Grand River Health is pleased to announce Charla Kinkel, OTR/L has recently achieved advanced training for treatment of neurological deficits affecting vision.
Neuro-vision rehab is a specialized therapy applying neurological rehabilitation concepts to the visual system to retrain the brain-eye connection after brain injuries (like concussion/TBI) or conditions (like stroke), fixing issues with attention, double vision, reading, balance and coordination by improving visual processing and visual-motor skills. It involves in-depth evaluation and personalized activities to restore function, improving daily life, reading, and movement.
Maxine was gardening when she experienced a sudden onset of double vision. She immediately sought emergency medical care including an MRI and assessment by her optometrist. The MRI was normal and the optometrist determined that her eye health was good. However, Maxine continued to experience constant double vision, which impacted her ability to read, drive, and work. Clearly, something was still “wrong.” Then, Maxine was referred to occupational therapy (OT) for neuro vision rehab. While working with OT, Maxine regained oculomotor control and coordination to achieve effective binocular vision and returned to full performance of her meaningful activities and regained her quality of life.
When vision impacts the ability to participate in daily life, OT can help people improve visual skills for better function in daily life. Neuro vision rehab targets and treats visual-processing deficits beyond refractory or age-related changes addressed by an optometrist. Individuals with a neurological conditions including concussion, TBI, stroke or neurodegenerative disease often experience vision changes, and they are frequently under recognized or addressed. Neuro vision deficits are broad and can include challenges with eye motor control, double vision, neglect (spatial inattention) and other visual processing disorders. With 40 hours of training specifically on neuro vision rehab, Charla Kinkel, OTR/L at Grand River Health, has the advanced skills needed to treat vision dysfunction in adults and enable optimal performance in meaningful daily activities.
Sudden vision changes are a medical emergency and should always be assessed by a medical professional. If symptoms linger after eye health is assured, consider a referral to occupational therapy in addition to the optometrist.
