Children that have been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder (SPD) have several limitations when it comes to everyday functioning. Even if a child has 20/20 vision, problems can still occur due to the effects of SPD. Ignoring the problem can lead to additional issues in adulthood and this is why in addition to an eye doctor, a child with SPD can get extra assistance through vision therapy. Professionals can use this therapy to help your child through four specific difficulties that come with an SPD diagnosis.

Light Sensitivity

Children with sensory processing disorder can experience disorientation and mood changes due to both natural and artificial light. Sudden exposure to sunlight, bright flashlights, or overhead lights can cause different reactions in children. Vision therapy sessions can help children cope with lighting changes through a variety of exercises and activities.

In a controlled environment the therapy can help a child adjust to lighting through various tests and activities. Special eye wear may be used to help a child cope with the lighting changes too. This can help with vision, balance, and focus in all types of situations.

Spatial Awareness

Another common problem for children with SPD is a lack of spatial awareness. This is the ability to process your own body in relativity to other objects and open space. A lack of the spatial awareness can cause a children to bump into objects, trip, and appear to be clumsy. By attending vision therapy sessions, a number of methods will be used to help make a child aware on their surroundings. On the small scale, the child can work with different blocks and objects to be aware of how they are set up. When changes are made to the blocks and structures, a child can notice the differences and see how small changes effect the environment.

On a larger scale, a therapist may put a child in an obstacle course. By going through a course, a child will be aware of different objects and obstacles that need to be avoided to successfully make it through. Instead of just racing through, a child can take their time to process the obstacles and clearly understand the best method for their body to go through them. Through multiple sessions, a child will build up proper spatial awareness and improve their everyday skills.

Reading & Tracking Text

No matter how large a child's vocabulary is, SPD can cause reading problems, especially when following large blocks of text. It's easy for a child to lose track of text when going from line to line. While in therapy, there are several tools and reading worksheets to help improve with these visual issues. One type of tool is a special reading line that can be used to follow from line to line. A therapist can also teach the child the best methods for reading. This can help remove distractions and keep a child focused on going from line to line.

Sometimes, the white background and black text are part of the problem. Therapists may use special reading worksheets and books featuring larger text, different colored pages, and high contrast text. As a child goes through multiple sessions, they can transition to regular text and improve for everyday learning.

Hand-Eye Coordination

A child with SPD may have trouble with basic hand-eye coordination. This can have a negative impact through everyday activities, cooking, athletics, or small skills like using a pair of scissors. By attending visual therapy sessions, the hand-eye coordination of a child can slowly be improved. A variety of activities done in the therapy will help children work on the hand-eye coordination. Multiple activities can also be done at home to help supplement the skills and build the coordination a lot faster.

By making a consultation with a doctor, you can explain your child's specific problems and help set up a therapy system that is catered to them. The personalized sessions will help your child thrive and minimize the problems that come with SPD.

For more information about vision therapy, contact a company like Absolute Vision Care.