Is there a lot of math in this--other than just writing numbers and counting? Perhaps in the later workbooks? My dd is already reading c-v-c words, but is lacking in math. I'm wondering if there is enough in the books to keep her busy or if it would be too easy for her.

Just wanted to update everyone on how my ds is doing in VT. He had his 8th week evaluation with his new dr. (Remember, he had 2 sessions with another dr before I switched to his current dr. We did 8 weeks of home therapy over the holidays in between the 2 doctors that the 2nd doctor gave us to complete). He is scoring at an early 4th grade level in many of the areas!!!!!!!!!!! He went from a 4-5 YEAR old level to this!!!!!!!!!! I am just so pleased. He ran out of the room and told he wanted to do another whole hour yesterday. He knew he had made progress. The one "horizontal tracking" test where there are numbers down the right and left side of the page with random numbers in between with large spaces. He cried over that test for days afterwards because it was so stressful for him. He said he knew he missed a ton of the numbers in the middle but somehow he ended up at the end of the paper. Well, yesterday he did the same test with 100% accuracy! The dr said he only needs to speed it up a little and gain some confidence (he froze up when he saw what test it was). Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know and to encourage anyone who is considering VT for their child. My ds went from barely reading early readers to reading a chapter book series for middle schoolers. We are still reviewing basic spelling/phonics to try to figure out the gaps (because I know he is glossing over some words while he is reading), but overall he is doing wonderfully. I know it is only a matter of time before he catches up fully.

Oh Elizabeth, you do not lie. It hasn't even been 3 weeks since I posted this original thread, and he is JUMPING like crazy. His handwriting has gone from limp, wiggly chicken scratch that floated above and below the line (but never on it) to almost picture perfect printed handwriting ( if he slows down). Seriously, if I knew how to upload pictures I would show you. I pulled out some pages from the beginning of the year, and ds said, "What does that even say? Who wrote that?" He was highly encouraged. AND He just finished reading a long chapter book that is at least middle school level. It took him less than 1 week! His older brother was raving about it and one day he picked it up and couldn't put it down. He read for 2 hours straight one day. I had him read aloud some of the paragraphs throughout the book, and he still was messing up a bunch of the more challenging words, but he definitely understood enough to re-tell me details and plot. His brother hadn't told him about it, but confirmed that he was understanding it. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you all for speaking so highly of Vision Therapy. I feel like my ds' life is going to be drastically different because of this. I can't wait to see what plays out in the next few months. This is only the beginning!

Thank you for all the ideas and encouragement. I forgot about AAS. He made it to level 3 and did great, but it didn't spill over into his writing. Right now we are doing Apples and Pears Book A. I still have SWR and 5 levels of AAS, so we can go back to that if needed. I do not think that my ds is truly dyslexic, but I feel like his vision is causing a lot of these issues. I guess we'll know better in a few months once his eyes are working better.

Hello again. Usually I just lurk on WTM, but I have posted previously about finding a new VT dr for my 10 yo ds. Thank you all for your help in that matter. We went to one session before Thanksgiving, and the new dr gave us a ton of homework before officially beginning after the New Year. My ds just went for his first weekly session, and his convergence distance is already normal (he still doesn't have the stamina/recovery time within normal levels yet). Either way, I am thrilled!!! He is choosing to pick up books to read on his own which he never did before. He spent a few weeks pulling off every early reader off the bookshelves and devouring them--even Bob books! I guess that brings me to my question. How do I help him to make progress? He has obviously missed a ton of phonics instruction since his eyes were such a struggle all these years, but I can't get a clear indication as to what he doesn't know yet. I have done a few leveled reading tests that I found online, and he scores all over the place. I think he *knows* a lot more that what he can read in an everyday setting--just from hearing the instruction all these years. We started with Spell to Write and Read, then went through Phonics Pathways, and some readers (abeka, mcguffy, CLP Nature Readers, etc). Right before we realized this was vision related, we started Fast Track Reading (Dancing Bears). We have been slowly going through this, but some days he confuses me. Sometimes he seems to understand the different sounds and can read a page or 2 with practically no mistakes, and other days it is like he has never been taught....stumbling over the same words he read perfectly the day before. Do I keep moving on or do I need to stay on the page until he can get it correct many days in a row? For example: He has known the silent final E/long vowel rule for 5 years now, yet some days he still reads all the words ending with an E as a short vowel. Other days it is perfect. ????? what do I do??? Also, he has major issues with reversals at times...lefts/rights, b/d's, lots of number digits, and place value? We are doing some VT homework for the lefts and rights, but this does still affect his schoolwork in a major way. He is so smart in math, but gets most of the wrong answers because somewhere in the problem the place value is reversed! Anyway, math aside....he has been stuck on the Magic Treehouse level books for 2 years now! How do I get him past this level? I know he has visual memory issues as the Vision Therapy test results showed, and the dr hasn't really begun to really treat that too much yet. What can I be doing during reading instruction that will help him progress in his reading while we are going through VT? I don't want to just wait 6 months and see if he suddenly "gets it" after his eyes are better.

