Visual Ability - It's Not All it Appears to Be
by Mary Pat Correro, Ed.M.
Visual screening is a routine part of school admission for most children. However, the common Snellen Chart which we are most familiar with does not provide all the necessary information about a child's visual skills. This is very important given the fact that 70% of the information coming into the human brain is visual. Other skills like focusing on near-to-far work, scanning and ocular-motor (eye-motor) coordination are a few of the numerous visual abilities necessary for efficient learning. As many as 25% of school age children have vision problems significant enough to impair academic performance. The rate may be as high as 60% for children with learning problems. Here are some symptoms to observe:
- holding a book very close
- turning head to use only one eye, laying head down to read or write
- covering, closing one eye while reading
- squinting for either near or far point tasks
- moving head back and forth, rather than the eyes while reading
- omitting letters, words in writing; skipping, re-reading words in reading
- writing is difficult to read, crowded or inconsistent in size
- losing place in reading
- headaches, tearing of eyes, rubbing eyes excessively while engaged in visual tasks
- burning, itching eyes
- writing uphill or downhill
- misaligning numbers in columns
- blurred, double vision
- words appear to pop up or move on the page, appear to move off the page or appear smeared as if wet
By simply asking your child if he or she is experiencing any of these symptoms you will be provided with some important information about their visual system. If your child is experiencing any difficulties with reading, writing or fine and gross motor tasks, a thorough developmental visual assessment is recommended even if they are not aware of symptoms. If visual, ocular-motor problems are identified they are relatively easy to remediate through a developmental learning therapist who will provide focusing, visual motor and sensory integration activities to strengthen these skills and set your child on the road to success.
