Mom Refuses to Get A Second Opinion

"A mom recently signed up her child for VT. The day after my consultation with her, she made a routine visit to the pediatrician. While there, she told the pediatrician about the upcoming VT program. The pediatrician recommended she see a pediatric ophthalmologist for a second opinion.

After leaving the pediatrician, she called our office to ask me whether I thought she needed a second opinion. She said, she didn't think she needed one because I had explained everything so well, she felt she understood it completely. Of course, I told her she was right, she didn't need a second opinion. She even started her child in VT one month earlier than she had originally scheduled."

J.F., O.D.
New York

Winning Over A Skeptic

"I'll never forget this one dad, "Bruce," who came in with his arms crossed, looking stern and skeptical. I could tell he was completely turned off. Prior to the work I did with Toni, this would have resulted in a patient leaving the office without getting the care he needed. However, as I followed the consultation sequence, not only was I able to find out why he was so negative, he also signed his child up for VT!

As it turned out, his kid had gone through Occupational Therapy and they had never given him any idea of how many sessions would be needed or even an estimated cost of the program. When he saw what we presented he said, 'Oh! That I can do! No problem.'"

S.L., O.D., FCOVD
Oregon

Two Years Later, Dyslexic Son Finally Gets VT

"I had a parent bring in her 12-year-old son because she wanted to be sure his eyes were all right. After the exam and binocular evaluation, I explained the problem and diagnosis the way Toni had taught me. The mother said an optometrist nearby had examined him two years ago and said the boy was dyslexic and advised VT but she didn't go with it. After I demonstrated what happens with convergence insufficiency and all (using Toni's consultation format), she signed up.

The mom later told me that when she left the other optometrist's office two years ago, she really didn't understand what he had been saying. She didn't understand what dyslexia was and she didn't understand what VT was. She didn't understand the problem and therefore wasn't convinced there was a problem, let alone a solution!"

S.V., O.D.
California