Patient Case Studies
Nicholas B.

Nicholas was referred from by an occupational therapist and presented to our office in February of 2004 with reading difficulties. For the previous two years, he had received reading assistance with negligible improvement in spite of intervention given by speech and occupational therapists, both of whom noted gains in their respective disciplines. The parents stated, his pediatrician had performed a vision screening and concluded 20/20 and told his family, "He doesn't need an eye doctor." Academically he had repeated kindergarten and presently in the 3rd grade he was below average in reading, spelling, and handwriting. Grades had dropped to C's.

On evaluation, the findings indicated normal eye health, beginning nearsightedness with astigmatism, significant deficits in visual efficiency skills, visual information processing skills and most notably a constant but subtle wandering right eye. A recommended developmental vision care program of five to seven months of behavioral vision therapy and lens therapy was given. Enrollment began March 2004 with the office-based therapy concluding at 34 weeks and the home therapy 8 weeks later.

Throughout the program the family noted numerous changes in reading and academic performance, ocular symptoms, emotional/behavioral changes and changes in localization and navigation. When asked to express their thoughts they wrote, "Nick has made huge changes overall! His confidence and capabilities are both way up. Grades in school are great and he can stay awake all day. Also, Nick is experiencing less frequent headaches. Overall, this has changed Nick's life!"