2012年2月26日 星期日

Natural ADHD Treatment: Vision Therapy


Not all cases of ADHD are caused by a deficiency in the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. New research shows that inattention and the learning disorder problems common in ADHD children may actually be caused by a vision disorder. When this is the case, an ADHD natural treatment called vision therapy might help.

It's easy for undiagnosed vision problems to be mistaken for symptoms of ADHD. Vision problems make it difficult for a child to read for extended periods of time, focus on schoolwork, and achieve high grades. Around 20% of school-aged children are afflicted by different types of undiagnosed vision disorders, even if conventional eye exams show that they have perfect 20/20 vision. The reason behind this is that problems with eye focusing, eye teaming, eye alignment, and visual endurance cannot be detected by the conventional Snellen chart. These can only be identified by comprehensive eye exams that test for visual acuity, visual motor integration, and eye tracking, among other things.

Problematic vision and the ADHD symptoms that come with it may be treated with vision therapy or vision training. This highly individualized treatment program aims to correct visual motor deficiencies caused by a number of factors, including nervous system trauma (i.e., from birth injury or head trauma), delayed sensory-motor development, and genetic factors (i.e., lazy eyes, crossed-eyes). Vision therapy doesn't just focus on the eyes; it re-trains the whole visual system, which also includes the brain and the body. In a sense, it is a type of neurological rehabilitation. Aside from correcting these problems, this treatment also aims to help the child's brain process visual information correctly so that the child can comprehend and react quickly.

Approaches to improving vision vary according to the child's specific problems and the doctor that provides it. Generally speaking, the treatment includes techniques that enhance eye movement control, binocular vision, focusing ability, and eye movement. Computer software and specialized optical devices like therapeutic prisms develop the child's visual endurance and motor skills. During the last leg of the program, the child's new visual skills are continually reinforced and made habitual through repetitive tasks and activities that integrate vision skills with motor skills. These exercises guarantee the long-term effects of the program and the benefits of improved visual performance.

Unlike the traditional medical treatment for ADHD, which involves administering a one-size-fits-all medication, vision therapy is designed around the child's conditions and symptoms, and the parents' goals. As such, the length of vision therapy programs varies from several months to a year. The benefit of this approach is that your child is working towards a goal and towards health benefits that will last for the rest of his or her life. To avail yourself of vision therapy, look for a doctor who specializes in rehabilitating vision disorders or in learning-related vision problems.




Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is ADHD.





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