Behavioural Optometrist (Dyslexia)

[Ilovefluffysheep]

Has anyone ever used one/heard of one/recommend one etc?

I read about them on here (from someone who always posts quite a lot of stuff and links in relation to dyslexia). Made a lot of sense, my son is dyslexic and uses a blue acetate to go over all his words to make reading easier. Have had recent eye test and got blue lenses, but they're not as good, and to be honest optician didn't seem to know much about coloured lenses.

I did find a behavioural optometrist kind of locally to us, but when I phoned they said it was private patients only, even for children.

Does anyone know if you can get referred to them on the NHS for a child that has a statement of special needs? Live in Northamptonshire if anyone has local knowledge.

Hi, I haven't been myself but Ian Jordan sees children on the NHS, but he is in Scotland.

www.jordanseyes.com/

We are seeing one in a couple of weeks. We were referred to the Eye Literacy clinic which is in our local hospital (all on the NHS). We were referred through the pediatrician that ds sees for other reasons, but I know he could have been referred through the external SENco who comes to his school once or twice a year. (SENco who works at the school full time had no idea about it)!

My friends son is being referred to the same place via his gp.

We used Ian Jordan, he's mad as a hatter, but lovely! He spent a good long time making sure things were right, and the glasses really helped a lot. Dh has them, Ds did have them and they made a huge difference, but he's sixteen now and won't. Dh won't leave the house without them. He's expensive, but we felt he was worth it. He has trained other people in the uk as he is now in Glasgow.

indiastar where abouts is this place please?

Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS), sometimes called Irlens Sysndrome, is one of the underlying visual processing issues which can cause the dyslexic symptom.
Those who have SSS have a sensitivity to specific light frequencies, including the light refections we use in background paper, font, ink colours, and the various contrasts and glares in life as well (car headlights)

dolfrog, I'm sure it was something I read on one of your links that pointed me in the direction of the behavioural optometrist, have never come across them before.

I am going to mention it to the doctor, as funnily enough been referred back to the gp by the optician! DS apparently has one eye nerve bigger than the other which is quite unusual, although shouldn't be a problem unless one of them changes in size. However, because of this they tried to do other tests like the puff of air one for glaucoma, but because he hates people going near his eyes (like me) he kept blinking and they couldn't do it.

As I mentioned, he is statemented, and he has dyslexia, although they wouldn't commit to that in his statement, and it is worded something along the lines of him having difficulty in acquiring literacy skills. He is around 6-7 years behind on reading age/spelling age etc, and whilst a bright boy is obviously frustrated by his difficulties. There has been no further investigation into why he has difficulty in aquiring these skills, and a lot of your links dolfrog have made sense to me, so would like to look into them further.

Have a look at the BABO website to find a local behaviuor optometrist:
www.babo.co.uk/babo-members/
We go to one in Milton Keynes

Ilovefluffysheep

I have just sorted out my new Dyslexia and Reading links list which you may find of some interest, which includes a link to What is Behavioural Optometry? this may help

Sorry, just seen this thread again. It's down in the south west.

Thanks Indiastar, Thats a shame we're up north so it probably to far.

I would love for DD2 to see a Behaviour Optometrist but the ones ive come across are private and not via the NHS. DD2 is already under our local childrens eye clinic (she very short sighted,) i dont really want to go private as we really need the NHS for her poor vision as its on going and quite complexed.

Does anyone actually know the best way for us to go around this?

Your best bit is to go to Jordans in Ayr. He's the best in the country anyway,

But there isn't actually one closer to you. Here's the list.

Honestly Jordans is fantastic. People go to him from all over the country.

You absolutely should go and see him (sorry I haven't recommended him earlier)

We are very early on in the diagnosis road for ? Specific Learning Difficulty. Initial NHS eye test has told us that DS1 has vision loss (short sighted) and visual tracking issues. On the sayso of the Optometrist we have had to make a referral through the GP to a neighbouring borough for a visit to a Specialist orthoptist in a Specific Learning Difficulties clinic as Manchester does not one! Small town after all!!! We are going 22 miles away, and have a 5 month wait ahead of us.

mrsbaffled, can I ask how much the one in MK is - presume its Lesley Arkin in Stony Stratford, as that came up on the list? I did phone a week or so ago, but stupidly when she said it was private only I didn't think it ask how much it cost. Doh!

Jerbil Where abouts is the one your going to see? im in Sheffield so not a million miles away from you :).

Yes, Arkin's. The initial consultation was only £35, so pretty reasonable. The vision therapy we are about to embark on is pricey, but if it helps it will be worth it. I can't remember the exact price per session, but it's ballpark £40 a session, I think. They charge different amounts for colorimetry(sp?). I would suggest phoning them again and ask them for a break down of prices.

We aren't terribly local (35 mins drive away) and they were happy for us to get DS's reading glasses at out local optician's to save us hassle if they get broken.

We used Fran Howell at Northampton. It was £50 for the consultation and £50 for a written report.
It was money well spent for us because she said that DS is NOT Dyslexic. In fact he performed very well in all the tests. This was a relief to us, because it showed that the things he has trouble with are related to his ASD not Dyslexia.

3cutedarlings Sry it took me a while. it's in Warrington.

Specific Learning Difficulties Clinic, Warrington and Halton Hospital. Dept of Opthalmic Surgery. Get to your GP!!! :-) Apparently they do accept referrals from all over, however, beware of your own PCT. They seem to make alliances with some NHS Trusts and not others. That was how it was described to me. Yet more red tape!

3cutedarlings, I'm in Rotherham. I've come across this fella www.alexgageoptician.co.uk/
WHo apparently expanded to Crosspool in September to start providing behavioural optometrist services. I don't know if you've already heard about him? I was thinking of giving him a ring to enquire about it.

Thanks for this; I keep meaning to call the Crosspool one for DD - now been riminded :)

Hulababy, do you know if he is any good and how much they charge?
Cheers

Thanks Jerbil :)

sazale The problem ive got is that because DD is under sheffield Children eye clinic i really need them to continue with her care. She has a very bad squint and some problems with double vision. So its obviously its important she is still seen there. Private practises often dont want to see them when the are under the childrens clinic. In saying that i have only spoke to one local optometrist they did offer to do the test for which coloured lens/over lays, but they really wasnt keen to do much else.

I do need to really look further into it all, as im pretty sure that it something like this that could well make a big difference for DD2. I will give the one you linked a call and see if they can help. Would be fab if they could, as theyre very local to us.

Is the double vision not caused by convergence problems? That's exactly what a behaviour optometrist can cure.