I'm sorry this is controversial. I didn't realize, nor do I really understand all the ins and outs of this to even have part in the conversation. FWIW, the first COVD dr didn't do any of these exercises nor mention it. The second COVD dr (who has been doing VT for 30 years) didn't use the term, but had him do various exercises in the office and then sent us home with some to do daily for homework. I only knew the term retained reflexes from googling. I do know that this second dr works a lot with autistic children. I did mention all this to my dear friend who is an OT (worked at a special needs school before her ds was born 3 years ago)....she has been around my ds a lot and even has done some informal assessments, and when I told her about the exercises, she said to continue them absolutely....and gave me a bunch more to do! LOL Through the years, she has recommended different activities and such since she has noticed his "quirks." I don't feel like this VT recommendation is off for him at all. It doesn't matter to me who is telling me to do the exercises with him---as long as it helps him. I'm sure others have different situations which it would matter.

I have just started learning about retained reflexes. The new VT sent us home with some exercises, so of course, I googled to find out why an eye doctor was doing such things like snow angels, etc. I've been completely fascinated with the whole idea, but I'm still a little confused. I know I can talk to her during our next session (after new years), but in the meantime, if anyone has any information, that would be great. My main question is about the duck walk / pigeon toed walk that I found online. The VT didn't send him home with this. I had my son try walking like this and his hands go out and in for both and do not stay down by his side. Is this the exercise to diagnose a retained reflex (if so, which one?) OR is it to help inhibit the retained reflex? Thanks so much. I know he still has spinal gallant reflex, but not sure what else.

We have an appointment with the new doctor tomorrow. She is going to give us activities to hold us over until the new year/insurance plan begins. I heard back from another client's mom (who also homeschools). Her child went from barely reading level 1 readers to now reading the Harry Potter books....within 9 months of therapy. I find that encouraging! The other mother did say that she is not particularly high-tech, but she is very interactive and uses a lot of manipulatives.. She works with a metronome, crossing midlines, gross motor movement while chart reading, pattern blocks, etc. Can anyone convince me that this is okay therapy stuff? I'm having a hard time switching from a very high tech office to a low tech one even though I know the interaction will be much better. Am I making a big mistake? Should I go to the third option of a big therapy center which would be high tech? I called and talked to them a few times and just wasn't impressed or felt like they cared to help figure out what is the best way to switch doctors. This doctor seems so caring and from online research well known and respected in the field. I am just so stuck on what activities they need to do in order to make VT a success. Maybe I'm over-thinking it all.

Thank you. My dh and I have committed this to much prayer. I know it will work out the way the Lord plans. My dh has suggested going for 1 therapy session with the doctor we have been in contact with to get her suggested home therapy before the start of the new year. If we don't like her, I guess there wouldn't be too much of a commitment. She is only going to do a quick evaluation since we just went through testing. I have already had her look over the exam/evaluation from the other doctor. Praise the Lord for not having to pay all over again if we do go with her!

This is becoming a very difficult decision. I basically narrowed it down between 2 different offices, but can't find any reviews. The one doctor is asking her clients if they'd be willing to talk, so I guess I'll just wait on that. I've called to the far away/highly recommended drs for who they recommend, but no call backs. What would you advise my main questions should be in choosing a good doctor? I've been reading old posts, and it seems like the more active/hands on sessions are better. Anything else that stands out in your experiences with VT? Anyone want to make a decision for me?!

Thank you. I have heard good things about Dr. Harris, but Dr. Sless isn't on the covd website. I'll see what else I can find out about him. I'm having trouble even finding a website for him.

Thank you. I would look into him some more. Would you mind telling me about your experience? That would be an extremely long drive for me. There are 5 other "fellows" that are closer that I'd love to get feedback about. I'm just not able to find many reviews or information about them.

Am I allowed to cross post this to the General Board? Will I possibly get more info there?

Does anyone have any recommendations? I'm trying to choose between Dr. Diane Serex-Dougan in Baltimore MD Dr. Berger/ Dr. Taylor in Ellicott City, MD Dr. Hollenbach/Dr. Christa Roser in Dallastown/York, PA OR if anyone has any other recommendations in the general area!

Thank you again for all the feedback. I will call the doctor and ask for some recommendations. I also found a local homeschooling loop and asked for recommendations there. I really appreciate all your help in this matter.

Please if anyone has any recommendations for VT near the MD/PA line, please let me know. I'm willing to drive for a good one!

