Help with Visual Processing
Does anyone know what kind of therapy one seeks out for help with visual processing?
My daughter does have an actual visual impairment, but the ophthalmologist said her vision is now fine with glasses so it's just a processing thing. She runs full speed looking at the scenery, not at where she's going. She wants to climb rocks like kids even younger than her but won't bend her knees or use hands to navigate, she just wants to get there without thinking about how. She goes on the monkey bars but falls on her face because she doesn't look for the hand holds. She is fine and balanced for repetitive movements like a learned dance, or even scootering as long as it is a wide open space and she's alone.
Who could help with this? It's not vision therapy because it's not her vision. It's not PT because it's not a physical thing. It's not what OT is for elementary school kids, her handwriting is fine. She needs to learn to use her vision for feedback from the environment around her.
I know I was also like this when I was younger, but I have also always danced and that training helps. Not sure if it's ADHD inattention or dyspraxia, or both, but regardless I'm getting tired of watching my daughter get hurt and not be able to do thing that her friends can Does anyone have any suggestions?
I had similar problems when I was a kid and I've overcome them somewhat in environments that I'm familiar with, although I get challenged in new settings. I'm autistic and have sensory processing disorder, sensory integration disorder, plus vision issues with tilted optic disc syndrome and thin retinas. Ophthalmologists and optometrists told me my vision was well-corrected with lenses and eventually LASIK, until I found an optometrist that did deeper testing. It's challenging to put together a spatial model of new surroundings with visual, auditory and tactile sensory information (which can make driving in a new area pretty scary). I cope with it through cautious exploration until I get used to the new environment, but some years ago I also went through a sensory training program that helped some. It was at the Sensory Learning Center in Niwot, Colorado, which is largely for kids, but also accommodates adults. It combined visual and proprioceptive input in a focused way to help train the brain to put the two streams of sensory data together. It was sort of pricey. I imagine there are similar programs in various locations. You can check it out here: http://www.sensorylearning.com/program.php
Thanks for all the info, I'll check it out. It seems like it should be easy to teach someone to look where they're going, but it's actually so complex.
I know I was also like this when I was younger, but I have also always danced and that training helps. Does anyone have any suggestions?
You might see if she likes dancing. I have a Playstation 4 and there are Zumba dancing cartridges. And my young granddaughter (about your daughters age) just loves to dance with the music. She may be out of step, but she uses a lot of energy up when she dances and it brings her joy. It is a great stress reliever.
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