Autism Therapy: vision therapy

definition of vision therapy: Vision therapy covers a wide range of interventions developed to help people see better. Some children with autism may have visual problems that may be corrected with vision therapy. One example of vision therapy is Irlen lenses.

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Background and History of Autism in Relation to Vision Care
Optometry, by Trachtman, JN, published in 2008, summarized Aug 6, 2008

Children with autism may be more likely to have eye problems and an eye doctor can be an important part of the autism treatment team.

This article reviews the role of eye doctors in the treatment of children with autism. The author notes that while the cause of autism is not known, it seems likely that autism is the result of a problem with the brain. The more severe the autism, the more likely the child will have eye problems. These problems include synesthesia (such as seeing a sound), poor response to light, and cross eyes. The author suggests that eye doctors should work together to create a standard therapy program that can help the eyes work better using visual training techniques.


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Does Vision Therapy Work for Kids with Autism?

Mar 17, 2010

Judith Warner of the New York Times recently wrote a long and well-researched article on Vision Therapy for use with children. She spoke with parents of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. She also spoke with pediatric optometrists and behavioral optometrists, specifically, Stanley A. Appelbaum. Appelbaum and vision therapists believe that eyes working well in coordination with other parts of the body help the child in all areas of learning and emotions. He says, “Vision isn’t just about eyes or eyesight but is also something more holistic — how eyes work together and move together and process information and store information and do something with the information.” There is not yet much evidence-based research for vision therapy, but as one mother says, “Vision makes sense.” She has a daughter with autism who has spent a lot of time being told that therapies she has found to work, are not supposed to.

Read original article: Concocting a Cure for Kids with Issues


Vision Therapy as Physical Therapy for the Eyes

Jul 6, 2009

Some Wisconsin parents have begun vision therapy for their children with autism. While a new therapy with not much scientific literature behind it, parents say it is like physical therapy for their child's eyes and helps the children in school. Two new clinics recently opened that focus on developmental optometry, the Vision Therapy Center and New Horizons Vision Therapy. Developmental optometry defines the difference between "'sight' - the ability to see clearly - and 'vision' - the ability of both eyes to work together, sending information to the brain so it can be organized and given meaning." Dr. Kyle Van Dyke, a family practitioner, found that vision therapy helped his son with autism to have better depth perception and even helped with his speech. Dr. Valerie Frazer of New Horizons says "The research is just catching up to us," she said. "They used to think you couldn't change the brain, that it is what it is. Now we're learning that that isn't true."

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Coordination of Therapies May Make Early Intervention More Effective

Sep 29, 2008

Lakes Region Community Services (LRCS) in New Hampshire understands the urgency of early intervention in the treatment of autism and other developmental delays. They begin a therapy plan as soon as a family contacts them. LRCS assesses each situation and provides appropriate treatment including hearing and vision therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. LRCS utilizes a team approach and coordinates intervention using an In-Home Support Specialist who works with the family so that therapy can continue at home and with as much parent involvement as possible.

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Please comment on this autism topic.

Does Vision Therapy Work?

Mar 18, 2010 by Anonymous

Unfortunately the article written in the NY Times was frequently quite biased. We have the research to show that optometric vision therapy works (http://www.covd.org/Home/ResearchWhitePapers/tabid/188/Default.aspx) for many vision and learning related vision problems. We do not know very much about the vision system and autism. We are just starting to figure out if optometric vision therapy is a form of treatment that can help the child on the Autism Spectrum....you can say the same for many therapies now being developed in this area.

Dominick M. Maino, OD, MEd, FAAO, FCOVD-A; Professor of Pediatrics/Binocular Vision Illinois Eye Institute/Illinois College of Optometry

Questions? Contact me at dmaino@ico.edu


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Please comment on vision therapy or other autism therapy topics.

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    • Synonyms for vision therapy include: Irlen lens, Irlen lenses
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