When we look at an object, our eyes receive that information and send it to our brain to be interpreted and processed. When a child has difficulty making sense of what the eyes “see” it is termed a visual processing disorder. It is possible to have 20/20 (clear) vision and still have difficulty processing what is seen because while we “look” with our eyes, we truly “see” with our brain.
A child may be able to see an eye chart on a faraway wall very well, but may not be able to focus their eyes on something 20 inches from their nose. They may also not be able use their eyes together, may have difficulty locating an item in space, have difficulty judging distance, miss visual details and social cues, and may have difficulty using vision to guide body movements among many other difficulties.
Problems that affect visual perception and organization may sometimes be difficult to recognize. However, they can have a very significant effect on academic achievement as well as motor skills and behavior. The following are some common behaviors that often indicate a child is experiencing problems with vision processing:
Symptoms of Visual Processing Problems
- Loss of attention and concentration, easily distractible
- Day dreaming
- Poor handwriting, difficulty writing on lines or keeping margins
- Clumsiness, bumping into things, inability to catch a ball, etc.
- Difficulty copying information from the board or a book
- Loses place or skips words when reading
- Difficulty with similar patterns or shapes and/or similar letters or numbers (e.g., q/p, d/b, 9/6)
- Blurring of vision during and/or after reading
- Lack of retention of written material, or visual teaching aids
- Problem solving difficulties
- Headaches
A comprehensive assessment of a child’s vision may include evaluation of their eye tracking, eye teaming, fusion, depth perception, near and distant visual acuity, visual motor skills, visual closure, visual contrast, visual discrimination, etc.
Treatment may involve glasses, therapeutic activities to do at home, vision therapy, prism glasses, etc. For more information concerning the evaluation and remediation of visual processing problems, please read about the Padula Institute’s “Learn to See” program below.”Learn to See” program.
Wondering if Your Child’s Challenges Might Be Vision Related?
We’ve created a quick checklist to help you identify common vision symptoms often linked to neurological or developmental conditions.
If your child is experiencing any of these difficulties, we encourage you to fill out the form. A member of our team will follow up to discuss your child’s unique needs and how we may be able to help.
Please Complete the Childhood Vision Checklist
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