Seeing Through New Eyes - Changing the Lives of Children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome and other Developmental Disabilities Through Vision Therapy (Paperback, 1st American pbk. ed)

This book advances the case for vision therapy as an integral part of a comprehensive treatment plan for children with ASDs, and provides professionals with the tools to implement this therapy. Kaplan argues that visual dysfunction is a significant but neglected problem associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other developmental disabilities, and that common autistic symptoms such as hand-flapping, poor eye contact and tantrums are typically a response to the confusion caused by vision disorder. The author explains the effects of difficulties with 'ambient vision' - the function that is usually impaired in autistic people - which include a lack of spatial awareness and trouble with coordination. He gives guidance on how to identify the visual deficits of nonverbal children, select prism lenses that will alter the visual field, and create individually tailored programmes of therapy in order to retrain the system. Seeing Through New Eyes is essential reading for any professional in the fields of optometry and ophthalmology, autism educators and researchers, and for parents considering vision therapy for their child.