See Well to Read Well

Some children struggle in school in spite of how smart they are at everything else. Even gifted children can have weak areas in academic performance despite their ability to discuss and remember complex subject matter. In the classroom we use books, charts, written instructions; maintain eye-contact to attend; remember where to sit, put homework; stay on the line, be neat.Our eyes direct our hands, our attention and our movements through space, on paper and across a line of print. Researchers estimate that 80% of what takes place in the classroom involves vision. Good vision requires your eyes and brain to work together to derive meaning and direct action, not just to see letters clearly on a chart across the room.What are the visual skills that affect learning?Eye Teaming: Aim and move both eyes coordinated together to see a single, 3D image without double vision or unstable print.Focusing: Change the shape of the lens inside the eye to keep targets clear at all distances and adjust quickly from board to book.Tracking: Maintain fixation (aim the eyes) on a moving target (pursuits). Accurately switch fixation between two targets (saccades) when moving from one word or line to another while reading.Form Perception: Recognize similarities and differences (e/c or r/n/m)Spatial Relations: Recognize orientation (b/d/p/q)Figure Ground: Find what we want in a busy background (small print)Visual Memory: Mental images for symbols (letters, numbers) and sequences of symbols (words)Span of Recognition: Recognize and process several words at one time rather than one word or letter at a time.Visual/Auditory Integration: Match visual images to sound (makes punctuation meaningful).Visual/Motor Integration:Allow vision to direct action with accurate visual feedback (writing).Inadequate visual skills can block learning. All of these skills affect visual speed, accuracy, endurance, comfort and visual processing.How do I know if my child has good “vision”?A comprehensive developmental vision examination tests performance in all of the skill areas described above in addition to checking for “20/20” acuity. A student with vision problems may manifest some of the following symptoms:Headaches from near workWords run together when readingBurning, itchy, watery eyesSkips/repeats lines when readingHead tilts/closes one eye when readingDifficulty copying from chalkboard/overheadAvoids near work/readingOmits small words when readingWrites uphill or downhillMisaligns digits/columns of numbersReading comprehension downHolds reading material too closeTrouble keeping attention on readingDifficulty completing assignments on timeAlways says “I can’t” before tryingClumsy, knocks things overDoes not use his/her time wellLoses belongings/thingsForgetful/poor memoryFor more information about vision development and learning related vision problems go to: www.COVD.orgThis article was written for LaneKids by Dr. Carol E. Marusich, OD, MS, FCOVD.