What's HOT (Horizon's Occupational Therapy)

What beautiful eyes we have... but are they really working?
I have the great opportunity to see children with a lot of different disabilities, ranging from mild to significantly impaired. Many of these kids have vision delays that go unnoticed. Did you ever think about a child who has a difficult time reading, and couldn't figure out why? Many children have difficulty with being able to track with their eyes smoothly in different directions, crossing the mid-line (middle part of their bodies), and cannot sustain (hold) a gaze with their eyes. Some kids on the autism spectrum tend to use whole head movements (not using just their eyes), or only their peripheral (side) vision to quick spotlight what is necessary. Other children may have pupils that are too large or small, which could effect their sensitivity to light.
Visual surrounding can be overwhelming as it can seem like a big blur of colors and shapes if your eyes are not working well.
About 70% of our sensory information of what defines our world is visual. The images we see help construct settings, mood, and memory. What we can see can insulate us from harm, and envelop us with delight.
Spend a few minutes each day giving your children's and your own eyes a workout. Play eye spy games, flash light tag, volley a balloon around, go outside and explore something up close, then farther away, quickly look right and left, and try a staring contest in different directions. Think about other ways that you can exercise your eyes to achieve the full benefit of those beautiful eyes.
Sarah OT