A Wild Ride: Welcome

eye%5B1%5D.jpg

Does your child have:
• Eyestrain
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Sleepiness (while reading)
• Difficulty concentrating on reading material
• Loss of comprehension over time
• A pulling sensation around the eyes
• Movement of print, or words appearing to move, jump, swim or appear to float on the page
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Car-sickness
• Difficulty focusing far to near
• Sensitivity to light
• Closing one eye and /or rubbing eyes
• Moving closer to the reading material
• Excessive tearing with sustained near work
• Reading slowly
• Having to re-read when reading
• Avoidance of reading or other near work
• Blurred vision worse after reading or other close work
• Excessive head movement when reading
• Frequent loss of place when reading
• Omission of words when reading
• Skipping lines when reading
• Difficulty copying from chalkboard
• Eyes tire easily
• Short attention span (children with ADHD or ADD are 3x more likely to have an eye teaming or focusing issue)

If so, then I am sure it comes as no surprise that one or more of these problems plays an important role in your child's learning.

Pediatric Occupational Therapist Catherine Whiting shared this information with us:

'Many of these vision problems interfere with the children's abilities to reach their potential in school. It is clear that all school-age children should have comprehensive eye and vision examinations, before entering the first grade and periodically thereafter. An estimated 60% of children in occupational therapy have vision problems, due to their issues of ADHD, Autism, sensory integration, prematurity, hypotonia, etc. Intervention will result in faster progress if vision issues are addressed. That is why I personally am recommending this information to all my OT families."

Catherine recently attend a multi-day workshop by Dr. Mitchell Scheiman, an expert in Vision Therapy. She is sponsoring an upcoming seminar on Bainbridge Island (an easy ferry ride from Seattle/Edmonds or a pleasant drive around the Penisula from Tacoma).

On Saturday, December 8th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Melissa Rice, OD, FAAO, pediatric optometrist, will present more information on this topic. Both Catherine and Melissa will be available for questions afterward. The presentation will take place at Catherine Whiting's home (13881 John Street NE). RSVP by email to Catherine or call: 206- 855-7996.

Adults only, please.