Visual Information Processing evaluation

Vision doesn’t occur in the eyes. Visual perception occurs throughout the brain. In order to better understand a patient’s visual system, a set of standardized tests is used to evaluate her ability to process visual information gathered through both eyes. Below are the various aspects of vision that may be evaluated. 

Visualization – the ability to form mental image and manipulate details in one’s mind. This is important in reading comprehension and math.

Visual–Motor Integration – evaluates the ability to match motor output with visual input. It is crucial for handwriting accuracy and efficiency as well as eye-hand coordination in sports.

Visual Sequential Memory – the ability to remember objects or words in the sequence they appear. A deficit in this area may result in misreading words such as ‘saw’ and ‘was.’

Visual Discrimination – the ability to differentiate between two similar looking objects, shapes, or words such as ‘horse’ and ‘house.’

Visual Closure – the ability to have part of the information and infer the rest. This is an important skill in reading speed and math.

Spatial Relations – the ability to perceive the position of two or more objects in relation to each other and in relation to oneself. This is an important skill in problem-solving, high-level math, and proper spacing between words when writing a sentence.

Spatial Orientation – required in understanding and recognizing the direction of objects. A deficit in this area lead to letter (b, d, p, q) and number (6 vs. 9) reversals.

Laterality – the understanding of rights and lefts on the patient and in space.

Directionality – understanding the proper orientation of letters and numbers.

These tests are highly recommended for the patients with learning related visual problems. The test result will allow us to understand how our patients use the information gathering from the both eyes and to provide the best treatment program tailoring our patient’s need.  We understand that some areas of visual skills may be tested by psychologists if your child has been assessed by school or private psychologists.  Our tests are more specific for testing vision related skills. Since all tests are standardized, the test results could be used for supplement information for your school. 

Primitive Reflex Evaluation 

Vision starts to develop at birth or even in utero. (click here for the timeline of vision development). At Academy of Vision and Learning, we take a developmental approach to our vision therapy program. For that reason, we want to make sure the patient’s visual system has matured at all developmental levels. we assess whether certain primitive reflexes (that developed in-utero and early post-natal) may still be present and interfere the visual development process. 

We assess the following primitive reflexes:

Moro – aka: startle reflex

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) – leads to the head-righting reflex

Spinal Galant (SG) – may lead to fidgeting and bed wetting if retained

Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) – leads to crawling and cross-pattern movement

Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) – helps the visual system aim near to far

Palmar Reflex – may lead to poor handwriting or speech delays if retained

For more information regarding primitive Reflexes,  Click here  Primitive Reflexes by Sally Goddard, et al.

Functional Vision Field Evaluation

Constrictions in visual field (tunnel vision) can affect visual processing, coordination, and learning. At Academy of Vision and Learning, we evaluate the following, 

Functional visual field test

This is a different visual field test than the visual field for Glaucoma at your eye doctor’s office. This test doesn’t test for pathology of visual system. It is the only test for functional visual field. Patient with difficulty of learning or of paying attention, and patient under stress can have constricted functional visual field, which can be expanded with our treatment of syntonics (click here for treatment option). 

Pupil assessment

We assessment how the pupil response to the light. It is regulated by autonomic nerve system, parasympathetic and sympathetic branch. By careful assessment of the pupil reaction, we will assessment how balance between the two branches of autonomic nerve system is. 

These tests are recommended for patients with learning difficulty or attention problems or patients experience visual symptoms from stress, such as head trauma, emotional stress from life or work).