Published May 14, 2006 11:20 pm - Some teachers and parents are convinced that some children learn better if they get special eye exercises.
The eyes have it
Vision therapy: Costly, and perhaps effective
By Nick Hanson
The Free Press
MANKATO
—
Keri Solheid knew something was wrong with her daughter.
But she couldn’t figure out what.
Lindsay, could read, but not very well. She was easily distracted, irritable and antsy, too.
“I knew in first grade that something wasn’t right,” she said.
Solheid could tell Lindsay was intelligent from things she’d say, express or recall from memory.
The solution was unearthed during a summer school session, when a teacher suggested Lindsay might benefit from vision therapy.
Probably like most people, Solheid hadn’t heard much about the procedure. So, she and her husband, Dan, were a little skeptical — at first.
That all changed once Lindsay started therapy. Gradual changes began to occur.
“She could read before (treatment). She would give her best attempt, but she was struggling,” Solheid said.
The difference?
“She enjoys reading now.”
After 36 weeks worth of vision therapy, Solheid said she couldn’t be much happier with her daughter’s improvement.
“I’m 150 percent glad we did this,” she said.
Vision what?
Vision therapy is based on the notion that good vision is actually a set of learned skills, not an eye test revealing 20/20 sight.