A McFarland child, Anna Mischio, was helped so much by a technique called vision therapy that her parents, Greg and Sharon Mischio, became advocates of the therapy.
Through their efforts, Dr. Kellye Knueppel of the Vision Therapy Center will be giving a presentation at the McFarland High School library on July 16, 7-8:30 p.m. Dr Knueppel will speak on the topic: "The Link between Vision and School Performance: What You Don't Know Could Help Your Child."
If people have any questions about the presentation, they can call 262-784-9201.
Sharon Mischio, a third grade teacher at Waubesa Intermediate School, tells how she became concerned about her daughter Anna when Anna was in kindergarten.
"I noticed that Anna was seeing letter reversals, which is common at that age," said Sharon Mischio. "She was not interested in learning to read. Also, she did not want to learn to ride her bike and she had a lot of tummy aches."
Because Sharon and Greg became concerned about their daughter's lack of interest in learning to read or learning to ride her two-wheeled bike (even with the training wheels on,) they decided to have Anna take an intelligence test.
"There was a big point spread between her verbal and her performance score," said Sharon Mischio. "I knew something was going on. I went on the Internet and Googled that. I found that one of the causes is undiagnosed vision problems, so I kept reading and found the Vision Therapy Center in Brookfield."
Sharon Mischio said that the Vision Therapy Center Web site had a checklist of symptoms (for children who might benefit from vision therapy.) "Anna fit all of [the symptoms] and by this time she was in first grade in Kim VanBrocklin's class."
"Anna had her first exam at the Vision Therapy Vision Center in October," Sharon Mischio continued. "[Anna] continued going to the Vision Therapy Center once a week for nine months. I had to drive her to Brookfield. There was no center in Madison yet."
Sharon Mischio said that Anna had to practice every day at home for 20-30 minutes. "It was hard," for both mother and daughter. "[Anna] had tracking issues and focusing issues. She had to train her brain so her eyes could work together."
Mischio explained that glasses can correct eyesight, but vision involves additional skills, such as converging, fixation and teaming. The brain organizes all these skills and gives it meaning. Vision is the ability to understand what is being seen.
"The day Anna finished her vision therapy, she got on her bike and rode away," said Sharon Mischio. "Her depth perception was much better, so she wasn't afraid to ride."
"The difference [in Anna] was amazing," said Sharon Mischio. Anna who is now 10 tested in the 99th percentile on the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam in fourth grade.
"She loves school and loves to read now," said Sharon Mischio. "When we first heard how much it would cost [$5,000], we didn't know if we could afford it. But we would do it over, [Anna] was such a frustrated little girl. We'd do it again. Now she can show her strengths and her personality.
"This [vision problem] would have messed up her whole self esteem," Sharon Mischio continued. "I had two students in my class I sent to vision therapy. It is a very common problem.
"My dream is to get everyone tested at the preschool level," Sharon Mischio continued. "The therapy must be done by someone who is qualified. It is a shame the ophthalmology community does not agree [on the value of vision therapy.]"
Mischio said that if she sees kids in her class who might benefit from vision therapy, she tells her story.
"Anna's first grade teacher said that Anna made more progress in one year than any other student she's seen. [Anna] started the year as a nonreader and left reading at the third grade level," said Sharon. "Her reading level has gone up. She's now reading at high school level."
Anna was at a neighbor's house, swimming in a backyard pool, but she got out of the pool to talk to The McFarland Thistle about her experience with vision therapy.
Asked how she felt about reading before the therapy Anna said, "I just knew it was hard. It made me feel sick."
"My instructor [at the vision therapy center] and I would work in a computer room. Afterwards, we'd play games and I'd jump on a trampoline. It was fun," said Anna. "I'd pick something out from a treasure place [at the end of the therapy session.]"
Anna said she would work on eye exercises with her mom each day for an hour or a half an hour and that eventually reading became easier.
"In third grade, I was the most advanced reader in my class," said Anna. "It sort of takes a while to get used to it. [The vision therapy exercises] are kind of boring. It's so much better when it's done. . . And you get to miss school [to go to the therapy sessions.]"
