General
Domains: Clinical practice, Communication
No CPD Points
Welcome to Docet’s podcast Sound Optometry, hosted by Michelle Hanratty, an IP optometrist with 20 years’ experience on the high street and in hospital. Each month, with case studies and in-depth conversations, we will be exploring topics that matter the most to you as optometrists and are relevant for everyday practice.
Episode 36 - SEN: The path to lifelong eyecare
“Children who have been identified as having special educational needs means that they may require an additional level of support. All children are very different, so every additional need is unique.”
This episode highlights the importance of identifying and addressing the visual requirements of children with special educational needs (SEN). Optometrists will be encouraged to really think about needs-based clinical examination and how to engage with both child and parent.
At the start of the episode, we hear from the assistant headteacher and sensory impairment lead of a SEN primary school who explains the impact of visual dysfunction and some of the steps they have taken to reduce impact on the learning, development and wellbeing of SEN children.
Presenter Michelle Hanratty then speaks to Professor Rachel Pilling, and delves into the potentially daunting task of carrying out an eye examination on children with SEN. Listeners will learn what they can do to prepare themselves, the child, as well as the parent to achieve a successful outcome of the eye examination. Valuable hints and tips from a real expert working in the everyday clinical environment are provided and additional resources are signposted to better equip optometrists to lay the foundations to lifelong eyecare for SEN children.
An additional reading element consolidates the learning on this topic.
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First published: February 2024
Last reviewed: December 2024