Seeing Through New Eyes: Changing the Lives of Children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome and other Developmental Disabilities through Vision Therapy [Paperback]

Melvin Kaplan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2005

Seeing Through New Eyes offers an accessible introduction to the treatment of visual dysfunction, a significant but neglected problem associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other developmental disabilities.
Dr. Kaplan identifies common ASD symptoms such as hand-flapping, poor eye contact and tantrums as typical responses to the confusion caused by vision disorder. He also explains the effects of difficulties that people with autism experience with "ambient vision," including a lack of spatial awareness and trouble with coordination. Other chapters give guidance on how to identify the visual deficits of nonverbal children, select prism lenses that will alter the visual field, and create individually tailored programs of therapy in order to retrain the system.
This book is essential reading for parents of children with ASDs, and professionals in the fields of autism, optometry and ophthalmology, psychology and education.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Melvin Kaplan, O.D., is Director of the Center for Visual Management in New York. He is a qualified Doctor of Optometry, and has previously worked as a clinical instructor of behavioral sciences at New York Medical College. He has published a significant body of research on ambient lenses and their role in the rehabilitation of individuals who display dysfunction in learning or emotion, and those with autistic spectrum disorders.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1 edition (October 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843108003
• ISBN-13: 978-1843108009
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars See to Learn, See to Work, See to Play, February 20, 2006

By 

Cathy Stern "OD, FCSO, FCOVD" (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seeing Through New Eyes: Changing the Lives of Children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome and other Developmental Disabilities through Vision Therapy (Paperback)

Seeing Through New Eyes is an introduction to the treatment of visual conditions that go beyond 20/20 eyesight. Developmental or behavioral vision care can have a significant impact on behavioral, social and learning problems associated with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Poor eye contact and other behaviors are often the result of difficulty with "ambient vision" that drives spatial awareness, visual organization and balance/coordination. Dr. Kaplan gives guidance on how to identify the visual deficits of nonverbal children, select performance lenses that will alter ambient vision and how to create individual vision management programs in order to assist each individual in achieving maximum success in life. This book is essential reading for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and professionals in the fields of autism, optometry, ophthalmology, psychology and education.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Teacher Should Read this Book!, July 17, 2009

By 

L. Shaffer (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeing Through New Eyes: Changing the Lives of Children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome and other Developmental Disabilities through Vision Therapy (Paperback)

This is not just an autism (or spectrum) issue! I read the book. Bought copies and shared the book. My children are also being treated by Dr. Kaplan. Having tried "vision therapy" locally, I now know it isn't all the same. If you scoff at vision therapy or have had an unproductive experience, try Dr. Kaplan! Or find someone who had read his work and is following his approach. After 2 years of intensive reading and remedial reading work with my son who has no behavioral problems, no developmental disorders, is very good at sports, and has good social skills, I concluded he was too bright and working too hard to be reading two years below grade level. His eye doctor said he had no visual issues and had 20/20 vision. The reading specialist suggested reading is hard and to just keep working on it then recommended new exercises (which were good). Dr. Kaplan examined my son, put him in a pair of prism lenses, gave him a reading paragraph (above grade level) he had never seen before and asked him to read. My son read fluently and quickly- better than he's ever read- and most importantly he read without stress! Every teacher should read this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vision Therapy, October 31, 2009

By 

Marie Douglas - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Seeing Through New Eyes: Changing the Lives of Children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome and other Developmental Disabilities through Vision Therapy (Paperback)

Dr. Melvin Kaplan is a leader in the field of vision therapy. This book is an excellent resource for parents and professionals to understand how and why vision therapy works. Dr. Stephen M. Edelson the Director of the Autism Research Institute has conducted over 30 years of research in the field of autism writes the forward to this book. As a retired pediatric registered nurse and mother of a son with autism I am so thankful we have such dedicated professionals helping our children reach their potential. Both these two men are so dedicated to helping our kids and I know first hand how much vision therapy from Dr. Kaplan helped my son. The results were amazing, my son was afraid to catch a ball or play sports of any kind, after vision therapy he played sports (floor hockey and basketball), he no longer walked on his toes or flapped his hands and no longer had difficulty maintaining his space when standing in the school lineup. He also won a spotlight dance contest with a girl in his class (prior to vision therapy he was not able to stand close to the other children without being agitated because he had a great deal of difficulty with his depth perception - this was corrected with vision therapy). This book is a must read for any parent of a child with autism or other developmental disabilities.
Marie Douglas