Cerebral Palsy can occur from damage to different areas of the brain. This results in a varied presentation that impacts different areas of life. When the frontal lobe is damaged, spasticity (stiffness of the muscles) can occur. When the cerebellum is affected, ataxia (shaky motor coordination) is often present. If the basal ganglia is affected, dyskinetic movements (uncontrollable movement) typically arise.
Cerebral Palsy & Vision
Cerebral Palsy begins in early development, which means vision is often affected. Visual difficulties arise because the two visual processes are incredibly involved in the organization of neurological pathways in early childhood. Vision dysfunction can present in many ways and can significantly impact quality of life. Below is a list of common visual symptoms for individuals with Cerebral Palsy.
Common Visual Symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Losing focus
- Inaccuracy of eye movements
- Inability to maintain a steady gaze
- Covering an eye if there is difficulty with alignment
- Poor posture causing leaning to the side
- Double vision
- Blurry vision
Cerebral Palsy & Balance
The spatial process is important in early development and serves as a support for organizing visual skills. When the spatial visual process is compromised early in development, it can affect the organization of establishing visual midline to support postural alignment upright against gravity creating Visual Midline Shift Syndrome (VMSS). This can produce shifts in the visual midline reinforcing imbalance and postural mal-adaptations in addition to difficulties with binocularity. This, in turn, can cause vision problems.
Symptoms of VMSS include:
- Dizziness or nausea
- Spatial disorientation
- Consistently drifting to one side of hallway or room
- Bumping into objects when walking
- Poor balance or posture (leaning forward, backward or to one side when walking, standing or seated in a wheelchair)
- Back pain or muscle rigidity
- Difficulty tolerating busy/crowded environments
At the Padula Institute of Vision, we combine observation of posture when sitting and walking with gait testing to evaluate and rehabilitate VMSS.
Neuro-Visual Processing Rehabilitation
At the Padula Institute of Vision Rehabilitation, individuals with Cerebral Palsy are carefully evaluated for an imbalance in visual processing. This is done through a neuro-visual evaluation which is very different from a routine eye exam. Its purpose is to provide an in-depth analysis of the relationship between the spatial visual process and the neuro-motor system using a variety of tests.
Treatment of visual processing symptoms often comes in the form of yoked-prism glasses which are usually prescribed for therapeutic use and should only be used under the direction of the prescribing doctor. These prisms may also be recommend for use during physical or occupational therapy. Another therapeutic aid that can be employed is bi-nasal occlusion. This involves placing two strips of opaque tape vertically on the part of each lens that is closest to the nose which serves to provide a vertical boundary in the visual environment and can anchor a dysfunctional vision process. We also provide Neuro-Visual Postural Therapy ™ (NVPT) when necessary and appropriate.
For many, dysfunction of the visual process can be a primary cause of the symptoms many experience. Treatment through neuro-optometric rehabilitation becomes an interdisciplinary approach that can maximize potentials in other therapies such as physical, occupation, speech, and cognitive therapies. Collaboration is often the key to successful rehabilitation.
The Padula Institute of Vision Rehabilitation
provides a patient-centered approach to evaluate each person’s individual imbalance in visual processing and will provide an individual direction for rehabilitation based on each person’s needs and abilities.
PLEASE CONTACT US!