Curing learning-related vision problems | Dr. Vicky Vandervort | TEDxLincoln
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- čas přidán 30. 11. 2014
- This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Optometrist, Dr. Vicky Vandervort explains what it is like for a person to have eyes that work but do so inefficiently causing the person to exert extreme effort to see. When this occurs, people, especially children, do not realize the drain on their brain. They try hard, but appear not to be trying at all. She’s found that curing the “vision problems,” in most cases, cures the problems identified as academic problems. “When the visual obstacles are removed, the child begins to excel in school, music and sports. Futures brighten. Self-confidence climbs and a new child emerges from the old, much like a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis. The possibilities are endless.”
Dr. Vandervort, earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Iowa where she majored in elementary education with a minor in early childhood development. She taught in the Lincoln, Nebraska school system for four years. After earning her Doctor of Optometry degree at Southern California College of Optometry, Dr. Vandervort combined her two degrees and has dedicated her career to helping people of all ages maximize their potential in the classroom, workplace and their leisure activities.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
I’m 25 and I’m starting vision therapy on Tuesday! My whole life I’ve always fell behind everyone else, I misplaced thing frequently, I had headaches and motion sickness, and I struggled in school. I had no idea it was because of my eyes. I’m so excited to start!
Hi Spencer
What happened do you cured from convergence insufficiency ?
Thank you Dr. Vicky for getting the word out about how we can help. My greatest joy is helping the young ones before they start to feel bad about themselves.
Wow, you are wonderful, you have explained it masterfully , I wish I'd had this video to show my parents, when I was 8, now I am 39, and after 31 years struggling with reading and learning issues that have almost drawn me to suicide, I can now have a reference video to show to anyone so they understand what I and millions of other have been through. I had the beliee that I was not capable of being as good as other students at highschool, and was really feeling depressed , but I was able to go to college and earn a Bsc in molecular biology. Nonetheless I was not good enough, my memory was not at the levels necessary to go on and earn a phD . Its really hard when you dont know whats going on. After doing my own research I found that it was related to my vision, and 10 years after I found an behavioural optometrist in Mexico City who actually helped me to recover stereovision in 3 months of intense therapy. Now back in Spain, the fees are much higher and what cost 20 $ for 2 hours of therapy, here costs 60 for 45 minutes of basic therapy. I wish to go back to mexico just to focus on therapy one day and get back 3D vision and reading abilities.
Woow, very inspiring.
Which Dr (practice) in Mexico.
I myself supper from strabismus.
Dr. Vandervort, you are are very right. I have a son (now an adult) who had serious problems in school; he could read words, but when not a paragraph or a page and know what he read. We took him to two opthalmologists who, each, had him look out of one eye and a time, and declared: "20/20. Nothing wrong with him!" They were so wrong. Accidentally, we stumbled into the concept of Developmental Optometrist and took our son for diagnosis and then treatment. He then was able to read. Of course, he had in effect missed years of schooling because of his earlier problem. We then sent others of our children, and, indeed, I went for a course of training myself and found that the treatment improved my reading efficiency tremendously. For those who say "too bad she didn't share any tools for curing CI," my response is: She did! Find a Developmental Optometrist and go through a course of treatment. There is no magic pill. It takes a course of treatment. But our experience shows that it works and works well.
She worked with my son and he is doing great now.
Thank you Laura!
Thank you! I am almost 72 and have been struggling with this all my life. I now have an optometrist who is doing my Developmental Vision Evaluation in three days and then I’ll start on daily vision work. I am so optimistic. I’ve always ‘craved’ to read but never could. It’s much worse since the age of computers and internet. My vision is so blurry sometimes I can’t focus (make out what the words are) no matter how hard I try.
Woow very good of you, never
Thank you for speading the word.
This has been a condition on mine my entire life. Thank you for this video.
The second video concerning "Eva" is one of the vision disorders I deal with every day. I was diagnosed when I was 49. I wish I new of a peer support group because vision therapy can be very difficult.
Oh my gosh. I am pretty certain that I’ve been living with this all my life. I am 42 years old now and as a kid I had double vision. But what has seem to happen, is my brain has stopped processing information from my left eye making my right eye dominant. The best I can explain it is my left eye is like peripheral vision. If I want to see out of my left eye I have to close my right eye and force my brain to process the information being received from my left eye. This was a very interesting talk.
Thanks for the info!
Inability to read and concentrate leads to low self esteem leads to depression and sometimes thoughts of suicide. Taking your child for their annual eye exam should be enough. CI going undetected for 18 years makes me feel like a bad parent. But better late than never.
Thank you!
Great information.
I've had this condition my whole life and have only just recently found out about it. I always had a lot of trouble with reading and with schoolwork, but I might not have if had I known why. It kills me to think that I could have been so much further ahead. Agh!
John Vogt I am sorry to hear your frustration but it is not too late!! I have treated many adults successfully and so have my colleagues. Go to www.covd.org and type in your zip code and find a doctor who can help you!
+John Vogt Exactly. :(
agreed!!!
Great talk. Keep up the good work.
Thank you.
Nice job Dr. Vandervort!! :-)
I've found out I have this problem but that I'm 18 now so have gotten used to it; I read all of the time even as a child and I've recently had my exams at A Level and need to use a computer to write them because of my handwriting.
I always thought that my eyes hurt after school and at lunch because I didn't drink enough until last week as the opticians
There are some excellent new testing and training "tools" being used for VT that I have found to be helpful. These are Fixation Disparity Targets and Vectographs made by Vision Assessment Corporation known collectively as the Binocular Vision Dysfunction Diagnostic Treatment System. The Nearpoint of Fixation Disparity Test appears to be a particularly sensitive test for CI and the GEM and BASS series of vectographs are excellent vision therapy targets for convergence and divergence training.
my twin grands & others have CI & other issues. I'm pretty certain I do too tho I'm 58 and haven't been diagnosed. What bothers me is my twin grands were allowed a year of therapy via Medicaid but their therapist wrote a letter to my grands school recommending they have more therapy via an occupational/vocational therapist and I tried to get them a 504 plan. But the school refused admitting they have a visual disability which THEY maintain doesn't effect their academics. Wrong! They both have struggled since Kindergarten tho they test out as gifted! If there's a lawyer who cares please contact us!
Wow! The school district need to learn more about CI
Too bad she didn't share any tools for curing CI. Is eye tracking equipment being used to test treatment effectiveness? Are there any new tools being used for VT?
Optometric vision therapy is the key - you'll need to locate a developmental optometrist to help you out. The Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial was a large, randomized clinical trial that confirms vision therapy's effectiveness. Good luck to you!
Nicholas Onken What does your reply have to do with my questions?
Bruce Santhuff optometric vision therapy is the tool used to cure CI, in response to your first sentence/question. Eye tracking equipment can be used to evaluate vision therapy progress however CI is not a TRACKING issue but a TEAMING issue so the answer to your second question is no. The answer to your last question is YES - optometrists and vision therapists are developing new tools all the time. You seem to be wanting to know about vision therapy effectiveness and what tools are used in therapy, so I guided you to the CITT study. Hope this helps!
Nicholas Onken VT is not a tool. It's a set of exercises using tools.
So according to you eye tracking equipment CAN be use to evaluate progress but ISN'T. That's interesting.
I'm NOT sure why you think I don't know WHAT CI is.
So SOMEONE is DEVELOPING new tools all the time. What ARE they and how effective are they?
ThaNKs
Bruce Santhuff I am looking for new tools along the lines of Dr. Eric Hussey's Electronic Rapid Alternate Occlusion Goggles.