It is SO frustrating to see your child struggle!  You often hear of children that struggled in school and no one can quite put their finger on the problem.  For us, it is a similar story.  A lot of vision therapy students struggle with Reading.  Our daughter, Parker, struggled in Math and demonstrated other concerns, like the inability to tie her shoes as a third grader or the constant rubbing of her eyes to the point that she lost her eyelashes.  The emotional trauma weighed heavily on her heart and she would often say that she prayed to Jesus to help her.

We knew our daughter was bright and it hurt us so much to see her struggle.  I am an educator, so naturally I assumed that there would be answers at school if we searched deep enough.  We completed a parent referral to have our special education department at school do a comprehensive assessment.  (I truly thought she maybe had a learning disability in Math.)  Through the assessment, we found that she had an average IQ and that if anything, she was in the average to above average range in achievement.  They DID remark on some interesting things though...  One was that she processes information differently.  Whereas, most children did well with visuals and manipulatives- Parker did worse.  Also, the Occupational Therapist that did part of the assessment noted that her eyes did not track well, (focusing on and following an object), and that she had convergence issues, (like when you have to focus on something that is coming closer and closer to the tip of your nose).  She recommended that we see an optometrist. 

We went to the optometrist and found that her eye sight was perfect, but that she did in fact have tracking and convergence issues.  He referred us to the MN Vision Therapy Center in Bloomington.  They did a full assessment and explained to us that Parker suffered from a significant visual efficiency dysfunction, notable information processing deficiencies, severely constricted visual fields, and significantly retained visual reflexes.  All of those issues would interfere with her ability to read and process at school.  (They actually said that kids with her deficiencies are typically NOT readers- that she had compensated very well.)

To be honest, I never in a million years thought I would see such progress with Parker.  She has come SO far!!!  Her last Math test was an A-, multiplying double digits.  Just one year prior, she could not add 7+5 nor could she understand that 10 was smaller than 50.  Every night she completes her homework quickly and easily.  Her confidence has improved tremendously and her grades have NEVER been better.  Things are finally starting to "click" for her.  She does not rub her eyes and all of her eyelashes have grown back.  The 21 warts that developed on her little hands, which according to her doctor was probably from stress, have all disappeared...without treatment. 

At her last check-up in Bloomington, she had gone from the very lowest levels to the highest.  Parker is learning skills that are carrying over into every area, including dance.  Vision therapy has been worth every minute of practice at home, every penny spent, and every drive to Mankato.  I finally have my daughter back- full of confidence and ready to try anything at school.  Vision Therapy has changed our lives and changed forever how my daughter defines herself.  Parker now knows that she is a kid that can do ANYTHING with hard work! 

Ranae

Mother of Parker

Elementary Principal