“Look,” “Ready,” “Touch,” “Back” Fixations
Purpose: To develop freedoms between ocular fixations and other motor and communications patterns
Apparatus: Visual targets–two numbers, two toys, two cards, etc.–placed three feet apart on wall or chalkboard; metronome, if available
Method:
Patient should stand in an erect, relaxed, well balanced posture, about three feet in front of targets. Make an “X” opposite his nose.
Step I
1. Starting position is for patient to stand with hands at sides, looking at the “X” opposite nose. Start the metronome.
2. Patient looks at the target on the left and calls, “LOOK” on the first beat of the metronome.
3. On the second beat he calls “READY” as he raises his left hand up to the side of his head at eye level.
4. On the third beat he calls “TOUCH” as he reaches out to touch the target he is fixating, stepping forward with the right foot.
5. On the fourth beat he calls “BACK” as he returns his left hand and his right foot to the original starting position, looking at the “X,” with hands at his sides.
6. On the next beat he looks at the target on the right as he calls “LOOK.”
7. On the next beat he calls “READY” as he raises his right hand to the side of his head at eye level.
8. On the next beat he calls “TOUCH” as he steps forward with his left foot and touches the target with his right hand.
9. On the next beat he returns his eyes, hand and foot to the starting position, and he calls “BACK.”
Step II
Repeat the activity without the speech-auditory support provided by saying, “LOOK,” “READY,” “TOUCH,” “BACK.” Do it silently in time with the metronome.
Step III
The activity is the same except instead of calling the words “LOOK,” “READY,” “TOUCH,” “BACK,” the patient tells a story such as a plot of book or a TV program, with might have happened during the day, or an account of a trip or visit. Keep the eye, hand and foot movements in time with the metronome.
Aspects to be Emphasized:
1. If a problem is encountered with Step I, simplify the demands by eliminating foot involvement. Do it with eyes and hands alone, until feet can be reintroduced, perhaps using right hand AND right foot at the start. Then switch to right hand and left foot operations.
2. Smooth rhythmic movement timed to the auditory beat, ultimately carried out without conscious effort while the mind is freed to attend to other activities, as in Step III.
