About Orthoscopics
How Orthoscopics works.
Studies are still being conducted by Ian Jordan, the creator of Orthoscopics, in Cambridge into precisely how Orthoscopics acheives the results that it does. What we know at the moment is that for certain people with perceptual problems specific lights or filters will alleviate or, often, remove their symptoms completely. It is, perhaps, easy to understand how this could affect visual problems such as words jumbling for somebody with dyslexia, maybe less so for things like ADHD.
It is a fact, although not entirely understood, that our senses are linked together (you may have heard of synaesthesia where people can hear colours or see sounds), and what seems to be happening with people with perceptual problems is that the messages from the different senses are getting confused. With something like ADHD, it appears that some people suffering from it are having problems with their brain processing all the different information that it is bombarded with. Orthoscopics can help by finding the right coloured lens to ease interference in a person's sensory perception. This can have a calming effect as extraneous stimuli are filtered out.
Likewise it can have a similar effect in helping with migraine, balance or hearing problems by removing certain light stimuli that the brain is not processing correctly or is interfering with the processing of something else.
What makes Orthoscopics different from other treatments involving coloured lenses such as overlays or the colorimeter is that it is a much more sensitive assessment method and that the specially developed VDEX lenses are more precise filters than have been previously available.
What to do before you book an Orthoscopic assessment
If you think your child may benefit from an Orthoscopic assessment then ask your child's school whether they have anyone trained to undertake a visual perception screening. They will carry out a series of screening tests and, if necessary, refer you.
If the school does not have a trained specialist in visual dyslexia then you should contact Jo O'Neill at Norville Opticians for help. We can then carry out a full Orthoscopics assessment; this does not diagnose dyslexia or other perceptual problems but will help alleviate the visual symptoms that can arise with them. We do advise a full eye examination is carried out first which can be done at any of our ten branches throughout Gloucestershire.
If you feel yourself that you could benefit from Orthoscopics contact Jo directly and also arrange a routine eye examination if you haven't had one recently.
What an Orthoscopic assessment involves
An Orthoscopic assessment will begin with Jo taking your history and symptoms.You will be asked detailed questions about your visual perception and other matters. You will then be assessed for colour responses and the optimum colour to relieve your symptoms will be determined. The sophisticated equipment will then be able to determine the best coloured filter for you in different lighting conditions.
Often the results will be instantaneous and dramatic, with improvements in vision, balance,and hearing all quite common.
You will then be advised as to what the most appropriate action is. This will usually involve spectacles with the specialist VDEX tinted lenses which can be supplied to prescription if required.
The tests are in no way unpleasant, should last about an hour, and are suitable for all from the age of about seven.
The cost of the assessment is £200 and a pair of glasses with VDEX lenses cost from £95. There is no NHS help towards the assessment itself but if you are entitled to an NHS voucher for spectacles, (this would include all under 16's), then the voucher can be used towards the cost of Orthoscopic spectacles. We can offer a direct debit scheme which is interest free. A £45 deposit is required and the remaining costs would be spread over ten months.
If you have any more questions or want more details, please contact Jo.
Jo O'Neill FBDO Dip OD - Orthoscopics
F. Norville Limited
65 Eastgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 1PN
Tel: 0800 169 7391
Email: orthoscopics@norville-opticians.co.uk
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