Thank you all for your time to reply back--especially to a "newbie." I have talked twice to another VT dr who is a little further away. She talked to be for 10-15 minutes each time! She is the one who is 50 minutes one on one. She offered to look over my ds evaluation results and give her opinion on VT. She also suggested I just wait until the new year so that I don't have to pay my out of pocket network deductible twice. Do you all think ds is okay waiting until January? She said we could meet once if I wanted some "home therapy" ideas (although she gave me bunch over the phone also). He has glasses and the brock string and some letter charts. I am a little concerned that she isn't "state-of the art" in the newest VT gagets. She has been practicing for like 20 years, so she isn't into all the computer software and all. Here are snippets of the email back answering some of my questions. Please let me know if this sounds like what your children are doing in VT. I just really can't afford to make another mistake picking another VT. *************************** Thank you for sending all the information. I would still estimate that C--- would need at least 24 sessions. I don’t give the computer program (usually) for home. I would rather work on it in the office so I know that he understands the concepts and doesn’t just figure out how to get the answers. I work on a lot of perceptual skills. It seems like I add more all the time but a lot of memory, visualization, spelling, etc. I usually do progress evaluations every 8-10 sessions. I do it as part of the VT session. I do the “learning†aspects while working on accommodation/convergence. I do use the computer for some scanning and the eye teaming skills. I have made some power point slides of grade/age appropriate sight words that are flashed on the wall at a variety of speeds to help the kids learn to process quicker. I don’t use the PTS program. I prefer “hands†on puzzles, etc to help them figure things out. We learn better by doing and also by integrating all our sensory inputs. I use a metronome a fair bit. Much of the gross motor helps with reversals. I do address it throughout therapy. ***************** What do you all think? Does anyone have an awesome VT in the Maryland/PA area? Thanks so much!

Well, he certainly isn't blowing me away with what he can do. The dr. didn't really even adjust his homework this week. I had my other ds time how many times/how long the dr was out of the room (he took anther child to another room or was talking to the receptionist or other parents), and it was about 13 minutes yesterday. DS was in the therapy room for 28 minutes. DS could tell me more what the other children in the room were doing than what he was doing. The dr did say that ds did 6 activities yesterday, but some of those only 1 or 2 repetitions. The other week he did 3. I remember now what the dr said to me after the session. "Your ds is probably really mad at me. I worked him really hard." I thought, "Uh, how do you know how hard he worked. He could have just been faking looking at the bead on the string, etc. You weren't watching his eyes." I really do feel like he is cramming patients in. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.

Thank you all. Yes, I think I'd be okay if his prices reflected the shorter time, but it seems like all the drs in a 3 hour radius charge the same price (even up to $30 cheaper) for double the length of time in the session.:confused: The dr did tell us that he overlapped patients for 5 minutes when the student was doing work on the computer ( all in the name of helping with distrations), but what my ds is telling me is different. The dr is only in the room to explain how to do something and then he watches for a second and then leaves to talk to another parent. From what I'm seeing in the waiting room, the dr is constantly going in and out. I have asked about another appointment time (we had a scheduling conflict), and he said that this is his block of time for VT clients. He did mention that we could come before he opens for the day which would be better if we didn't live so far away...although now I'd be worried that he'd be busy getting ready for his day with regular eye patients. How many different activites are your children completing during their sessions? Thank you all. I'm really contemplating all of this and need to make a decision before his next session. I may go in for a consult with another dr. I wish I had looked into the other drs before just going with the closest. Of course, none are *close* so I shouldn't have minded another hour drive. :)

Thank you for your reply. So, 20 minutes isn't all that short of a time? I kept reading about 45-50 minutes. One thing that I guess wasn't clear....the dr is the "therapist" assigned to my ds. He is the one working with him, yet he isn't in the room half the time. The other therapist doesn't come over and sit with him when the dr. leaves the room. Plus, sometimes the dr has VT sessions with 2 children whose times are overlapping. He had told us it might overlap 5 minutes, but it seems like it is 5 minutes at the beginning and 5 minutes at the end with another child, so only 10 minutes one on one (when he isn't giving the homework). Is this pretty normal/acceptable?

Hello! This is my first post here, but I have lurked for years. Finally getting the courage to post.... My ds is 9 and was recently evaluated for Vision Therapy. He has gone for 2 sessions already. How long is each VT session supposed to last? The first week it was 20 minutes, and the second one was almost 1/2 hour. I timed other kids going in and out and they were all about 20 minutes. We were told a half an hour per session, but now I'm thinking that is too little of time. Also, there are other children's sessions overlapping each other and the dr goes out of the room to discuss homework with the parents, so my child is being left to do a lot of the work on his own. This just doesn't seem right to me. Perhaps I'm overreacting. My ds said that there was 3 children at all times in the room (one child was working with another therapist), and the dr only watched 1-2 of the activities. I timed it and I think the dr was only in the room about half the time. The dr also does sports vision therapy for the local high school and says that he incorporates that into his sessions later on. I have read that is a good thing. These other issues are major red flags to me, but should I be so concerned as to pull him out and find another dr after already starting therapy with this one? DS has started making improvement so perhaps it is fine if he is just doing the exercises and homework. Another big thing that is making this a little difficult is that this dr is covered under our insurance and our insurance already is stating that it would cover 14 out of the 24 weeks. I called the next closest dr, and she doesn't accept any insurance, but her sessions are 50 minutes, one on one, no other children or therapists in the room. Her rate is $30 less than the 20 minute dr. :confused: Advice please!