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.

I don't sorry. Not used them before. Was initially going to book DD in for an NHS sight test and take it from there.

Indigo No i dont this it is, like i said DD is very short sighted (her perscription is over 6 plus in both eyes). The double vision is cause be the squint and the squint is causes by DDs vision being so bad IYSWIM (well i think its that way round anyway ). The squint cant be corrected with surgery either :( as the weakness in the muscles is cause by the poor vision, which is unlikely to improve anymore than it already has.

She actually has an eye clinic appointment on wednesday so i have a chat with the doctor.

look at the following web sites

www.babo.co.uk/

www.keithholland.co.uk/

BABO site has info for across the country.

I am just going to the spanner in the works about Ian Jordan, he is NOT a behavioural optometrist.
He specialises in coloured lenes only.
A behavioural or developmental optometrist should be looking at eye teaming, focussing, bilateral integration skills as well. If your child has poor tracking then often the colour will make only the slightest difference.

We are currently seeing a behavioural optometrist in London and are halfway through a 20 week course of vision therapy.

My son has Specific Learning difficulties (similar to dyslexia but not). He has apparently always seen double but thought that was how the world looked!

The BO in London did a very thorough assessment of tracking, convergence etc. She explained the various tests and what they showed. She was also able to make his 'lazy' eye switch off (it was quite dramatic!) He is now doing various exercises to improve his peripheral vision, his convergence, and his ability to change focus.

I believe it is making a difference for him. The downside is that it wasn't covered by the NHS, our insurance wouldn't cover it either, and it is very expensive.

Roley we are in the same position as you - about half way through our course of VT. We don't know how long it will be, though. It took only 8 weeks to do the gross motor stuff at the start (RRT...apparently she has another child at the moment who is at the same point and it took a year to get there, so it's obvioos how hard DS has been working) and DS is making excellent progress, so I suspect we won't have to do too much more. I can highly recommend it to anyone in 2 minds. I am so glad we went for it in the end. Yes, it is expensive, but worth it.

Dear Imogengladheart,
So pleased that the colour makes a difference to your child.
The way it should for people who have that issue is to alter the control of cells between the fast acting system and slow acting system. This is known as central/peripheral processing, Magno/Parvo cellular systems.
People who suffer with this may be termed as having scotopic sensitivity or Meares/Irlen syndrome.

I take it that DS will not forget his specs again!

Also look at www.childrensvision.org

3cutedarlings

My own eyesight is now settled at 8+ for both eyes. The NHS is actually pretty good for kids once you get under proper hospital consultant care. It's getting onto the consultants list in the first place that's so hard. The costs of going totally over to private in a growing child who may need their prescription changed as often as every 3 months during growths spurts can get frankly crazy! My eyes would fluctuate between 6 & 10+ during my childhood.

If your child's sight is that poor don't antagonise the NHS bods. If you do go to a private expert for tracking issues,check first that the NHS aren't already on top of it, as you may find it's already under consideration for a later appointment, and that it won't interfere with any therapies for the squint. Eye doctors don't seem to suffer the same huge egos as some of the other specialism's do, so the NHS bods won't mind you asking questions.

I do advise people to go private quite a bit on here for various things, but actually this is one rare case where it might be better to hang onto your cash