Full Course Description

Assessing & Treating the Visual System in Children and Adolescents

The visual system is a beautiful, complex system that allows us to enjoy and explore the world around us. However, when not working properly, this delicately balanced system can also hinder development and academic performance in children.

This recording introduces the components of the visual system and their interactions in pediatric motor and academic skills. Explore common visual system problems that can limit the progress and potential of pediatric patients with autism, neurological disorders, and ADHD.

Gain the skills necessary to assess visual problems and practice these skills during the seminar. You will explore the treatments of common vision-related problems, including evidence-based treatments and real-world examples, increasing confidence in your own practice abilities. In addition, you will learn to use the visual system as a tool to improve gait and balance. Master treatment ideas that can be used immediately and effectively in your practice to improve outcomes in your young patients.

Program Information

Objectives

Explore the anatomy and physiology of the visual system from cornea to cortex
Recognize eye movement disorders associated with common pediatric diagnoses
Demonstrate techniques to assess for eye movement difficulties
Communicate the role of the Magnocellular visual pathway in balance and toe-walking
Recognize the signs of a faulty near-vision system and the implications of reading and visual motor integration
Demonstrate evidence-based techniques for treatment of eye movement defects
Articulate common ICD-10 codes for eye movement disorders
Explore the equipment (high tech and DIY) needed to provide state of the art vision rehabilitation to your pediatric patients

Outline

ANATOMY OF THE VISUAL SYSTEM

The anatomy of the Orbit
Muscles of the eye
The visual pathways of vision in the brain

THE VISUAL PATHWAYS AND THEIR EFFECT ON BALANCE AND POSTURE

Parvo and Magnocellular pathways
Magnocellular pathways
Binasal Occlusion

ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF COMMON EYE MOVEMENTS

Tracking
Saccades
Convergence
The Near Vision System
Lab Time

PATHOLOGICAL EYE MOVEMENTS

Suppression
Strabismus, anisometropia, and amblyopia
Nystagmus
Convergence Insufficiency
Accommodative problems

CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED EYE MOVEMENT ACCURACY

Neurological conditions
ADHD
Dyslexia

MID-LEVEL VISUAL PROCESSES

Visual motor integration tips
Visual processing disorder
Visual perceptual deficits

CODING AND GOALS FOR EYE MOVEMENT PROBLEMS

ICD-10 codes common for eye movement problems
Basic goals for eye movement problems

STARTING YOUR VISION REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Equipment sources
High tech and DIY equipment for treating eye movement problems
Resources for more information

Target Audience

Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapist Assistants
Early Intervention Staff
Educators

Copyright : 11/12/2018

BONUS: Pediatric Neuroplasticity Interventions for Sensory and Primitive Reflex Integration

Our brains can be rewired to enhance new learning. In some cases, the brain acts as an adaptive mechanism to compensate for lost function or maximize remaining function in the event of brain injury.

As therapists, when we treat the causes and symptoms of these motor delays, we can utilize alternate brain pathways to improve the effects of therapy. Neuroplasticity treatment advances motor and cognitive functions in the brain.

This course delivers new and exciting ideas on how to detour around damage and incorporate viable nervous system connections, from congenital abnormalities to traumatic brain injuries. You’ll learn how to use therapy approaches that can change the brain in the areas of reaction timing, motor control, language, and sensory development and how neuroplasticity can positively affect challenges some children have such as poor auditory processing, hinders in reflex integration, delayed developmental milestone achievement, poor language development, and more!

In this recording, you will gain creative and evidence-based approaches to incorporate into a multisensory experience and drive home the importance of diverse and novel activities during treatment sessions. Video case studies will demonstrate changes before and after integrative neuroplasticity treatments. The therapy techniques learned in this one-day course can be easily integrated into the clinic or home as early as the next day!

Program Information

Objectives

Assess the primitive reflexes’ influence on movement patterns.
Assess the multilayer approach using neuroanatomy and brain function.
Evaluate strategies to incorporate techniques into home programs for parents and caregivers.
Appraise the importance of positive treatment sessions and verbal cues.
Analyze the relationship between brain dysfunction and tone abnormalities.
Inspect different approaches to changing low and high tone qualities.

