Did you know that at least 20 percent of American children spend their school days trying to learn despite undiagnosed vision problems? At Vision for Life, we are bringing attention to learning disability awareness, and the fact that vision problems often go undiagnosed, and in many instances, they are often mistaken as learning disabilities.
As learning in the classroom is estimated to be 75 to 90 percent visual, problems with vision can drastically hinder one’s ability to perform academically. Studies have shown that there are 17 skills required for proper reading and learning. However, a basic school eye exam only tests 1 of those 17 skills. This incomplete testing is why vision problems so often get mistaken for learning disabilities, ADHD or dyslexia.
If your child is displaying any of the following characteristics during school or while performing near work, he or she may suffer from a vision problem:
- Disliking of school
- Hyperactivity
- Short attention span
- Difficulty reading or remembering what he or she read
- Poor depth perception and hand-eye coordination
- Headaches while reading or doing homework
- Avoidance of homework, or taking a very long time to complete assignments
- Inability to sit still, constant rubbing and blinking of the eyes while reading or working
Parents and educators often mistakenly believe these behaviors are signals of a learning disability. However, if your child’s teacher informs you that he or she is showing these signs during school or if you witness it yourself at home, you should schedule a complete vision evaluation as soon as possible. Your child could very likely have a correctable vision problem that cannot be treated with medication if it is misdiagnosed as a learning disorder such as ADHD.
If your child does in fact have an issue with his or her vision, such as strabismus, amblyopia or convergence insufficiency, our team at Vision for Life will design a vision therapy program specifically for his or her needs. Our vision therapy exercises often include balls and other fun objects, computer games, sports activities as well as lenses and prisms to strengthen and train the eyes to work together as a team. Our vision therapy treatment option has proved to be extremely successful, and gives children a second chance at learning and being successful both inside and outside of the classroom.
If your child is struggling in school or has been recently diagnosed with a learning disability, we urge you to bring in your child for a developmental vision evaluation. We also can successfully evaluate and treat adults as well. Don’t wait, secure your child’s future and call us today at 618-288-1489 or contact us here!