Autism Spectrum
Autism spectrum disorder is a whole body disorder that affects the lives of many individuals. The brain, the body, and the eyes are all connected. At Pediatric Vision Associates, we have the tools and knowlege to adequately evaluate a child on the spectrum.
Vision & Austism Spectrum
Its typically understood the unusual behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder is related to the disorder. However, there may be visual problems that, if detected early, can potentially make a difference in enhancing their quality of life. Much of their stimulus is visual. Poor eye contact, side viewing/looking, and visuo-spatial deficits such as hand-flapping and flicking hands near the face are all signs of a vision deficit that, with a comprehensive visual efficiency exam, can determine if lenses, prisms, or optometric vision therapy can functionally help these patients.
Yoked Prism
Most children with autism use their vision inadequately. Autistic people can often experience anxiety, confusion or distress related to their visual perceptions. This can be from their own or others’ bodies moving in space or simply to other objects moving around them. The disorganized, confusing, or overwhelming visual perceptions can trigger stressful reactions.
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Yoked or ambient prisms can help autistic children use their vision to experience their own bodies and their spatial environments in more effective, positive and safe ways. For example, prisms can create immediate unconscious positive changes in posture, balance, and attention. These positive postural, sensory or perceptual changes can significantly increase the autistic individual’s feelings of physical comfort, safety, and security. And these increased feelings of well-being lead to decreased feelings of anxiety and sensory overload and much more.