When a child struggles in school or exhibits challenging behavior, vision problems may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, for families across Central Kentucky, vision therapy has proven to be a powerful solution not only for improving visual skills but also for positively impacting behavior and academic performance.
One compelling story comes from Lexington, where Kari Mullins took her son Cooper to Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD for vision therapy. Not only did Cooper’s visual abilities improve, but Mullins noticed a surprising transformation in his behavior as well.
The Unexpected Benefits of Vision Therapy
Before starting vision therapy, Cooper, age 6, struggled with behaviors that often got him into trouble at school, such as frequently touching objects and people. His mother explains, “He was constantly in trouble for touching everything. I now understand it was his way of trying to gather spatial information because his visual system wasn’t providing it.”
As Dr. Graebe, a specialist in pediatric vision care, explains, when a child’s visual system is underdeveloped or inefficient, they may use their hands to supplement the information their eyes should be giving them about their surroundings. After just halfway through a 30-week vision therapy program, Cooper’s visual skills have strengthened, allowing him to interact more appropriately with his environment. As a result, his behavior has significantly improved, both at home and school.
Kari Mullins shares, “Twice, after visiting friends’ houses, I had moms tell me that they saw a huge difference in Cooper. He was so calm, confident, and agreeable—like a different child. That’s music to my ears.”
A Fun, Engaging Approach to Learning
Vision therapy isn’t just about academic improvement; it’s designed to be engaging and enjoyable for children. Dr. Graebe’s treatment room at the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute looks more like a physical therapy center than a traditional eye doctor’s office. Cooper participates in activities such as slapping one hand to the opposite knee and playing catch while wearing an eye patch, exercises that help him strengthen visual tracking skills essential for reading.
For Cooper, these fun exercises have already shown great results. Before therapy, he struggled with reading, especially when it came to tracking words horizontally across a page. His initial evaluation revealed deficits in five of six reading-related visual skills. But since starting therapy, Cooper’s reading has improved considerably, and he now recognizes sight words and reads signs from the car.
As Mullins describes, “It’s like his world has come alive.”
Vision Therapy: A Comprehensive Solution for Children
Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD, based in Versailles and serving the greater Lexington area, specializes in pediatric vision care and offers customized vision therapy programs for children like Cooper. His approach to therapy is comprehensive, addressing not just visual clarity but how the eyes, brain, and body work together to process visual information.
For families in Central and Southern Kentucky, Neuro-Visual Performance Institute provides an essential service, helping children reach their full potential academically and behaviorally. Whether the issue is reading difficulties, behavioral challenges, or both, vision therapy can offer significant improvements in a child’s life.
If your child is struggling with behavior or reading challenges, it may be time to explore the benefits of vision therapy. Contact Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD at Neuro-Visual Performance Institute to schedule a consultation today. With locations in Versailles, serving the greater Lexington area, and Somerset, we are one of the few pediatric specialty practices in Central and Southern Kentucky. Call 859-879-0089 to learn more about how vision therapy can help your child.
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This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.