It Could Be Your Eyes

"20/20 vision is only one piece of the puzzle—how well you process and respond to what you see is what truly impacts your daily life." In this episode, we dive into the depth and importance of a comprehensive eye exam and how it differs from a standard 15-minute checkup. Dr. Collier explains why vision therapy is about much more than just clarity; it’s about how well your brain and eyes...

"Vision issues aren’t just about 20/20 eyesight. It’s about how students see and process their world, and teachers can be the first to notice when something’s off." In this episode, we dive into the critical role teachers can play in identifying vision issues in their students. We discuss some of the common signs that might be overlooked in the classroom, from children rubbing their eyes...

"As athletic trainers, we're communicators first and foremost. We’re here to ensure athletes stay safe while getting them back to play as quickly as possible. It’s not just about preventing injuries; it’s about being a bridge between athletes, their health, and their goals." In this episode, we sit down with Danielle Smith, the head athletic trainer at Cheshire Academy, to talk abou...

 "It is so rewarding to see that light behind your child's eyes just light up when they get something. It is so exciting to see how your child grows through this program and does things that you just could not expect them to do just a mere couple weeks ago."  In this mini-episode, Jess shares her personal experience with discovering her son's vision issues despite her professio...

"If your child has a great team surrounding them, there is no reason that they cannot be as successful as they possibly can." In this mini-episode, we're excited to help you get your kids ready for a successful school year by focusing on three key areas:  An updated eye exam  Good visual habits A strong support team  Whether your kids are still squeezing in the last bit of summer fu...

 "If a child can't hear instructions properly or process what they see, how can we expect them to succeed academically? Awareness and early intervention are crucial." Today, we dive into the critical topic of visual processing disorders and their impact on learning and development. We are joined by two distinguished guests, Sue Mann and Michelle Kotler. Sue is the founder of Bright...

"Summertime should be relaxing and fun, but that doesn’t mean learning has to stop. Let’s turn reading into an adventure instead of a chore!" Welcome back! In today's episode, we sit down with veteran educator and certified 4D Built to Read professional, Angela Eddy, to discuss the pervasive issue of the "summer slide" and how it affects children's learning. "Wit...

"No matter what people say to you, no matter what they tell you, you always got to keep going and do what you believe that you can do." Today, we sit down with Noah, a passionate aviator who overcame significant visual challenges to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. Noah’s passion for aviation began in childhood but was hindered by visual impairments following an eye surgery. Despite...

In today's episode, we explore the critical differences between various types of eye exams and why the traditional ones often miss issues affecting children's learning and development.  A key question in today's discussion is, why do children rarely report visual problems? We often assume their vision is normal, but the implications this has for diagnosis and treatment are very impo...

Today, we shine a spotlight on Teacher Appreciation Month and to celebrate it, we have several activities planned, so make sure to follow us on social media and stay tuned around here to learn more.  As for today's episode, we have a heartfelt and candid interview with Zoe, a girl who previously struggled with focusing in school and suffered from daily headaches. She's joined by Kaitlyn,...

"We are more capable and we're enough when we are present in our life and connected to our soul, and what it is that we need. When we are, we can connect to our kids, we can teach them that and help them navigate". Today we have an inspiring episode which is a must-listen for every mom feeling engulfed in the everyday chaos of parenting and self-doubt.   We host Jennifer Wren Tolo,...

"The healthcare system is really complicated, and there aren't any guidelines currently on how to care and manage TBIs. It takes multiple providers, therapists, and specialists to help pull the pieces of the puzzle together of your recovery." In today's episode, we had Kelly Tuttle, FNP-BC, MSN, a TBI survivor, nurse practitioner, and author, who shared her enlightening recover...

Today we discuss the importance of quality sleep for maintaining good eye health. We share some advice on establishing a bedtime routine and maintaining consistent sleep schedules. We also discuss the effects of blue light exposure from electronic devices on melatonin production and sleep quality. The focus further extends to the impact of overhead fluorescent lighting on eye strain and the benefi...

Today we have a special guest on the show. Charlene is a fantastic mom who followed her maternal instinct and brought her kid to 4D Vision Gym. Although he was passing all of his screeners at school and his motor functions were ok, there were clear signs to her that something wasn't properly working. Her "mom gut" was right and actions were taken. It's been a wonderful ride and...

Today we have a "minisode" to celebrate the beginning of 2024. The new year already brings a new and exciting program: 4D Built to Learn. It was developed to make vision training accessible to families all over the world. By enjoying the exciting exercises and games on a regular basis, you'll notice improved reading stamina and comprehension, reduced headaches and car-sickness, and...

"We love OTs working on visual perception, and they can even do some free space depth perception and focusing flexibility exercises. However, anything farther than that? You're going to want to consult your friendly local neighborhood behavioral optometrist, and especially if they happen to have a certified optometric vision therapist working on staff with them, as myself". Today, J...

“Health is holistic. You are a whole person. Your eyes and your brain have so much to do with so much of your life. And this is a lot of what it means to say vision therapy doesn't work.” In this solo episode, Jessica Liedke discusses why vision therapy doesn't work. She addresses the misconceptions and criticisms surrounding vision therapy and emphasizes the significant benefits it can...

Today we discuss strabismus , an eye turn condition. We explain the various treatment options, including patching, penalization, surgery, and vision therapy and highlight the  importance of developing binocular vision. We also cover the social and psychological impact of strabismus, the goals of treatment, and the considerations parents should make when deciding between surgery and vision therapy...

In this episode, we discuss several questions we received on a live Q&A session we did with our Built to Read community. We provide tips for parents on how to motivate their children during exercises, how to make activities easier when they become challenging, and the importance of acknowledging and addressing concerns about vision changes in children. We also address the question of whether B...

To honor National Vision and Learning Month , we're discussing the importance of getting a comprehensive eye exam for children before the start of the school year, like the one we offer, which targets many areas and skills that your family eye doctor usually does not cover. These are necessary for academic and sports success, including depth perception, coordination of both eyes, and visual p...

“We wanted our patients to feel like nothing was wrong with them. From day one we didn’t call them patients, they were members. Over the next 10 years, I see vision therapy being the household name and Built to Read being what people know.”  Today we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary, and as part of it, we are reflecting on all that has happened throughout this time, and how our vision of what v...

"17 to 34% of what was learned last school year is expected to be lost between May and September." Today we're talking about "The Summer Slide" , a term that refers to the documented decrease in reading ability over the summer months, when kids are not being made to read or do homework. To combat this, we've prepared a couple of summer reading programs, to strengthen...

"There's going to be times when you come across something that just seems mentally or physically impossible. You can say 'this sucks' and take defeat, or take a step back and say, 'OK, I'm not so good at this, but I can do this." - Coach Ben on not letting your Visual Therapy exercises bring you down. Today, Jess takes the host seat and talks to our very own Coac...

"We wanna make sure those kids are getting their chance because often they're misdiagnosed.   We want to give parents and teachers the tools to help children overcome these difficulties and reach their full potential." Today we have the pleasure to be joined by Angela, Lindsey, and Sheila, three amazing and highly professional teachers, who all together add more than 50 years of exp...

" When as a parent you're going through these therapeutic experiences, you can learn a lot just about how your kid functions..we pride ourselves here at 4D, we try to explain to the parents what's happening so they learn to look at their world a little bit differently" - Jessica Liedke Today we're talking about  the importance of equipping parents with the tools needed to...