Many children who struggle with attention, focusing, reading, and writing have undetected vision issues.
Even with 20/20 vision, an individual can have amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (cross-eye), convergence insufficiency, double vision, or other issues which make it very difficult for their eyes to work properly as a team and focus.
Young children can be misdiagnosed with behavior issues or learning disabilities, when really, the underlying cause is visual. Of course, these challenges can be attributed to so many other things as well – but it’s still important to have your child examined by an eye doctor to make sure that their eyes are coordinated properly.
Eye doctors may prescribe different kinds of glasses or vision therapy to help the child overcome their visual deficiencies, which often leads to a direct improvement in behavior and academics.
Vision therapy
Vision therapy is provided at some optometrists offices and in some medical centers. Depending on your plan, it can be covered by your insurance.
Vision therapy usually consists of in person sessions, in which the therapist does exercises with the client to refine their eye muscle control. Clients will often be given exercises to do at home, as well. Like any new skill, vision therapy takes lots of practice and determination.
Make vision therapy motivating for your child by giving them rewards for cooperation, like a small treat for doing their vision “homework”, or a chart with an exciting prize when they reach the goal, which you check off each time your child goes to therapy nicely.
Call Ezreinu at 718-750-1010 to get a referral for vision therapy.
Headaches
Blurred vision
Double vision
Eye strain or fatigue
Difficulty copying text
Sensitivity to bright light
Losing place while reading
Poor eye-hand coordination
Drifting or turning of one eye
Difficulty maintaining attention
Closing one eye while reading
Excessive blinking or squinting
Seeing words floating on the page
Reduced reading speed or fluency
Turning or tilting head while reading
Difficulty with reading comprehension
Frequently falling or bumping into objects
Misjudging distances while moving in space
Skipping words or lines of text while reading
Bringing text close to or far away from eyes to improve clarity
The above list is from Optometrists.org
Prism glasses
Prism glasses might be prescribed by your child’s eye doctor, primarily to correct double vision, but also for issues such as convergence insufficiency, strabismus (crossed eye), eye strain, visual field loss, poor depth perception, and muscular or neurological vision problems.
Prisms basically move the images to correct alignment. They also slow down the rate of light entering the eye, which makes objects appear further away, improving depth perception.
For a long term solution, prisms are ground directly into the lenses of everyday glasses. They look like normal glasses, though the lens with the prism might be a little thicker.
Call Ezreinu at 718-750-1010 to be referred to an eye doctor who specializes in prism glasses.
Tips for special needs
Do your child’s glasses constantly fall off?
Are they the first thing to get thrown off in a temper tantrum?
Get a silicone strap or attachable ear pieces to secure the glasses comfortably.
Click the image below to view this popular option on Amazon.
Does your child refuse to wear their adhesive eye-patch (for lazy eye)?
Look into this softer, more sensory-friendly option.
(Yes, I know it’s pirate-like, but it does the job.)
You can also ask your eye doctor if they can prescribe Atropine eye drops (which blur vision in the good eye) instead of using the patch. The drops are generally less effective, but if the patch is just not happening, they could be a good alternative.
Are your child’s glasses constantly breaking? Are the arms snapping off?
Lots of parent love Dilli-Dalli’s adorable collection of comfy, durable plastic glasses for kids!
The glasses are one-piece – so the arms are flexible, adjustable, and don’t break off. They also sell glasses straps and ear locks which are made to fit their glasses.
Go to your local eyecare provider to get a good fit.
Are you struggling find well-fit frames for your child with Down Syndrome?
Due to the facial features of individuals with Down Syndrome, it can be hard to find glasses that sit in the right place on the face. Erin’s World Frames is line of glasses frames which are uniquely designed to fit individuals with Down Syndrome.
Organizations
Dealing with severe visual impairments can be lonely.
It’s good to know that there are organizations out there who can help!
Click on the buttons below to be redirected to each organization’s website.
The Guttmans were happily preparing to make a bar mitzvah, but they were nervous about Tzivi, their high-spirited 4-year-old with special needs who seemed to constantly get herself into trouble. How would they keep on top of her at their own simcha? With just a few days to go before the big day, someone told Mrs. Guttman about Ezreinu. Ezreinu sent a volunteer to supervise Tzivi at the bar mitzvah so that her family could relax and enjoy⬛
Chaim, a little boy with special needs in NY, was not receiving OPWDD services. His mother called Ezreinu to hear what services Chaim could get through OPWDD and to get starting instructions for how to enroll ⬛
Identifying details have been changed to protect client confidentiality.
“I am so happy I came, I was able to meet you guys and feel supported.”
— Special mom who participated in our Motzei Shabbos support group
Ezreinu is delighted to bring you the Motzei Shabbos support group for special moms of kids with special needs, taking place every Motzei Shabbos in the winter months.
The group is hosted by inspiring mother Orit Fried in Monsey, NY.
What people are saying:
“I walked out a new person.”
“Thank you for making me feel at home.”
“This was so empowering and uplifting.”
Come build connections and get inspired.
Call Ezreinu today at 718-750-1010 to join the group.