Recommendations for exercises for convergency insufficiency

[ArcticLemming]

Have also posted this in Special Needs, as wasn't sure where would be best.

My DD is in year 1, and aged 6. She has been followed up regularly by an optician as has very slight long sightedness, and on her last visit he suggested she had milde / borderline convergence insufficiency and gave me "pencil pushup" excercises to do with her. I have since read though that these are not particularly effective. Can anyone suggest any other approaches, other than having a specialist appointment / followup with a behavioural optometrist? I'm a bit reluctant to do this because of cost, but am beginning to wonder if it is affecting her learning somewhat. Her reading level is fine for her age, but she regularly misses out small "easy" words like and and the (or substitutes something else) and after reading for a while seems to start mixing up words I know she can read (i.e. will mix up where and there) or when sounding out a new word will use the wrong letter sound. I will obviously dig deep and take her for assessment if this seems to be becoming more of a problem, but was wondering if anyone could suggest further exercises I could do at home in the meantime?
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Assessments are about £120ish ( they take about 2 hours) depending on where you are / who you find:

find one here

Then you will know if there is an issue or not. The exercises are simple, but complicated to explain. My DD (7) is doing them and they do seem to be having results so it's worth investigating at least.

Ask your gp to refer you to an orthoptist on the NHS - they can assess her binocular vision thoroughly and prescribe appropriate exercises

CMOT - I didn't think an ordinary orthoptist could address this issue.

Binocular vision is what they specialise in, and inability to converge is part of these problems

In theory an NHS orthoptist should be able to address it - but in practice they didn't with my DS. I don't know if I was unlucky, or if that's standard.

The best way to address it is with 'Home Therapy System'. The only optician I have found in the UK who will sell it to you is Sheinman Opticans in Northampton.

Other than 'Home Therapy System', the only thing I've found that looks similar is Top Vision Personal. I haven't tried it (because I've used HTS) - but from what little I can tell from the website it looks very similar to HTS.

Othewise there are loads of manual exercises you can do, like you've been doing, and they're not as effective as computerised vision therapy.

HTS has been absolutely brilliant for DS and DD. Totally cured both of their eye tracking and convergence problems. DS described it as 'like a plastic screen has come off in front of my eyes', and DD has (more or less) learnt to read. I highly, highly, highly recommend it if you can get to Northampton (or find someone closer to you who does it)

Thanks IOndigo -will look into that. WE're a long way from Northampton unfortunately but have a specialist BO closer.

Do you have to go to Northampton for this though?

I thought Indigo meant that you just purchased the programme from them and then did it at home.

Or have I got this wrong Indigo?

Dd2 sees both an ophthalmologist and and orthoptist (and saw them for several years on the NHS). I'm a bit baffled why the optician or your gp hasn't referred you...

Skewiff - I think you'd have to go to northampton for an eye test, then they'd sell you the sw and you use it every day at home.

Only way to find out is to ring them :)

Mad - did the orthoptist help your DD?

At home you could try for something different the. 3 cats or dot card.
I would ask the orthoptist on this thread as orthoptists do know and frequently treat convergence insufficiency.

She was under the orthoptist for possible squint until she was two (we have a very strong family history). They discharged her then as they felt she didn't have one - thought it was a pseudo-squint. CI was never mentioned, but then at that age it probably wasn't an issue. I think I will get another ortoptist referal as a start. Indigo - have emailed northampton. Thanks for the ideas concetefeet.