Reading is an essential part of your child’s education. In fact, more than 80 percent of learning is achieved through the use of the eyes. Unfortunately, children will rarely tell you if they have a vision problem. It’s up to the parents to watch for signs and symptoms of vision or learning problems.

Many parents depend on school screenings that test for 20/20, or teachers to notice these problems. However, even children with 20/20 vision can have vision problems. 20/20 is merely the ability to see clearly, while vision includes receiving, processing, and integration of information from visual and other senses. Vision allows for understanding and responding to what the eyes gather. As many as 15 percent of school children lack these visual skills and have visual processing problems.

 
If your child isn’t working up to his or her ability in school, a vision problem could be the cause. Problems with sight or 20/20 can be helped with glasses or contacts. A thorough children’s vision exam should also include tests for focusing, eye muscle movements, and binocularity.

Symptoms can include losing place while reading, omitting words, blur and discomfort, avoidance of near-work, short attention span, covering one eye or double vision, eye-rubbing and excessive blinking, and headaches. Vision therapy has long been the treatment of choice for these visual skills problems.

 
A new program called VIP (Vision Improvement Program) is making a big impact on children with vision-related learning problems. The program was put together by a team of professionals in optometry, education, and psychology, and treats visual information processing skills, as well as conventional visual skills. It is now available in over 300 locations in the U.S., including here at Milpitas Optometric Group.

Ask our office for information on a free screening if you suspect visual problems, or if your child shows any symptoms found on the list below. Effective treatment now usually means preventing learning difficulties that can lead to stress and frustration later in school and in life.
 

Signs of vision information processing skills problems:

• Slow task completion
• Poor concentration and/or attention span
• Poor comprehension
• Poor memory
• Avoidance of close- work
• Letter and word reversals
• Avoidance of complex tasks
• Impulsiveness; unplanned, inadequate exploratory skills
• Loss of place while reading
• Reduced visual sensory and cognitive skills