What is Behavioural Optometry?
When a child’s vision isn’t working well, no matter how hard the child, parent and teacher try, this can interfere with the child achieving their best.
Behavioural optometry goes beyond an eye test, it considers information which each eye is taking in and processing, as visual processing is the key to our understanding of text, symbols and numbers.
In addition, vision assessments performed during a Behavioural Optometry eye examination will help identify and investigate:
Poor eye motor control
Lazy eyes
Developmental delays
Acquired brain injuries
Concussion
Delays in learning to read or,
Problems learning to read.
How do I know if my child needs to see a Behavioural Optometrist?
Many children with reading difficulties have a vision problem. These vision problems are often related to focusing, eye teaming and stamina. Children with these vision problems may find it difficult to concentrate when reading or writing. Or they may not be as accurate or fluent in their reading, especially when reading for longer periods.
Even if your child can see the board clearly in class or has 20/20 vision, they may still have a vision problem. Sometimes, children may not develop the necessary visual processing skills to understand letters, numbers or words. They may also struggle with the hand-eye skills needed for writing, causing problems with literacy or numeracy. Our optometrists can assess these conditions and provide guidance and help, where required.
At For Eyes Optometrist, we use state-of-the art equipment to conduct a thorough ocular examination. The child centred examination is interactive, fun and painless, and takes about 45 minutes to complete.
Adrian Rossiter, is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists (ACBO). Sinead Denny is also a member of ACBO and experienced in conducting eye examinations for children.
