The Link Between Learning Problems and Vision, and How You Can Help!

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Charleston Moms has partnered with Brighter Outlook Vision to bring our readers the following article.

Has your child been struggling in school? You know they are smart, but there seems to be a disconnect between that intelligence and their classroom performance. Maybe they’re behind in reading, or complaining of headaches every time they have to read. Perhaps they’re good with numbers, but they fall apart when they have to figure out word problems. Maybe they can’t seem to pay attention to their work for more than a few minutes, and just a few minutes worth of homework drags on for hours!

You and your child are not alone.

It’s been reported that 1 in 10 children have a vision problem that interferes with their ability to learn, but most vision screenings and eye exams do not test for many of these conditions. There’s a good chance that you had their eyes checked along the way, and you were told your child can see 20/20 and their eyes are healthy. But did you know there are over a dozen different visual skills beyond seeing 20/20 that are needed for reading and learning? Around 80% of information presented in the classroom is visual. And like walking, talking, or riding a bike, we’re not born with these skills, we develop them and learn them along the way.

For the 9 in 10 people who develop these skills naturally, vision is taken for granted. When vision works, it leads you through life. But when visual development is delayed, vision interferes.

The good news is that these conditions are easily diagnosed when looked for, and care is available for those with these types of visual problems.

Dr. Jesse Willingham founded Brighter Outlook Vision in North Charleston with the struggling student in mind. When vision is suspected of hindering an individual’s ability to read, learn, pay attention, and live their life successfully, a thorough, step-by-step process is undertaken to study an individual’s visual development and formulate an individualized program of Optometric Vision Therapy designed for that child’s needs and goals. Every child is unique, and this fact is fundamental to our model of care.

After a program of vision therapy, children are better able to use their eyes and brain together to smoothly navigate the demands placed on our vision from school and the modern digital world. Take it from the mom of a vision therapy patient, Lauren, who said: “Lauren’s vision therapy has done wonders for her. She has improved in her reading grade level, has much more confidence in herself, and has become more outgoing. Lauren is now willing to read by herself instead of asking someone else to do it for her.”

Many children struggle and have to work harder in school just to keep up, but they don’t have to. If you are concerned about your child because they have been diagnosed with a reading or learning problem or they are not reaching their potential at school, connect with Brighter Outlook Vision to schedule an examination to see if vision therapy can improve their life. With the school year coming to a close, summer is a wonderful time to get started with vision therapy so your child can start the next school year with a Brighter Outlook!

If any of the following problems are interfering with your child’s success in school, contact us to learn how vision therapy can start improving their life today:

  • Skipping words or lines while reading
  • Still not reading at grade level
  • Reversing letters (confusing b and d) or small words (reads “was” instead of “saw”)
  • Rubbing eyes or closing one eye when reading or doing near work
  • Holding books too closely or tilting head when reading
  • Eyestrain or headaches with schoolwork or computer use
  • Difficulty with reading comprehension
  • Blurred or double vision when reading
  • Avoiding homework
  • Poor attention span
  • Fidgeting and squirming in the chair

Take BOV’s vision quiz or look at the more in-depth visual symptom checklist to how vision may be the problem.