AURORA, OH--(Marketwired - April 01, 2015) - For parents of children with Autism, it is a never ending quest to sort through all the different therapies that are available to help improve quality of life for those on the spectrum. For Autism Awareness Month, the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) is bringing awareness to the availability of optometric vision therapy and how it can positively impact those on the spectrum.
"I was always told my son, Cass (who was diagnosed with high functioning Autism in January 2014 when he was 9 years old) could see 20/20, so I didn't even think that his vision could be contributing to his reading problems," Penelope Massagee of Charleston, SC, shares; "You can imagine my surprise when I found out he was seeing double and that words looked like they were moving on the page. He must have thought it was normal, because he never complained!"
It is a common misconception that 20/20 means one has perfect vision. The term 20/20 was actually developed in the 1800's and only means one can see a certain size of letter from 20 feet. There are a variety of other visual skills required for academic success and functioning in life including eye coordination and eye tracking problems.
"Many inadvertently overlook eye coordination and eye tracking problems which can cause the types of problems Cass was having when he tried to read. Vision problems can often accompany autism spectrum disorders and other developmental delays," states Dr. Ida Chung, OD, FCOVD, president of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.
Today, Cass is halfway through a program of optometric vision therapy. The double vision is gone and words no longer move on the page. In addition, his mother shares, "I tell everyone about Vision Therapy. Even if their child doesn't have autism, if their child is struggling with school, I tell them that the most important thing is to get their child's vision tested. Even when someone tells me their child has ADD and trouble focusing, I encourage them to get an eye examination by a developmental optometrist. If my sister had not told me about vision therapy, Cass would still be struggling. So I want to help other parents."
Autism expert, Ricki G. Robinson, MD, MPH, is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Keck School of Medicine and the Co-Director of the Descanso Medical Center for Development and Learning in La Canada, California which is a practice devoted to children and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. In her book, Autism Solutions: How to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child, Dr. Robinson states, "Precise coordinated eye movements are needed for focusing, eye tracking and binocular vision (eyes working together). All are required for maintaining eye contact and spatial awareness, even hand-eye coordination. All are potential concerns for children with ASD. However, if these skills are delayed, they can be learned."