Occupational Therapists
״We seamlessly process objects, words, shapes, colors, movement and faces simultaneously within milliseconds with the mechanism rarely, if at all, flickering into our consciousness. Perhaps because of the apparent ease with which we are able to see, we live with the illusion that seeing is easy.״
Are you seriously considering the critical role of vision in patient care during your meetings as an occupational therapist?
Why isn’t 20/20 Eyesight Enough?
Our ability to understand and interact with the world hinges on our senses, and vision plays a pivotal role in this process. However, comprehending how vision connects with sensory processing and motor skills can be a complex endeavour. Often, vision is taken for granted as an inherently effortless function, leading to its omission from many professional discussions. Challenges related to sensory processing and motor skills are frequently attributed exclusively to sensory or neurological causes. While this is sometimes the case, the reality is often more nuanced.
The Silent Influence of Vision on Motor Tasks
One aspect of vision that often goes unnoticed is how it guides various visually guided motor tasks. For example, when children are learning to write, their vision plays a crucial role in coordinating hand-eye movements, spatial awareness, and fine motor control. By understanding and ensuring that any underlying visual issues are addressed, you can help children improve their writing skills and overall academic performance.
Another task in which vision plays a critical role is ball-catching.
This young boy needs to know where the ball is in space. His ability to compute the ball’s location is entirely dependent on his visual system. You can enjoy 20/20 eyesight but still not have the visual efficiency to enable that computation to occur accurately and rapidly. The result? You do not manage to catch it.
Similarly, for individuals recovering from TBI or stroke, visual impairments can impact their ability to perform everyday tasks. Integrating vision-based assessments and interventions into your therapy sessions can provide crucial insights into their rehabilitation journey, leading to appropriate referrals, more effective interventions and better outcomes. Understanding more about the visual profile of special populations e.g., people with Down syndrome, will help you to help your client more effectively.
What can you do to help?
So, what can you do to help your patients address their visual issues? If you suspect that your client is grappling with visual challenges, recommend a visit to a board-certified neuro-developmental optometrist. For a list of signs and symptoms, refer to our Vision Therapy Page. Not every optometrist specializes in neuro-developmental optometry, so we’ve made it convenient for you to locate the nearest one here. A neuro-developmental optometrist will evaluate how well a person manages to meet the visual demands of all the aspects of their life. They may prescribe glasses specifically for reading, work or even for improving stability when walking. They may also recommend optometric vision therapy. Optometric vision therapy is a supervised program to enhance vision skills, including eye teaming, eye tracking, and eye focusing, while improving visual processing. To understand more about how optometric vision therapy can improve the life of your patients visit this page.
The Solution
Occupational therapists are dedicated to facilitating progress in sensory processing and motor skills. Yet, to provide the most comprehensive support, it’s crucial to consider the role of vision as an integral part of this journey.
A comprehensive assessment with a neuro-developmental optometrist, of how effectively the eyes gather information, how this data integrates into sensory processing, and whether sufficient cognitive resources remain for effective motor skills development is an aspect that warrants more attention. Often carefully prescribed performance-enhancing lenses will be prescribed.
How Understanding Vision Enriches Occupational Therapy
Recognizing the significance of vision in the occupational therapy process allows for a more holistic approach to improving sensory processing and motor skills. Vision impacts every aspect of daily life, from reading and writing to coordination, and balance.
By incorporating a deeper understanding of how vision influences sensory processing and motor skills, occupational therapists can make appropriate referrals to a Neuro-Developmental Optometrist and enhance the quality and effectiveness of their own therapeutic interventions.
By considering the critical role of vision in patient care, you can elevate the standard of care and make a profound difference in the lives of your patients.
Invite Robert Lederman: Elevate Your Occupational Therapy Practice
For occupational therapists seeking to expand their insights into the role of vision in sensory processing and motor skills development, inviting Robert Lederman as a speaker can be a transformative step. Robert Lederman boasts 35 years of experience working together with occupational therapists in clinical diagnosis and management of vision-related issues that impact learning, attention, and performance. He has assessed over 17,500 patients in his clinic, LedermanVision, and has emerged as a sought-after lecturer, captivating audiences with his wealth of knowledge and research findings.
Want to learn more from an expert?
Book Robert Lederman for your next meeting, whether it’s live, hybrid, or an online seminar. Learn from one of the best in the field and gain a deeper understanding of the role of vision in posture and motor function, and when to consider vision in your treatment plan.
Transform your next event with a captivating lecture from Robert Lederman
Contact us at the office today and find out more about his live presentations and webinars on the critical role of vision in our lives
I am not just an optometrist; I am a passionate advocate, educator, and speaker with a track record of over 400 presentations. I am on a mission to contribute towards awakening the world to the critical role that vision plays in determining our performance in various areas of life.
Through engaging live speaking events, I have had the privilege of sharing my expertise with professionals across diverse fields, including remedial teachers, neurologists, educational psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, family doctors, ophthalmologists, music teachers and more.
Together, we explore the profound impact that vision has on their work, uncovering new possibilities and strategies for enhancing patient outcomes. With a personalized and interactive approach, I create memorable experiences that empower and inspire. Let’s connect at your next conference, event or webinar where I can bring my wealth of experience and insights to ignite a collective understanding of the extraordinary power of vision in transforming lives.
Learn From a Vision Expert
Invite Robert Lederman to Speak
Invite Robert Lederman to your next meeting and explore vision’s pivotal role in affecting therapy outcomes. Gain insights into vision beyond 20/20 and learn to recognize potential visual struggles in clients and when to refer to a neuro-developmental optometrist.
Robert Lederman has 35 years’ experience in clinical diagnosis and management of learning, attention, and performance-related vision issues. He has seen over 17,500 patients in his clinic, LedermanVision (ledermanvision.com)
Robert Lederman has been sharing what he knows about vision for 35 years. He is a sought-after lecturer, fascinating and enthralling audiences time after time as he shares his knowledge, research findings and clinical observations regarding the pervasive role of vision in our life, and all that can be done to improve the way we do seeing. He is a visiting lecturer at The Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, Haifa University and has delivered over 400 presentations around the world about many aspects of vision. And he is ready to enrich your professional group too!
