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As a parent, you want the best for your child, and that includes ensuring their health and well-being. However, when your child has a vision condition that requires vision therapy, the cost can be a significant challenge. In this blog article, we will explore the high cost of vision therapy for families with children in need and provide some tips for managing the expense.
Vision Therapy
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), also known as Central Auditory
Processing Disorder (CAPD), is a condition that affects the way in
which the brain processes and interprets sounds. APD is a
neurological disorder, meaning that it affects...
One of the most common questions I get from parents is what their
newborns and infants can see. The thought of an infant going from
the warm, cozy darkness of a mother's womb to a loud, cold world
of bright lights and blurry shapes seems jarring to new parents.
Though this may be true, rather than being paralyzed by sensory
overload, research suggests...
by Dr. Christina Murray, O.D.
Most of us are lucky enough where our eyes work without ever
needing to think about them. While wearing your appropriate
optical correction, if required, no matter where you look, you
see. There is no conscious thought required. Using a series of
visual efficiency and visual processing skills, our eyes and brain
work together...
by Dr. Christina Murray, O.D.
As a result of my August 2022 presentation to the COVD Study Group
in Florida, I filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of
Education Office of Special Education Programs (“OSEP”) regarding
continuing violations of...
by Michele Kotler, Esq.
Ironically, it seems we should know if our own children are
experiencing vision problems that interfere with their
functioning. After all, who knows our children better than we do?
As it turns out, there can be visual system problems that we
cannot see as outside observers. Perhaps we notice some...
by Michele Kotler, Esq
In 2017, OSERS sent a Memorandum to State Directors of Special
Education informing them that they needed to end the pattern and
practice of conducting a two-step eligibility analysis for
visually impaired students.
by Michele Kotler, Esq.
With the generosity of several supporters, Bright Minds Processing
was able to invite Michelle Kotler to attend Florida's Annual
College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) conference
also known as their Annual Study Group.. It was...
by Sue Mann, President
Children with special needs first gained access to equal
educational opportunity in 1975 with the passage of the Education
for the Handicapped Act, later reauthorized as the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”). The IDEA was designed
to...
by Michele Kotler
Visual perception allows us to process the visual information
being sent to the brain. Our brains constantly take in and sort
through excessive amounts of visual information. Once the...
by Dr. Christina Murray, O.D.
Hello, my name is Michele Hillman and I am sharing with you, not
only my son’s story, but a little about me and how our lives have
had the wonderful opportunity to change the positive outcome of
many lives since 2013.
by Michele Hillman
Vision therapists change lives. We take a child who is struggling
and give them the tools to learn and become anyone they want.
by Lori Baron
The importance of touch has long been known to affect bonding, physical growth, immune system function, stress relief, and brain development; however, the connection between the auditory system and the system of touch is often overlooked.
MNRIThe next level of development is the motor systems. Body schema, bilateral integration, ocular motor control, and motor planning begin developing during this stage. The brain depends on information gathered by the sensory systems to give the required information for the brain to carry out motor movements.
Motor Development
My name is Sue Mann. I am a mother of two children that had both APD (Auditory Processing Disorder) and VPD (Visual Processing Disorder). For many years, I was constantly worried and stressed trying to figure out how I could help my kids get through another day of school. Both my daughter and son hated school. Being a responsible parent, I forced them to attend school every day. After all, isn't that what we parents are supposed to do?
Change is comingFrom birth, we interact with our world through a network of sensory systems. Each system provides complementary information about the environment. The brain is responsible for sorting and merging information collected from all the senses. Here is an overview of the seven senses:
Sensory Systems
Development begins with a set of automatic movement patterns that originate in the brain stem. These specific motor patterns are called primitive reflexes. They are essential for a baby’s survival during the birthing process and in the first few weeks of life. Primitive reflexes are fundamental for developing muscle tone, sensory integration, head control, and overall development. As the infant’s brain develops and matures, the infant’s movements become more voluntary and controlled...
Primitive ReflexesImagine a classroom of fifth graders sitting at their desks while their teacher presents a lesson on the solar system. She presents an array of images and bulleted points on the planet's properties, all while elaborating on the details. Students in the class diligently take notes on the subject matter. Let’s look at two students in the class:
Developmental Pyramid
Visual-Spatial learners do better visually compared to auditory-sequential learners. Visual-Spatial learners do not learn from repetition and drills. They need to see the big picture before they can learn the details. They do not learn step by step like most teachers teach. They are organizationally challenged and are not focused on time. They are often gifted creatively or with technology or mathematics...
Visual-SpatialVision Therapy is a series of activities presented to the patient under very controlled circumstances, practiced for reinforcement, and then built upon for enhancement of visual skills. The goal is not to strengthen eye muscles! Your eye muscles are already incredibly strong. Rather, the goal is to...
Better Vision
Auditory Processing Disorder seems to be easier to detect than Visual processing to a parent because usually, a child can read really well. So it is hard to imagine that they are not processing the words. APD children can not follow a stream of requests; because they did not catch the first request. As a parent, you wonder why they did not brush their teeth, fix their hair, get their school bag, lunch box, and have their breakfast as you told them to do?
Auditory Processing DisorderYour child is showing signs of learning difficulties. She is having difficulty reading. He is not copying the directions off the board. Your first impulse is to think “It’s temporary, just a passing phase.” You find yourself making excuses, “It’s a new school,” “He needs to get used to this teacher,” “We just had a hurricane, and she got off track.”
Learning difficulties
I had the privilege to meet with both Dr. Leah Light, Audiologist and founder of The Brainchild Institute and Dr. Elza Vasconcellos, a Pediatric Neurologist who specializes in Neurodevelopment and Director of WeMind Institute. It was remarkable to listen to their conversation because both ladies are passionate about helping children and so compassionate about what a child goes through every day at school...
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