A sense of where you are - how vision shapes the way we move
A Talk by Susan Barry Ph.D. (Professor Emeritus, Mount Holyoke College)
About this Talk
Strabismus (misaligned eyes) is found in approximately 50% of children with cerebral palsy and is also common in children with autism and Down’s syndrome. Since strabismus prevents the child from using the two eyes together, it disrupts their ability to know where they and other things are in space. Many are stereoblind. Children with strabismus reach for objects more slowly and with less accuracy, have a harder time moving through a cluttered environment, and may struggle with reading. Strabismus is often treated with surgery, which helps the eyes to look more aligned but may not improve the child’s vision. However, optometric vision therapy provided by a developmental or behavioral optometrist can teach the child to coordinate their eyes, develop stereovision, and move with more efficiency and accuracy. Since I had strabismus since infancy but learned to coordinate my eyes and develop stereovision with optometric vision therapy, I can describe how strabismus impacted my vision and ability to move through my surroundings.
Hosts
Owner, Pia Stampe CP Consulting
PT, DPT
