Vision Therapy for Autism (ASD)

When it comes to autism (also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD), most people are familiar with the learning disabilities suffered by those with the condition. However, less well understood are vision issues which can also be caused by it.

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Vision Therapy for Autism (ASD) in Hixson

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Vision and Autism

Autism, also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition most often characterized by behavioral, social, and communication deficits. In addition, people with autism can have problems with their sensory integration, which can affect several areas of function, including the visual system. Correcting visual problems, especially when combined with more standard treatment for autism, can lead to a greatly improved quality of life.

If vision problems are left untreated, it can exacerbate problems caused by their autism, and make those problems harder to correct in the future.

What Vision Issues are Associated with Autism?

While people with autism won’t always suffer from vision issues, they often appear together, and can further impact their quality of life by making certain important tasks even more challenging. In particular, people with ASD may have vision issues in several areas, including:

Maintaining eye contact

Properly processing reactions to visual stimuli

Eye tracking

Peripheral vision

Eye alignment

What Vision Issues are Associated with Autism?

What Can Vision Therapy Do for Autism Patients?

Vision therapy is treatment designed to enhance the neurological link between the eyes and brain to help correct a wide range of vision issues. For people with ASD, it can help them better process what they see and thus have an easier time interacting with their environment.

Research has shown that vision therapy can help improve eye contact, visual attention, eye tracking, visual-spatial awareness, and posture and balance in people with autism. Vision therapy can also help with conditions such as lazy eye and strabismus, which are more common among those on the spectrum, along with other problems that impact eye mechanics and visual processing.

Improving vision skills can also help autism patients with other skills in which vision plays a major role, such as fine motor skills, balance, hand-eye coordination, and depth perception.

What is the Treatment Like?

The treatment process begins with a functional vision exam, designed to detect any underlying vision issues and help our doctor formulate a personalized treatment plan. Our staff understands that conducting vision tests on people with autism, especially children, can be more challenging, but their extensive experience has given them the skills needed to make sure things run smoothly.

Once our doctor has prepared a treatment plan, therapy sessions can begin. They are usually weekly meetings, and specialized exercises and vision devices will be used in the process of training, or re-training, the patients to use their vision skills to overcome whatever issues they were having.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

As with the specifics of the treatment plan itself, the amount of time required for treatment varies on a case by case basis, largely based on the severity of the vision issues being treated. The treatment period can be as short as a few weeks, or require several months. However, even in cases where the total time required is longer, you should start to see noticeable improvements relatively early in the process.

Summary

While vision therapy is not a cure for autism, due to the fact that people with ASD often have vision issues along with it, treating these problems can significantly improve their quality of life, especially when done alongside general autism treatment and other forms of therapy. If you suspect your child with autism may also be suffering from a vision issue, contact us today to schedule a functional vision exam. To schedule a functional vision exam, please call (423) 710 3965. Patients looking for a functional vision exam visit our clinic from all over Tennessee, and we are proud to be a leading provider of functional vision services for patients from Hixson, Chattanooga, Cleveland, and Middle Valley.

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Testimonials

Vision therapy is well worth the response, time and effort. Our Son had a hard time focusing and writing neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time if previously took. His abilities to focus improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent, we wanted learning to be fun for our Son, and vision therapy made this possible.

Amanda T.

Vision Therapy is well worth the expense, time and effort. Our son had a hard time focusing handwriting neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time it previously took his abilities to focus and improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent you wanted learning to be fun for our son and vision therapy made this possible.

Alexa H.

Vision Therapy has given or son the tools he needs to be able to scan and read the written word more effectively and efficiently.

He love working with John and these working sessions give him the motivation to gladly work on his homework assignments.

It amazed us to see the difference in the tracking of his eyes and along a line of it's from the beginning to the end of the treatment.

Dr. McBryar , Kristen and John are all marvelous and we would recommend them to anyone I only wish that we would have found them sooner!

Charlotte M.

Prior to coming to the institute for vision development my son complained of daily headaches. Therapy has eliminated his headaches completely. I love knowing my son is able to learn pain-free for the rest of his life because of the work that has been done over just a few weeks in this office. He he absolutely loved coming that didn't even feel like going to a doctor or therapy. We are grateful for the relief he was able to find by coming here.

Thank you!

Olivia C.

Seems much less frustrated with life

Reads non-stop and fast

Spelling abilities have been hugely improved

Seems much more confident

Thank You!!!

Kelly O.

When we first came to the practice, my son did not have huge issues, but lots of small ones- trouble with reading, sports (hitting the baseball consistently), coordination, etc- that were not easily detectable,but when put together presented issues. The staff here were all very professional and loving towards him. While I was concerned in the reading, my son was concerned with the athletic side. Seeing improvement night off the bat gave him confidence that i have nor seen in him and made him want to not only Come to therapy, but also made him want to work hard. He has surpassed his grade level and above in reading and hit his first home run this year! Thank you!!!