Over and over again, we hear stories about kids being diagnosed with cortical blindness. Unfortunately, parents don’t always know any different and, having been told their child is blind, they give up on finding ways to help improve vision! According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, “Cortical blindness is an older term for CVI. The term “blindness” can be misleading. Children with CVI usually have some level of vision that may show some improvement over time.”
What we know now, is that the brain is plastic and, with proper intervention, we can help our children’s brains reorganize and learn to see! In our book, Little Bear Sees, Dr. Roman-Lantzy states, “The brain compensates for damage by reorganizing and forming new connections between intact neurons. But, in order to reconnect, the neurons need to be stimulated through activity.” Children with CVI are NOT blind. With activities that build on the vision they do have, we can help their brains make new connections and help their vision improve! For some ideas on how to get started, check out our page: What To Do
We are dedicated to making sure that children with CVI get the help they need. Help us out, spread the word, and let’s eliminate the term “cortical blindness”!
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