jolene77 - follow your gut. 2-E children can often compensate for reading difficulties in the early years. But, as the volume and complexity of reading and writing increases from grade 5 and beyond, they can begin to fall apart. AND the research is clear - early intervention is more effective and efficient.
Beware of treating dyslexia with vision therapy. Dyslexia is not a visual processing issue - it is a difficulty with phonemic processing and sometimes rapid naming/ orthographic processing skills. While some children have comorbid issues with visual issues, the vast majority of the time, the visual system is not the primary cause of the reading difficulty and focus on the vision system rather than the phonological system can delay the primary and most effective intervention: a systematic, rules based, multi-sensory, phonemic based reading program.
This is an expert from a joint statement on Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, and Vision from
American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Ophthalmology, Council on Children with Disabilities, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, American Association of Certified Orthoptists,
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/124/2/837 "Learning disabilities, including reading disabilities, are commonly diagnosed in children. Their etiologies are multifactorial, reflecting genetic influences and dysfunction of brain systems. Learning disabilities are complex problems that require complex solutions. Early recognition and referral to qualified educational professionals for evidence-based evaluations and treatments seem necessary to achieve the best possible outcome. Most experts believe that dyslexia is a language-based disorder. Vision problems can interfere with the process of learning; however, vision problems are not the cause of primary dyslexia or learning disabilities. Scientific evidence does not support the efficacy of eye exercises, behavioral vision therapy, or special tinted filters or lenses for improving the long-term educational performance in these complex pediatric neurocognitive conditions."
If you should pursue VT as part of an overall intervention plan (we did), be cautious about long term and expensive contracts. I'm in the Boston area and most of the Behvioral Optomitrists that we interviewed did not require very expensive long term contracts. I have heard of crazy situations in other communities where the providers require thousands of dollars up front. You can get good treatment without being held hostage by such situations.
Also - we found that while VT offered some good short term benefits in the areas of tracking and hand eye cordination, the results were not sustained over time without constant practice of the exercises.
