Autism Spectrum & Vision
Autism is a whole-body disorder — the brain, the body and the eyes are all connected.
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Autism: when a child can’t say it
What to Know About Autism Spectrum & Vision
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, and at Vision & Learning Center we have the tools and the knowledge to adequately evaluate a child on the spectrum.
It is typically understood that the unusual behaviors of a child with autism spectrum disorder are related to the disorder itself. But there may also be visual problems that, when detected early, can make a real difference in quality of life — and much of a child's stimulus is visual, including the visual reasons behind avoiding eye contact.
A comprehensive visual efficiency examination determines whether lenses, prism or optometric vision therapy can functionally help these patients. We adapt the evaluation to each patient's needs and sensory profile, and we build therapy to be supportive rather than overwhelming.
Care is coordinated with families, occupational therapists, ABA therapists and educators — vision therapy works alongside the other therapies a child is already in, not instead of them. If you are not sure a vision problem is what you are seeing, start with the signs and symptoms we help with.
Signs & Symptoms
- Poor eye contact
- Side viewing — looking at people and objects from the corner of the eye
- Visuo-spatial behaviors such as hand-flapping or flicking the hands near the face
- Anxiety, confusion or distress tied to visual perception — their own or other people's bodies moving in space, or objects moving nearby
- Differences in visual attention and in how visual space is processed
- Sensory overload in busy, visually complex environments
When the Underlying Vision Problem Is Treated
Treating a vision problem does not treat autism. What it can change is how comfortably a child takes in the world around them — which is why a functional vision evaluation is worth ruling in or out.
“While we do not offer a cure for autism, when the underlying vision problem is treated, these children become more cooperative, have better eye contact, are better able to interact and adapt to their surroundings, and improves their ability to learn”
— College of Vision Development
Yoked Prism
Many children with autism use their vision inefficiently. Autistic people can often experience anxiety, confusion or distress related to their visual perceptions — from their own or other people's bodies moving in space, or simply from other objects moving around them. Disorganized, confusing or overwhelming visual perceptions can trigger stressful reactions.
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. Prism can create immediate, unconscious positive changes in posture, balance and attention. Those postural, sensory and perceptual changes can significantly increase an autistic individual's feelings of physical comfort, safety and security — and those increased feelings of well-being lead to decreased anxiety and sensory overload.
Whether prism helps, and how much, is decided by careful testing during the evaluation. For more, read prism glasses vs. vision therapy and anxiety or discomfort in crowded or visually complex environments, or work through our symptom checklist before your visit.
How We Help
Care starts with a comprehensive developmental and binocular vision evaluation that pinpoints exactly what's happening. From there, Dr. Murray builds an individualized plan — which may include lenses or prism, in-office vision therapy, and coordination with your other providers — at our Boynton Beach and Boca Raton offices.
Related Topics
More on Special Needs & Development
Vision in children with developmental and neurological conditions, and what an exam can change.
Concerned About This?
An evaluation will tell you clearly whether this is what's going on — and what to do next.