Blindness to Seeing

Results: The only thing that matters in the world of hurt kids

At birth a newborn baby is blind: the baby can see light and dark and nothing more. This is the first stage and at this point the baby has only a light reflex.

A newborn baby needs strong contrast: White dots on a black background provides appropriate stimulation for the newborn

As the baby matures the baby begins to see outline. This is the very beginning of seeing.

When a baby begins to see detail, this means the baby is beginning to have useful vision.

Injury to the brain either before, during or after delivery can result in blindness. This is because of injury to the visual pathway, not injury to the eye.

 

After visual stimulation the same baby only, weeks later is ready to see detail

Appropriate stimulation and opportunity are the answer when a sensory pathway is in trouble. When the visual pathway is provided with stimulation with increased frequency, intensity, and duration in recognition of the orderly way in which the brain develops, the visual pathway will grow. The child will begin to see light and dark, then outline, then detail. Once a child can see detail consistently then the child is no longer blind.

 

Matteo

Matteo is from Venezuela, and at six months of age had aspiration pneumonia, and required emergency care, including a respirator and tube feeding. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. At eighteen months of age, it was clear Matteo was blind – he only had a light reflex. He did not understand words. He was unable to move, or use his hands. Matteo’s parents attended the What to Do About Your Brain-Injured Child course and began a treatment program at home. Four months later, at his first visit to The Institutes, Matteo had begun to see outline, and understand his first words. By age 3, after 18 months of a home program, Matteo is now able to see, identify pictures, and he has begun to read words, and simple sentences. He is following instructions, and beginning to crawl, and say his first words.

 

Emilia

Emilia is from Peru; she was born by emergency c-section due to fetal distress. At five months of age, she had no head control, poor vision, and hearing. By age 16 months, it was clear that Emilia was blind. She had only outline perception. Her parents attended the What to Do About Your Brain-Injured Child course. They began a home program of sensory stimulation and motor opportunity. Eight months later at her first appointment at The Institutes, Emilia was able to see and recognize familiar faces, and identify pictures of objects and animals. Her understanding was now equal to her age, and she was following simple instructions.

 

Valeria

Valeria is from Mexico and suffered a stroke in utero. She was delivered prematurely by c-section and diagnosed with microcephaly and cerebral palsy as an infant. She had her first seizure at six months of age and began anti-convulsant medication. Valeria’s parents attended the What to Do About Your Brain-Injured Child course when she was 14 months of age. She was blind with only a light reflex, and they began a visual stimulation program at home. Valeria had her first appointment four months later. Only 10 months later Valeria was seeing detail, and able to recognize her family members in photographs. She was following instructions and able to communicate using a choice board. By 30 months of age, Valeria was reading more than 100 words, and her understanding was well above her age level. She is expressive, opinionated, and has a good sense of humor.

 

Each of these children were blind – a condition parents were told could not be changed and would be permanent. Now each of these children can see the world around them and enjoy that world. The quality of their lives has changed immeasurably for the better. These results were brought about by the efforts of each family. Mother and Father, brothers and sisters and the child – all working together to give each child a fighting chance for a much better life.

 

Click here to Read More about Results with 3,449 Children on The Institutes Program

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