Every parent wants the best for their child, but sometimes life’s challenges can make that journey seem daunting. This was certainly true for Mary Ellen Smith and her son Jeremy, who faced significant developmental delays after a difficult birth. Jeremy’s story is one of perseverance and hope, and his eventual success is an inspiring testament to the power of vision therapy.
Early Challenges: Developmental Delays and Clumsiness
Jeremy’s first years were tough. He experienced significant developmental delays, didn’t speak until after the age of two, and when he did, his sentences were often scrambled. Physical coordination was another challenge. He ran with his feet turned inward, fell frequently, and ended up in the emergency room multiple times each year due to injuries. His inability to focus his eyes and constant hyperactivity further complicated his development.
After extensive tests, doctors concluded that Jeremy had suffered a lack of oxygen during birth, leading to irreversible brain damage and hyperactivity. His parents were devastated, but they refused to give up. With Mary Ellen’s background in special education, they began to explore alternative therapies, including exercises for brain injury rehabilitation.
Discovering Vision Therapy: A Key to Success
One of the critical turning points in Jeremy’s journey came through the use of Vision Therapy, even though his mother didn’t realize it at the time. Exercises like “angels in the snow” and cross crawls helped Jeremy improve his coordination and focus. While these exercises weren’t initially prescribed as Vision Therapy, they worked wonders by strengthening the connection between his eyes, brain, and body.
It wasn’t until Mary Ellen began working for Dr. Rick Graebe, a specialist in vision therapy at the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute in Versailles, Kentucky, that she understood the profound role these exercises played in Jeremy’s recovery.
How Vision Therapy Transformed Jeremy’s Life
By enhancing Jeremy’s eye-brain-body connection, his clumsiness and hyperactivity diminished. He began to excel academically, graduating high school with honors, earning a college degree, and ultimately achieving a Ph.D. in International Business and Marketing. Today, Jeremy is a professor at Florida State College, a remarkable outcome for someone who was once told his brain damage was irreversible.
Vision Therapy exercises, such as those provided by Dr. Graebe, offer hope to children and adults alike who struggle with visual challenges affecting their daily lives. Whether it’s clumsiness, difficulty focusing, or challenges with reading and learning, Vision Therapy helps patients develop the visual skills necessary to succeed.
Vision Therapy at Neuro-Visual Performance Institute
At the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of vision problems that affect learning, development, and rehabilitation. With two locations in Versailles, serving the greater Lexington area, and Somerset, his practice is a lifeline for patients across Central and Southern Kentucky.
The institute offers customized programs for children struggling with learning and developmental issues, athletes seeking to improve their performance, and individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries, concussions, or strokes. Dr. Graebe and his team understand that vision is more than just 20/20 eyesight. It’s about how your eyes, brain, and body work together.
Schedule a Vision Therapy Consultation Today
If your child is struggling with learning, clumsiness, or visual challenges, Vision Therapy could be the key to unlocking their full potential. At Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, we’re here to help families across Central and Southern Kentucky. Call us today at 859-879-0089 to schedule an appointment at our Versailles or Somerset locations and learn how Vision Therapy can transform your child’s life.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.