Incorporating Behavior Modifications, Strategies, and Supports to Maximize the Effectiveness of Vision Therapy in the Autism Spectrum Disorder Population

Abstract

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders has increased almost two-fold since 2007. This increase has facilitated a need for a new approach in vision therapy when treating deficits in accommodation, binocularity, oculomotor, and visual processing in children with autism. The clinician may face challenges when treating this population because children with autism may have difficulty engaging in reciprocal conversation, have poor attention due to sensory overstimulation, be resistant to change, or be non-verbal. This paper seeks to compile effective behavior modifications, strategies, and supports used by other professionals, such as teachers, and physical, occupational, and behavioral therapists, that may be incorporated into optometric vision therapy to maximize visual outcomes for this patient population.