deborah zelinsky

Deborah Zelinsky has been a practicing optometrist for twenty-five years, now in Northbrook, IL, USA, with a specialty in neuro-optometric rehabilitation.

 

She is the founder of the Mind-Eye Connection, whose emphasis is treating patients and promoting awareness of the various connections that the eyes have to other brain functions at conscious, subconscious and unconscious levels, thus bridging the gap between neuroscience and eye care.

 

In addition to twice having been a scientific grant reviewer for the Department of Defense's brain injury committee and giving presentations around the world, she has three patents and two books regarding the eye and its overlooked connections to brain function.

 

 

This two-day, twelve hour, hands-on workshop will present a new dimension for optometry in the 21st century -- the testing of stability of visual/auditory linkages via Z-Bell testing.  The first day covers a thorough, well-cited background in retinal pathways and effects of some of our optometric tools, such as lenses, prisms and filters.  We will discuss the classic “sensory stimulus/motor response” in terms of mismatches.  In other words, which brain processes are used when there is a sensory mismatch between proprioceptive, auditory and/or visual systems.  The McGurk and Colavita effects, two famous visual/auditory mismatch effects, are discussed in terms of space and time.

 

The idea of testing people for eye/ear integration is straightforward.  If a person can see and hear clearly, it does NOT mean that they can simultaneously watch and listen. In fact in many patients with learning problems, autism or brain injury, visual and auditory signals are mismatched.  Dyslexia too has been determined to be a mismatch between visual and auditory processing.  Z-Bell testing, patented in 2005, measures this mismatched processing and will become commonplace in the future as an adjunct to current screening procedures. We, as optometrists are in a position to alter the eye/ear relationship with visual intervention.

 

The second day covers more in-depth usage of the testing, delving into patient examples of sensory integration problems and demonstration of Z-Bell in case studies. Z-Bell testing is useful in deciding which combination of lenses, prisms or filters will be the most accepted by their nervous systems.  It can be used as both a screening and a diagnostic test, or simply as a demonstration of the power of retinal stimulation.  There will be ample time allocated for discussion and hands-on practice. 

 

This is the first Z-Bell course offered, and those who are certified will gain a place on the Mind-Eye Campus’ growing list of interested practitioners for future marketing on buildabrain.com

 

 

Hour 1: Review of nervous systems and their relationship to visual evaluations

Hour 2: Scientific support of cross-modal processing theories

Hour 3: Review of effects of retinal stimulation with lenses, prisms and some filters
 

Hour 1: Differentiation of proprioceptive vs. visual problems

Hour 2: Space vs. time discrepancies, modification of the McGurk and Colavita effects

Hour 3: Hands-on practice in Using the Z-Bell as a screening technique
 

Hour 1: Examination of reactions and responses in small visual space

Hour 2: Evaluation techniques in large visual space

Hour 3: When to consider which of lenses, prisms and some filters
 

Hour 1: Summary of types of cases

Hour 2: Hands-on practice

Hour 3: Question and answer session