Visual Perception Treatment for Autistic Children: A Gift of Sight

Because autism affects each child differently, determining the specific treatments your child requires to cope with his or her symptoms can be difficult. Visual perception issues affect some autistic children (though not all). You can give your child the ability to see the world more clearly by using some standardized methods to help improve visual perception, making learning and comprehension easier and possibly reducing some behavioral issues as well.

Sensory overload and distortion are major issues for autistic children. These are some of the same issues that many people who are not affected by the disorder face, which is why so many treatment options have become available. Individuals with autism, on the other hand, frequently find that the sensory overload of the world is too much for them to handle, causing them to act out or shut down in general. Because this is sometimes a genetic condition that is simply exacerbated by autism, if the child's parents struggle with reading or have been treated for visual perceptual issues, there is a good chance that the child will as well.

The Irene Method is one effective treatment method for visual perception disorders. Color is used in this method to create a more harmonious world. If anyone has ever suggested using a color filter over the page when reading to read better and faster, you've probably heard of this method. This method has been proven to work, and if your autistic child has reached the reading maturity level, you may want to experiment with these color filters to see if there is a difference in speed and comprehension. However, your autistic child is more likely to benefit from color filters throughout the day, not just when reading. To combat this issue, special glasses with colored lenses have been created. Because not every child reacts the same way to every color, determining which color is blocking the harmful light requires trial and error. You can also use colored light bulbs in your home to assist autistic people with visual perception issues.

This technique primarily benefits children in four areas: depth perception, social interaction, learning, and physical well-being. The colors assist the child in determining how far away an object is, and the world becomes more three-dimensional, aiding depth perception. Social interaction improves as well because the child perceives himself or herself to be in a calmer world and can more clearly see and interpret facial expressions. The colors make learning possible, especially when reading, and the child will feel better overall because it helps reduce headaches and dizziness. You can help your child cope with the world and his or her autism by testing this and other techniques to help with visual perception problems.