Ian Jordan

Irlen lenses were the first lenses on the market for dyslexia. They are indistinguishable from normal optometric filters (as are cerium lenses) although they are made to stricter tolerances. Prescribing techniques are as follows (unless they have changed) Irlen - essentially trial and error - broad spectrum lenses Cerium - essentially a colour wheel subtractive system - broad spectrum lenses Orthoscopics - additive system - broad spectrum and band filters. this is the one I use and it is better in every way for a professional (funded by UK government as a significant improvement on previous methods above which were cited as prior art). It is much more expensive for professionals to train - but the difference is massive. Band filters are best in about 80% of cases things you should take into account when choosing - 1 the knowledge level of the prescriber - make sure that they are GOC registered - this ensures a minimum standard of eye knowledge - clinical problems are common 2 high cost does not mean good quality - I would find it hard to justify cost of non specialist lenses (broad spectrum) - for children we supply these through NHS when appropriate 3 Beware of anyone suggesting overlays are a good method of assessment - they are nearly always poor 4 As an optician - I would choose my prescriber VERY carefully - the difference that can be made is enormous - and it is life changing in many cases. 5 Reading tests are not very good in ASD - cross sensory tests are essential 6 Can the optical professional test non verbal / non communicative - if yes - go to them. This is the vital question to ask

try and find out why he won't leave house. Unstable vision / hearing or other sensory processing issues are often causative - and can be addressed. Prosopagnosia is a common finding in agoraphobia

Too complex for post - sorry. get them to PM me with their tel number - there is an enormous amount that can be done - will explain on phone

auditory processing testing available through NHS at Great Ormond St Wait is very long though = but other methods available privately

I wish that I could be confident about ANY diagnosis, whether it is ASD, dyslexia, dyspraxia or any similar condition. Diagnostic criteria and interpretation mean that the same child could be diagnosed with a variety of conditions, depending on where they were assessed, and who assesses them. In one respect it isn't important - providing the optimum interventions are put in place, but this is very rare. Professionals will inevitably disagree, making it difficult for parents and children to be able to access the range of interventions available. To cut a long story short, the simplified way to approach difficulties is 1 Get the physical problems sorted out - biochemistry, vision, hearing, vestibular, proprioceptive, 2 Address sensory PROCESSING problems - visual / auditory / sensory integration 3 Manage cognitive difficulties eg facial expression recognition / agnosias, speech and language 4 Look at what causes educational / communication problems and address. 5 Be aware of emotional responses and address 6 Get a statement if appropriate These apply to all special needs - not just autism. It's just a pity that they are so rarely addressed well

don't forget panic attacks are often caused by visual and/or auditory overload - and can be treated

sight test will be a waste of time - you need a visual processing test

I have been approached by a documentary company that wishes to make a programme about people with facial recognition / emotion recognition difficulties and the latest treatment techniques. They are wanting to find out what impact processing facial expression has on emotion, anxiety and communication / relationships. The intention would be to follow a person / family through assessment and treatment, and show what can be done. If approached properly, it will be of great importance for those on the spectrum - I hope to be able to do it justice. Please PM me if you are interested in taking part.

we use hypnotherapy in conjunction with other interventions for anxiety (and other symptoms) in asd. it is not a panacea - you have to find the cause of the anxiety and remove it - the most common causes we find are related to prosopagnosia hope this helps

To clear this one up My NHS practice is in Ayr Scotland, my research base is in Cambridge (but I don't see anyone there unless as part of research project), I also work at a private hospital in Hemel Hempstead (not through NHS) - mainly in specialist areas.

