Children “see to learn.” At PIV, we help them “learn to see.”
Our “Learn to See” program was created to support your child’s visual development.
Every child must learn to use their vision to create meaningful experiences that are essential for perceptual development. This process forms a unique visual style, a way of seeing that shapes how a child learns, plays, and interacts with the world.
Vision is the primary tool children use to explore their surroundings, impacting everything from social interactions and learning to coordination, self-esteem, and stress management.
- 70% of all sensory nerves in the body receive input from the eyes
- Over 80% of learning experiences are visual (Gesell Institute)
The Padula Institute of Vision’s “Learn to See” Program
The Padula Institute of Vision (PIV) offers a comprehensive developmental vision assessment program called “Learn to See.” This unique program is designed to evaluate how a child uses their visual processing skills to support academic success, behavior, and everyday function.
Our approach goes beyond routine vision screenings. We assess the quality of visual function, not just eyesight.
Skills evaluated include:
- Fixation and tracking
- Releasing from fixation
- Rapid eye movements
- Eye coordination (convergence)
- Focus and visual clarity
All of these skills are learned skills that occur during early development. The child learns these visual skills through organization of movement. If a skill isn’t learned properly, it will interfere with the use of these skills for learning.
Disorganization of the visual skills interferes with:
- Reading and writing
- Memory and perceptual learning
- Attention and concentration
- Balance and coordination
When these foundational visual skills are underdeveloped or inefficient, it can affect:
- Reading and writing
- Memory and learning
- Attention and concentration
- Balance and coordination
Common signs of visual processing difficulties:
Children experiencing challenges with visual processing may show signs such as:
- Loss of focus or concentration
- Daydreaming or appearing disengaged
- Poor handwriting
- Clumsiness or frequent accidents
- Headaches or stomachaches
- Losing place when reading
- Blurred vision during or after reading
- Poor reading comprehension or retention
- Trouble solving problems or staying organized
- Difficulty respecting personal space
A different kind of vision exam for children:
Children are not just small adults; their vision must be evaluated through a developmentally sensitive lens. At PIV, our vision exams focus on how a child’s brain processes visual information and how this influences their development, learning, and behavior.
When vision isn’t working efficiently, it can delay a child’s:
- Developmental milestones
- Cognitive and motor coordination
- Emotional and social growth
- Stress tolerance and self-regulation
Our team and comprehensive approach:
Our experienced team, bringing over 75 years of combined expertise, takes a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to support your child’s success. In addition to the visual assessment, we evaluate:
- Fine and gross motor coordination
- Visual memory (short and long-term)
- Direction following and organizational skills
- Cognitive development and thinking patterns
- Speech clarity and expressive language
At PIV, we provide specialized care for children and adults with Autism, PDD, ADD, and ADHD. Our programs are tailored to each person’s unique strengths and challenges. We explore areas of stress and resilience, helping families and individuals build a personalized toolbox of strategies to manage daily life and support long-term growth.
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