Dr. Knueppel and vision therapy The McFarland Thistle asked Dr. Kelleye Knueppel how she came to be involved in vision therapy.
"God's hand led me there," said Knueppel. "I learned in college about sports vision, about how you could improve your vision so you could do better at sports. I learned about the relationship between vision and learning.
"In the end, I do little with sports vision. [Helping people who have vision related learning problems] has become my passion," said Knueppel.
Knueppel is a developmental optometrist specializing in vision related learning problems, sports vision, strabismus and rehabilitative optometry.
"Optometrists in the 1930's came up with the idea for vision therapy which is training eyes to see better," said Knueppel. "Mostly they worked with kids who struggled with learning because of crossed eyes or wandering eyes. I do that, too."
What is vision therapy?
Understanding how vision therapy works begins with distinguishing between sight and vision. Sight is the ability of the eyes to see clearly. It is one of the many visual skills that make up vision. Vision involves a wide range of additional skills, such as converging, fixation and teaming. The brain organizes all these skills and gives it meaning. Vision is the ability to understand what is being seen.
If someone needs vision therapy, it's because one or more of their visual skills is not working correctly. The only way to pinpoint those skills is through comprehensive testing.
When the skill in need of correction is isolated, actual vision therapy begins. This non-invasive treatment involves retraining the muscles that control the eye to work properly. Vision therapy is often described as "physical therapy for the eyes."
Asked why there is resistance to vision therapy in the ophthalmologist community, Knueppel said, "Ophthalmologists are medical doctors with an emphasis on eye surgery. Their training is not developmental.
"Now we [optometrists] treat eye diseases," Knueppel continued. "The emphasis for years had been on prescribing glasses. We are more interested in the functional level. We come from a different place."
When parents take their child to a well-respected eye doctor who says no vision therapy should be used, "It's frustrating," said Knueppel. "I keep telling parents to do the research - to look at facts and not opinion."
Knueppel says she advises parents to look at the research done on the specific problem their child is having.
Asked about the cost for vision therapy, Knueppel said that the $3,000 to $5,000 is about what it costs for braces.
"I had someone say he would have sold the farm to pay for vision therapy because it helped his child to do well in school," said Knueppel. "How much is it worth to have a child who has been struggling, start to do well?"
Knueppel said that her company will work with people who can't afford the treatment.
"We work to get the best outcome for the child," said Knueppel. "Most insurance plans will pay a portion. Insurance coverage ranges from 100 percent to nothing at all."
She explained that vision therapy is working on vision skills that are learned.
"If an eye has a big scar, we can't help," she said. "But if the person has trouble with his eyes working together, he can learn how to do it."
Some people may need to practice the skills after they are learned for maintenance, said Knueppel.
"The bottom line is people need to understand this and want it," said Knueppel. "If more people want [the vision therapy], doctors will learn to provide it."
Having an eye exam and finding out one has 20-20 vision does not rule out a vision problem, said Knueppel. "An eye exam doesn't test for these problems. When we talk about visual related learning problems, I don't mean that I teach reading."
Knueppel said that the vision center can refer parents to tutors if needed.
"Sometimes after vision therapy is completed, it takes awhile for kids to start learning," she said. "It can take a year or two. McFarland [School District] is excellent. The teachers really help [students who are having vision problems.]
"This is not a miracle cure for learning," Knueppel continued. "In some cases, it takes a while to catch up in school. A child may have dyslexia or some other learning problems. Working with tutors may be helpful. Unfortunately, we're often the last resort."
Most people find Knueppel through teachers, but "more and more through the Internet."
Knueppel founded The Vision Therapy Center, Inc. in 1995. The center is located in Brookfield. In April of 2009, The Vision Therapy Center opened a new Madison location.
Both centers are dedicated solely to vision therapy.
For more information, go to the Web site at www.thevisiontherapycenter.com or call the Brookfield Vision Therapy Center at (262)-784-9201.