We treat tip toeing differently - using visual control of dorsal stream. If it works - it works immediately and wihout the need for pots. A good article can be accessed as a start http://www.nature.com/eye/journal/v18/n1/full/6700541a.html (but next one you may have to pay for full text) http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pi...30698770500263X It's very complex - be warned

Guaranteed NOT a memory problem. A normal NHS eye test will not address it though, and in England you may have to pay privately for assessments and interventions. There could be a number of causes - choose your optician VERY carefully. PM me and I will recommend someone in your area

Whilst not the same it establishes the principal - look up the Phelps case (Phelps v Hillingdon council) Its dyslexia (this is not recognised well in schools either!!) Teachers have (with some exceptions) little training in special needs. Whilst it is unreasonable to expect them to be experts - they should be expected to recognise when a child is experiencing educational problems - and they should set in motion appropriate assessments. Maybe in the future.........

For those that still want to comment - Will need replies by Friday to enable me to finalise. thanks

could you send me email addresses

I have been asked to write the first article about autism for a well known optometric magazine. It is likely to be very controversial - particularly in sensory processing areas. I wish to have input from as many people as possible, from those on the spectrum, parents and professionals and would be grateful if any of you that would like to help by reading (and criticising) a 3000 word article would PM me with your email address. It is urgent. It is the first of three articles - the second is to be on facial recognition / emotion recognition and clinical interventions, the third on assessment techniques. Thanks Ian

As an observer of the effects of autism on families (and seeing a large number of children) I can say that there are varying degrees of impact, depending on difficulties that the child has, the support networks, the parent(s), and society at large. Whilst the autistic child can often be a great addition to any family, they can also change the family dynamics - but so can any child. The biggest problems I see are - exhaustion and anxiety (due to a variety of causes). Some parents are saints, the majority find that there are times when it is difficult, and a small number can't cope. Parents relationships often break up - usually the man leaves - this causes yet more problems to the women that are left. But autistic children are often wonderful - vive la difference

I hope you are wrong about the teaching unions - but sadly I think you are right. If they only knew how much good they could do ........... but don't. If they changed their attitude and listened and reacted in a way that any reasonable person would - the world could be better for so many children But I can wish for miracles....

Why should teachers be singled out - virtually all professions training for children with special needs is abysmal. The resistance amongst professionals to thinking outside the box is also staggering - but perhaps it is the culture of simpllistic catagorisation and box ticking which, whilst it provides "meaningful statistics" makes it impossible to deal with many special needs adequately. I see perhaps 4 people on the spectrum every day - I have not seen two with identical presentations - but there are many groups of similarities which suggests to me that there are a series of distinct conditions that can be described overall as autism. Treatment of most of the unpleasant symptoms found in ASD is possible now, using many techniques, but so few childen get even rudimentary access, it makes me both sad and angry. If parents only knew what can be done......... Teachers have my sympathy - but people that organise education / teachers training don't. They have set up a system that abuses children - both in inadequate training, and indirectly through the systems that are in place when a child does struggle. Where is the NUT - they surely should be as vociferous on this - or are they just interested in political points!

synesthesia is more common than people realise - probably about one in five people have some experience. The most common forms are hearing sounds with visual stimulus such as fluorescent lights / TV s / flashing lights etc It is one of the most common causes of processing disorders - visual / auditory in particular. That is why addressing visual processing problems can stop auditory processing difficulties and vice versa. It is VERY common in ASD - even though it is usually not recognised - and that is why ALL children on the spectrum need professional assessment

Optic ataxia and resultant praxis problems are often resultant to dorsal stream problems - you need specialist that can deal with this one. Magnocellular processing deficit may also be related. Too much for a post though.

Optician training in special needs of any type - nil. Even blindness only gets cursery attention. When I brought it up with my professional body, they do not believe that there is any problem whatsoever. I suspect that this is the case in virtually all professions and that whilst the profesional bodies have this attitude, nothing will change. Yet so much can be done, and it is heartbraking to think of the enormous numbers of people that suffer unnecessarily. Most professionals do not realise that there is any problem - genuinely! Perhaps it is only when litigation forces change that the professions will modify their position.

Make sure that you look at optic ataxia and magnocellular / parvocellular processing deficits - they are often causative and would not be addressed in an OTs assessment

Two other threads have also been deleted - and I consider them important - yes - controversial - but debate is