VT Works

If ever you wanted to find someone to testify on what Vision Therapy isn’t, you wouldn’t have to look far. Unfortunately naysayers are common, and they seem to preach the same script – lack of evidence, smoke and mirrors, money hungry practioners blah, blah, blah – I’m sure you know the rest.  But all the posturing and rhetoric in the world surrounding VT’s alleged ineffectiveness doesn’t seem to matter to most patients I meet, especially the kids whose world is falling apart.  They couldn’t care less about what the so called “experts” think.  They just need help.

In a few previous posts, I’ve chronicled Tang’s story – you can find them here and here.  Adopted from China at 5 years old, his life prior was mostly crib-bound with little interaction beyond the necessities.  Because he is mostly deaf he was rarely spoken to, was not allowed to interact with other kids, and from what was shared with his adoptive parents, was treated mostly as an invalid.  After coming to the states with his new family, Tang received many interventions including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Vision Therapy, and was enrolled in American Sign Language courses for children.  As I noted in previous posts, his mom confessed to me that they had tried to teach him American Sign Language on their own with only moderate success, and at times their communication was improvisation and charades.  He also received a cochlear implant at age 6.  Because he had a lot of catching up to do, his “American” life has not been easy, though arguably a vast improvement from his crib-bound days.  To say he was defeated and highly impacted when I met him would be a vast understatement, but lucky for him, his adoptive parents are phenomenal people who have enrolled themselves in a “whatever it takes” mentality to help him find happiness.

Here is a taste of saccades “Tang style” from a few months back.

The saddest day of Tang’s VT program for me was last Thursday – his graduation day. Sad, not because I am worried for his sake, but only because it’s time to say goodbye.  His progress has been incredible, his growth unbelievable, and the rise in his spirit unmatched.  He truly is a great success story.

As a going away present, Tang spiked his hair one last time for me, hoping that I would be willing to take a picture with him. How could I say no?

According to Tang’s parents, his life is forever changed thanks to Vision Therapy. He is reading, he is writing, he is spelling, his eye contact is fantastic, he engages others, he has lost his camera shyness, and for the first time has placed in the upper echelon of ASL for his age bracket.  He truly is a great success story.

No “anti-VT” study or doctor will ever convince Tang that VT doesn’t work.  His success is all the proof he needs that it does. Take that to the bank 🙂