasses, visual-processing therapy, or a combination of the two may be recommended.   If the patient is enrolled in the visual-processing therapy program, often fast changes in visual behavior can be seen. Techniques are individually tailored to the patient to ensure maximal improvement in the visual system.   Multisensory Language (Reading & Spelling) Therapy Many patients suffer from reading disabilities. Often times visual efficiency and/or visual processing problems are the cause for the reading difficulty. However, in some instances, the primary cause may be genetic in nature with visual problems only contributing to the overall difficulty. For patients such as this, it is important to eliminate visual problems with visual-processing therapy and then address the specific reading disability directly with written language therapy or special education.   Therefore, at Christenson Vision Care, we offer patients an alternative when they are in need of specialized reading instruction.  Our reading program involves principally helping patients with a specific reading disability, also known as dyslexia.  Recent research dramatically shows that these children are most beneficially affected when exposed to a structured, sequential, multisensory, phonetic written language program.   Our program uses the multisensory approach. This is most effective in children with reading disabilities since it allows the child to utilize skills acquired in visual-processing therapy as strength areas around which to begin to build functional literacy.   Vision Therapy Checklist 1.  APPEARANCE OF EYES One eye turns in or out at any time Reddened eyes or lids Eyes tear excessively Encrusted eyelids Frequent styes on lids 2.  COMPLAINTS WHEN USING EYES AT DESK Headaches in forehead or temples Burning or itchy eyes after reading or desk work Print blurs after reading a short time Complains of seeing double (Diplopia) Words move or swim on the page 3.  BEHAVIORAL SIGNS OF VISUAL PROBLEMS      A. Eye Movement Abilities (ocular Motility) Head turns as ready across page  Loses place frequently during reading  Needs finger or marker to keep place  Short attention span in reading or copying  Frequently omits words  Writes up or downhill on paper  Rereads or skips lines unknowingly  Orients drawings poorly on page        B. Eye Teaming Abilities (Binocularity) Repeats letters within words  Omits letters, numbers or phrases  Misaligns digits in number columns  Squints, closes or covers one eye  Tilts head extremely while working at de       C. Eye –hand coordination Abilities Must feel things “to get the idea”  Eyes not used to “steer” hand movements (extreme lack of orientation, placement of words or drawings on the page)  Writes crookedly, poorly spaced, cannot stay on the ruled lines  Misaligns both horizontal and vertical series of numbers Uses hand as “spacer” to control spacing and alignment on page Repeatedly confuses left-right directions