Vision Therapies for Children on the Autism Spectrum with Dr. Nancy Torgerson (Episode #53)

Dr. Nancy TorgersonDr. Lynn Hellerstein of Vision Beyond Sight speaks with Dr. Nancy Torgerson, founder and owner of Alderwood Vision Therapy, to talk about vision and autism and helping children and people on the spectrum through eye exams and vision therapies including the use of yoked prism lenses. Nancy, or Dr. T, is also an adjunct professor and co-author of The Essential Playbook, Maximizing Outcomes in Optometric Vision Therapy.

This episode is Dr. T's second show on the podcast. Check out her first show about Ending The Senseless Visual Struggle here.

Click here and tune in to the show now to explore:

  • The autism spectrum and the exploding awareness about it
  • Doing vision exams to children on the spectrum
  • Problems in fixation, eye contact and eye teaming
  • How to help children on the spectrum as an optometrist
  • How yoked prism lenses work and help with vision problems
  • Different vision therapies for children on the spectrum
  • Dr. T’s miracle cases
  • The Essential Playbook, Maximizing Outcomes in Optometric Vision Therapy

About Dr. Nancy Torgerson:

Fluent in compassion and enthusiasm, highly educated and credentialed, Nancy Torgerson, “Dr. T,” is a modern-day visionary, a recipient of numerous awards and international speaker.

Her long-established optometry center incorporates the leading-edge science of Vision Therapy. Dr. T can attest firsthand to its efficacy, having experienced remarkable results as a patient herself, and from the thousands of successful patients’ outcomes as they envision and pursue their newly perceived potential.

Equally comfortable and competent in her roles as mom, doctor, adjunct professor, founder and business owner, decades of growth and experience led her to create and co-author, The Essential Playbook, Maximizing Outcomes in Optometric Vision Therapy, which delivers to all practitioners gems of her work. 

Dr. Torgerson attributes much of her success to the team approach in her practice and to her husband of forty years’ support, creativity and thoughtfulness. 

Her mission is to love unconditionally with her whole heart, mind and soul with unwavering hope and optimism; empower through connection and relationship to hold space for others to imagine life from a different vantage and discover their true potential; to inspire with encouragement and empathy new possibilities, shining brightly for the betterment of humankind.

Connect with Dr. T and Alderwood Vision Therapy:

Website | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube

Check out Dr. T's book here: The Essential Playbook, Maximizing Outcomes in Optometric Vision Therapy

“This is an important thing: to see how behavior changes with different lenses on with yoked prism. I’ll never forget one person. It was a teenager. He was like: ‘Mom, do you see it? Do you see it?’ He started seeing 3D for the first time. He goes, ‘My hands! Do you see my hands?’ He discovered that his hands and his arms were connected to his body. He has never known that before.” - Dr. Nancy Torgerson

Click here to play this show now!


Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, Developmental Optometrist, co-owner of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, P.C., award-winning author and international speaker, holds powerful and inspiring conversations with her guests in the areas of health, wellness, education, sports and psychology. They share their inspirational stories of healing and transformation through their vision expansion. Vision Beyond Sight Podcast will help you see with clarity, gain courage and confidence. Welcome to Vision Beyond Sight!

Dr. Lynn’s books are available at Amazon.com and www.lynnhellerstein.com/shop.

Dr. Lynn is available for speaking engagements and consulting. For more information, visit www.lynnhellerstein.com.

To learn more about vision therapy or to find a doctor providing vision therapy in your area, visit: COVD.org.

To learn more about vision and the impact in concussion/brain injury, visit: Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

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About Dr. Lynn

A pioneer in vision therapy and developmental optometry, for more than 30 years, Dr. Lynn Hellerstein has helped thousands of children and adults improve their vision and transform their lives — at home, in the classroom, and most recently on the playing field. Her breakthrough methods unlock barriers to learning and “rewire” around brain injuries, and vision perception or processing deficits. But you don’t have to have a vision problem to benefit: her brain training strategies may be the missing magic if you’re an athlete trying to nail a tricky shot or stay cool in competition. If it’s a skill you can visualize, Dr. Hellerstein can help train your eyes — and mind’s eye — on success.

Award-winning and #1 bestselling author, Dr. Lynn has published numerous professional peer reviewed articles, chapters and four books.

See It. Say It. Do It! (2009) - How to see/recognize your goal, declare your intention, and taking action to achieve your vision.

See It. Say It. Do It! Organize It! (2011) - How to create a step by step process to make achieving your goal a reality.

50 Tips To Improve Your Sports Performance (2013) - How to improve your sports performance today by enhancing eye-mind-body coordination skills, achieving the mental edge, and preventing injuries.

Expand Your Vision (2021) - Discover the power of the seeing brain…the creator of your true vision. Gain Clarity, Courage, and Confidence. In this #1 Amazon best-selling innovative newest book, the power of visualizing and believing in the process to break through internal barriers and create new possibilities for achieving your goal is explored. Visualization can be used to increase creativity, to reduce stress and anxiety, and to build confidence in all of the things that they do.