Treating Oculomotor Deficits in the High-Acuity Adult Client

Presented by Dana Aravich, Laura Troxell, and Holly Stants

12-Month Subscription

Unlimited access to:

  • Thousands of CE Courses
  • Patient Education
  • Home Exercise Program
  • And more
Video Runtime: 64 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 43 Minutes

Although approximately 90% of all traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) result in visual changes, 10%–30% of which are due to oculomotor deficits, many therapists feel underprepared to evaluate and treat these conditions. This course focuses on quick evaluation and treatment strategies to improve functional vision in clients with moderate to severe brain injury in a variety of settings, focusing on those that lack on-site optometry or vision rehab services.

Learning Objectives
  • Examine the visual pathways and understand how oculomotor impairments occur from neurological conditions
  • Determine whether a client is exhibiting behaviors indicative of an oculomotor impairment
  • Apply evidence-based assessment tools to guide the assessment of oculomotor impairment
  • Apply functional vision principles to maximize independence with daily activities for clients with oculomotor impairment
  • Determine the most appropriate referral pathway for clients with oculomotor impairment

Meet your instructors

Dana Aravich

Dana Aravich is an occupational therapist who primarily works with individuals with neurological and low-vision conditions in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She also has lived experience as an individual with a low-vision condition. Aravich regularly presents on vision-related topics at local, national, and…

Read full bio

Laura Troxell

Laura Troxell is an occupational therapist with expertise in clinical intervention for individuals with neurological and low-vision conditions. She also creates neurological and low-vision educational content for learning opportunities for staff and local universities. She has more than a decade of experience and knowledge…

Read full bio

Holly Stants

Holly Stants is an award-winning occupational therapist and clinical interventionist with expertise in functional outcomes measurement, quality improvement, and low-vision intervention for people with blindness and low vision and other comorbid conditions. She also creates low-vision educational content for learning…

Read full bio

Chapters & learning objectives

What Causes Oculomotor Impairment?

1. What Causes Oculomotor Impairment?

This chapter reviews the visual pathway and explores how neurological insults can cause oculomotor disruption. We will also explore common behaviors exhibited by individuals with oculomotor dysfunction.

How Do You Evaluate Oculomotor Impairment?

2. How Do You Evaluate Oculomotor Impairment?

This chapter covers evidence-based evaluation tools, including the BIVSS, cover-uncover test, and alternating cover-uncover test, to help identify oculomotor dysfunction as well as adaptations for high-acuity clients. You will learn how to conduct a thorough vision history and understand current vision symptoms and their potential role in oculomotor impairment.

How to Treat Oculomotor Impairment in Daily Activities

3. How to Treat Oculomotor Impairment in Daily Activities

In this chapter, the viewer will learn how to quickly and easily incorporate low-vision techniques to maximize functional performance with daily activities limited by oculomotor dysfunction.

Understanding the Referral Pathway

4. Understanding the Referral Pathway

In this chapter, the viewer will learn how to effectively collaborate with other vision providers and better understand their role in addressing functional visual deficits in high-acuity clients with oculomotor deficits.