Behavioural Optometrist

[Frangipani]

Hi,

 

Just wondering, how many of you have had their child assessed by a Behavioural Optometrist.

 

They are urging all kids over here to be assessed even if they have good vision as there can be some underlying problems that they can fix that may be causing your child problems in class at school and with reading etc.

 

I had my son assessed when he was 5 and 9 but I think I will go back and have him reassessed as they say things can change over a period of time.

 

Just wondering if you have been down that path yourselves. When my son was diagnosed that was one of the first test after speech and OT that his therapists from the Special School recommended we have done for my son.

 

F

[CarerQuie]

My daughter was assessed and prescribed Irlen lenses to help with her dyslexia.We saw an improvement in her work straight away.xx

[pingu]

Hi Hun.

 

No ive never heard of such a person over here. We have all the sight doctors but ive never heard of a Behavioural Optometrist. but after what shauna told me earlier i may have to find one of these people.

 

shaz

[BusyLizzie100]

I get all mixed up with this. Can anyway explain the differences (if any) between behavioural optometry, visual dyslexia, Irlen syndrome or other kinds of coloured lenses? I really feel DS2 could benefit from something of this kind, but don't know where to start or what's appropriate.

 

Lizzie

[Frangipani]

I get all mixed up with this. Can anyway explain the differences (if any) between behavioural optometry, visual dyslexia, Irlen syndrome or other kinds of coloured lenses? I really feel DS2 could benefit from something of this kind, but don't know where to start or what's appropriate.

 

Lizzie

 

Hi Lizzie,

 

I cant answer these questions. But I just want to add to some of the other responses, a normal Optometrist isnt trained to do this, and you literally have to get a referral to a 'Behavioural Optometrist' out of about 50 in our local phone book I had to travel out of the area to one they recommended who specialised and had the title "Behavioural Optometrist" so its truly worth looking into.

 

Its amazing how many children were being misdiagnosed with all sorts of conditions including Attention Deficit Disorder when all along it was a visual/brain processing problem, just like Pingu was saying her child seeing things in picture.

 

Well these Specialists have all the right therapy and treatment, and many of these kids that went through the program, believed they didnt have a visual problem like short sightedness or long sightedness, but they had something the Behavioural Optometrist was able to correct. Many said they got so stressed when they had to read, they mentioned about 8 problems a child can have when reading or in class, and that they can be treated. Parents felt guilty as they had no idea their teenage kids presented with some of the conditions and with the right treatment, their lives were being turned around.

 

F

[lisa]

My daughter has been assessed by a behavioural optometrist and we're waiting for her lenses to arrive. In a OT assessment she scored on the 10th percentile for tracking and scanning abilities. She misses out words and lines when reading, she has spatial awareness problems and difficulty judging distances. They recommended a behavioural optometrist. She was then diagnosed dyslexic and again they recommended she see a behav opt.

 

When she was assessed they found she was experiencing text moving, blurring and double vision when reading.

 

Visual Stress, Mears Irlen and scotopic sensitivity (or something like that!) are all the same thing.

 

Ian Jordon will be able to tell you all about it. There are other posts on this forum all about it but I don't know how to do links.

 

Lisa

[Flora]

I took both my boys to a behavioural optometrist where they were assessed and both had courses in vision therapy and sound therapy. We saw lots of improvements because of this... I then took them both to see Ian Jordan who prescribed orthoscopic lenses.

 

Pingu, there are quite a few behavioural optometrists dotted around the country....

 

I can give information for anyone intrested if you pm me.

 

Flozza

[kirstie]

Hi all,

we have ourselves Ian Jordan as a member here and he deals with all of the above and is an expert in his field so pm him and i'm sure he'll help you with any questions or point you in the right direction he's very helpful.

[Ian Jordan]

behavioral optometrists believe that milestones in visual development have not been met and it is possible to restore these by exercises etc. These can definately help in SOME cases but methods are to some extent controversial in the optical professions. They can also cost a lot of money, take a lot of time, be difficult in ASD and results are variable. The techniques may also be unpleasant for the child and can be a major problem in some cases. They do NOT address all the visual and cross sensory issues in ASD

 

Whilst I am well aware of behavioral theory and practice my own feeling is that it better to achieve instant success with minimum disturbance to the child. The techniques we use would also be considered controversial but at least you can see if they work as the results are immediate. I would however be VERY cautious about using someone that is not qualified in one of the optical professions to be assessed, the level of knowledge needed is significantly higher than that of a basic optically trained person, I have just written a syllabus for a post grad diploma - 20 weeks! and that is a basic knowledge level! So ask how much training someone has in this area - it makes a big difference.