My son started vision therapy about six weeks ago. We were warned that he might need to be doing this for a year or more, but even in the first month he’s started doing embroidery and word searches, and being able to focus on something I’m trying to show him without crying and looking away. I guess I’m just frustrated that it’s been five years since he was diagnosed, and for all the professional paediatricians, occupational therapists, educational psychologists (and optometrists!) he’s seen in his life – none of them suggested he might have a vision problem. I figured this out because his Symbol Search score in an educational assessment was remarkably lower than his other intelligence scores, and ignored the psychologist who told me that ‘processing speed issues are unfixable.’

Sometimes you just really need to trust your instincts about your self or your child and keep on asking until you’ve found someone who understands the question.

Just to add, Smita Trivedi – a Behavioural Optometrist based in London provided my daughter (asd) with vision therapy from age 3- 5 years and she was able to move from york prism lenses to normal lenses that she uses now. She is now 12 years in Secondary sch and continues to wear normal lenses but definitely without vision therapy, I do not know what kind of life she would have now.
My son also has asd with vision issues which are improving thanks to Smita’s specialist input.