Taylor began 1st grade two years ago. At that time her teacher said, “There is just something about Taylor I can’t put my finger on.” She seemed to “zone out” and look into space when given more than one task at a time to handle. Often she would look to others after directions were given to see what they were doing. Taylor hated coloring and had a very hard time learning to write. She could not make eye contact with anyone she spoke with.
The summer before second grade we had an experience with Taylor. She had to use the restroom during halftime at her brother’s flag football game. We sent her directly across the field where the restrooms were located. (This was not a stadium or full size field.) When she came out she turned right, then left and began to walk. She kept walking and walking. I ran across the field over to her to find her in tears. She was completely lost. She could not remember how to get back to us.
Second grade came and within the first month of school I received a phone call stating that the teacher had some concern over Taylor but really wasn’t quite sure what it could be. "Oh no, not this again," I thought. Taylor still was having difficulty forming her letters on paper. She would have to think so hard how to write them that often she would fall way behind.
The class began timed math tests. While everyone else was moving along each day Taylor was stuck at the very first one. She could not write fast enough to pass. Her teacher had the idea to do them verbally and very quickly Taylor caught up. Her art teacher expressed concern to her teacher that at her age she still could not draw a straight line. I could not figure out why she could not write her letters but could certainly identify them??
I was expressing this to a co-worker and she advised me that I really should take Taylor in for an evaluation at The Vision Therapy Center. She said that her son had gone through vision therapy and had much success. I didn’t know where else to turn and knowing that at a young age she was prescribed glasses I figured I would give it a try. Dr. Knueppel recommended Taylor do 36 weeks of vision therapy along with syntonics. So we began…
Taylor spent 45 minutes a week with her therapist Cindy and practiced 4-5 times a week at home. It was a very large commitment and at times I will admit I just wanted to quit. Taylor gave a lot of resistance to me at home – she fought me tooth and nail when I would tell her it was therapy time. She resisted many of the activities and tried to fool all of us. (Little did I know that she wasn’t kidding Cindy and Dr. K.)
Nearing the end of vision therapy things really began to change. There was a very noticeable difference in Taylor. Her behavior became more ‘mature’ and she wasn’t crying at every little bit of criticism given to her. She was making eye contact and talking to adults (something that made her very uncomfortable in the beginning). We even had an experience getting off the elevator at The Vision Therapy Center. We accidentally took it to the wrong floor and she was able to find her way to the therapy center without direction from me! This being the child who could not find her way back across a football field!
Third grade has started and Taylor is doing wonderfully! I keep asking her teacher how things are going and she keeps asking me why I am so concerned? Her handwriting is not perfect but it is good! She has spaces between her words when she writes (something she never had) and her report card was great!! Changes do not happen overnight but again I can’t thank everyone enough at The Vision Therapy Center for hard work, patience, and dedication to Taylor. I thank you for the extra time spent explaining to me what to do and how to help. Taylor’s life will be forever easier and the quality of her life has forever changed as well. To do again, I would say YES given the results I have seen.
This is a success story submitted directly from a client of The Vision Therapy Center. This is a testimonial, and the person submitting the story was not compensated in any way for their contribution.
