It is common for children and adults with Learning Disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to have some degree of difficulty with their vision. Commonly their sight is clear, but they have difficulty maintaining clear, comfortable vision over time. Interpretation of visual images can also be difficult.

Symptoms to be alert for:

• Decreased performance with time on task
• Rubbing eyes after reading and/or computer
• Eyes looking red / sore
• Avoidance of close work
• Slowness in copying from board
• Headaches after intense visual activity
• Loss of place when reading
• Complaints about double vision, print "floating"
• Reversal of letters / numbers in children over 7 yrs
• Mixed order of letters in words
• Difficulty catching balls
• Short attention on visual tasks
• Motion sickness

It is a wise precaution to fully assess the visual status of any person who is experiencing difficulty with learning and/or is having difficulty attending to academic work.

Many of the above behaviours and visual symptoms are commonly experienced by people diagnosed as ADHD and/or as having Irlen Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome. It is important to have a comprehensive Behavioural Optometric assessment to rule out underlying visual dysfunctions which may impact on the results of other assessments.

Medicare rebates apply to most of our consultation fees. Health Care card holders are charged a reduced fee. No referral is necessary.

TLL&A now offer Medicare Easyclaim and Hicaps facilities to help claim your rebates.

This screening test uses a scientifically designed and tested reading task to determine whether tinted lenses will make a significant difference to reading performance. If the patient is able to demonstrate a 20% or better increase in reading rate with their selected tint, we then refer them to an Irlen Lens practitioner.

The Visagraph is an eye movement recording system with software that makes it easy to evaluate reading skill while reading for comprehension. This equipment gives us a greater understanding of a person's visual efficiency during the task of reading.

At Thompson, Larter, Lee & Associates we understand that vision is not the only sense that can affect learning and attention. Our practice has a large, active network of like-minded professionals who also play an important role in enhancing learning skills. Our network includes (in alphabetical order):

• Chiropractors
• Developmental therapists
• Educational Psychologists
• EEG Neurofeedback practitioners
• GPs who understand how metabolism relates to learning & attention
• Kinesiologists
• Naturopaths
• Occupational Therapists
• Osteopaths
• Paediatricians
• Physiotherapists
• Psychologists
• Remedial Teachers
• Sound Therapists
• Speech Pathologists
• Others as we find them