In Dr. Rick Graebe’s 30 years of optometry practice, he has noticed a disheartening trend: too many children are misdiagnosed. Whether labeled with ADHD, dyslexia, or poor study skills, the underlying issue can often be traced to their visual system. For students, this is especially significant, as over 80% of classroom learning is processed visually. Misdiagnosis in these cases means children are left struggling unnecessarily, and their potential goes untapped.
The Visual System: A Key to Academic Success
A student’s visual system needs to function optimally to succeed in school. If the eyes and brain aren’t working together, academic performance can suffer. In fact, studies show that three out of four children with reading difficulties have vision-related problems, particularly with binocular vision, which is the ability of both eyes to work together.
Dr. Graebe’s commitment to preventing failure in the classroom is one of the driving forces behind his work. Based in Versailles, Kentucky, Dr. Graebe’s practice, Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, focuses on helping children overcome vision-related learning difficulties. His passion for working with young people comes from their potential. “Kids are open, they’re not set in their ways, and we can really make a difference in their lives,” says Dr. Graebe.
Addressing ADHD Without Medication
Dr. Graebe acknowledges that ADHD is a valid diagnosis, but he believes that many children are misdiagnosed when their actual issue lies in their vision. Instead of relying on medication, Dr. Graebe offers Vision Therapy, a kind of physical therapy for the eyes, brain, and body. This interactive therapy is designed to help children in a fun and engaging way.
Vision Therapy addresses three main problems within the visual system:
- The inability of the eyes to point and focus correctly.
- Difficulty tracking across the page while reading.
- Problems processing and understanding what is seen.
“When a child is expending all their energy just to make sense of visual input, they have no energy left for comprehension,” explains Dr. Graebe. He compares the struggle of a child with vision problems to trying to separate “noise from the signal.” When their visual filters aren’t working correctly, it feels as though the world is full of overwhelming noise.
Turning Down the Volume on Sensory Overload
At the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, Vision Therapy involves exercises that integrate the senses, helping children process visual information more effectively. The therapy room looks more like a physical therapy gym than a typical optometrist’s office, with balance beams and exercise balls helping students combine their visual system with other senses. This approach has been incredibly effective, as evidenced by the numerous testimonials lining the walls of Dr. Graebe’s office.
Vision Therapy helps children tune out the “noise” and focus on what truly matters. By addressing these vision issues, Dr. Graebe is helping students across Central and Southern Kentucky unlock their academic potential and regain confidence in their abilities.
Schedule a Vision Evaluation Today
If your child is struggling in school and traditional interventions haven’t worked, it’s time to consider their vision. At Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, Dr. Rick Graebe, a developmental optometrist, specializes in diagnosing and treating vision problems that often go unnoticed in routine eye exams. With locations in Versailles, serving the greater Lexington area, and Somerset, Dr. Graebe’s practice is one of the only pediatric specialty practices in Central and Southern Kentucky. To schedule an appointment, call us at 859-879-0089 today.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.