Outline

NEUROANATOMY & BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

Brain stem and functions
Occipital lobe
Temporal lobe
Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe

BEYOND THE LEVEL OF BRAIN DAMAGE

Neurodevelopmental screens
Examples of damage
What is working and what is not
Where to rewire
Therapy in infants – faster change
Going deep into the brain

DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS – HOW TO APPROACH TREATMENT

Developmental milestone review
Sensory motor development
Vision
Vision and hearing
Speech Sensation
Primitive reflex patterns and influence
Going back a step-in therapy treatments

NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM FOR POSITIVE CHANGE

Lobes next door
Videos of before and after sensory
stimulation combinations
How vision can be stimulated
Education for parents and caregivers
Shaping neuropathways

RESULTS OF NEUROPLASTICITY TECHNIQUES

Changing brain connectivity
Primitive reflex integration and increased active movements
The “team” – patient, therapist, and parent/caregiver
Sensory stimulation to promote appropriate motor response
Smooth movements
Strength is not the same as tone
Simple activities to present to parents

INTEGRATING NEUROPLASTICITY INTO THERAPY

Sensation is 3-dimensional
Vision exercises
Sensory stimulation for high tone vs. low tone

Target Audience

Physical Therapists
Physical Therapist Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Counselors
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Speech-Language Pathologists
Social Workers
Psychologists
Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
Early Childhood Special Education Teachers
Early Childhood Staff

BONUS: Dyslexia, Dyscalculia & Dysgraphia

Strategies for...

Increasing sequencing and memory
Reading ability including instant improvement
Handwriting
Increasing words written
Math skills
Improving processing speed
Reducing anxiety, including test anxiety
Stopping reversals

Dyslexia, Dysgraphia or Dyscalculia are among the most complicated learning disorders seen in education today. Many of these students struggle to complete academic tasks, maintain social relationships with peers and adults, and are constantly under stress.

In this seminar, you will learn how underlying deficits related to executive function, visual-perceptual and visual-motor skills, and auditory processing skills affect a student’s ability to read and write at grade and age appropriate levels. Participants will explore the impact visual processing, cognitive development and organization have on acquiring mathematic ability, and understand how to support and teach struggling math learners.

This presentation shows you how to identify underlying deficits and develop IEPs or 504 plans that effectively address individual student needs. You will develop a plan that includes game-based learning, assistive technology, phonemic and phonological awareness practice, focused auditory interventions and simple techniques to help with visual processing ability.

Upon completion of this program, you will be able to provide strategies to address your student’s/client’s:

Visual perceptual skills
Reading rate, accuracy, fluency, comprehension
Visual motor integration
Phonetic awareness and memory
Auditory and visual memory
Spelling and handwriting struggles

Program Information

Target Audience

Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, Speech-Language Pathologists Teachers, Occupational Therapists & Occupational Therapy Assistants, Other Helping Professionals that Work with Children

Outline

Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia
- Anxiety and stress: physical and emotional
- IEPs and 504’s
- Accommodations and supports
Evaluate and Assess for:
- Executive Function
- Auditory Processing
- Visual Processing
- Phonemic Awareness
Treatment Strategies
- Executive Function
  - Typical Development
- Sensory Development – Auditory Processing
  - Typical Development
  - Impact on Reading and Writing
  - Auditory attention
  - Focused listening
  - Sound discrimination
  - Sensory Development – Vision
  - Typical Development
  - Impact on reading, writing and math
  - Behavioral Optometry
  - Visual attention
  - Visual sequential memory
  - Visual form constancy
  - Using colored overlays
- Phonemic/Phonological Awareness
  - Typical Development
  - Impact on reading and writing
  - Effect on comprehension
  - Sound/symbol correspondence
  - Auditory bombardment
  - Chunking and blending
  - Whole-classroom activities
- Anxiety
  - Ability vs. Performance
  - How to recognize anxiety in the classroom
  - Planning and organizing to reduce anxiousness
  - Creating opportunities for success in the classroom
  - Peer support
  - Self-advocacy
- More Treatment Strategies for…
  - Reading
  - Written Expression
  - Math Concepts and Calculation
- Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia in the Classroom
  - When, why, and how to introduce Assistive
  - Technology
  - Hands-on activities
- Case Studies/Experiential Group Activity
  - Create an intervention plan for LD students

Objectives

Formulate and implement plans for comprehensive evaluation to identify diagnostic criteria and underlying deficits present in students with reading, written expression, or math learning difficulties.
Develop IEPs or 504 plans that provide students with the instruction and support they need to be successful in reading, writing, math, listening comprehension, and oral expression.
Choose student-centered accommodations based on recommendations of the International Dyslexia Association and Americans with Disabilities Act.
Design effective strategies to treat underlying deficits in the areas of executive function visual processing, auditory processing, phonemic/phonological awareness, memory, and anxiety to improve reading, writing and math skills.
Teach students self-advocacy and anxiety management skills related to classroom performance, meeting deadlines, and project completion.
Utilize low-tech and high-tech assistive technology supports to help students access information through text, improve study skills, complete written assignments and help with math calculation.