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"It may be common sense that poor vision interferes with a child's ability to learn.
But what is lesser known is that vision problems are the fourth most prevalent class of disability in the United States and one of the most prevalent conditions in childhood.
This is an extremely important statistic considering that 80 percent of what children learn comes through their visual processing of information and that many children – nearly two in three according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – enter school without ever having had a vision screening."
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 Use our Quality of Life Survey
to check your or your child's symptoms!
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When Is a Learning Difficulty Due to a Vision Problem?
While learning occurs through a number of complex and interrelated processes, vision plays a key role. Many signs, symptoms, and behaviors associated with learning disabilities are similar to those caused by vision problems. This is why it is so important that a comprehensive vision examination be part of the interdisciplinary evaluation of all children who are failing to succeed in school.
Locate a Doctor near you who can provide a comprehensive vision exam for your child to check for vision problems that may be affecting their learning in school
How to Identify a Vision Problem
Children should be referred for a comprehensive eye exam whenever visual symptoms are noticed or if they are not achieving their potential. Many of these vision problems will not be detected during a school vision screening or limited vision assessment as part of a school physical or routine pediatric health evaluation.
It is also helpful for you and your child's teacher(s) to review the following list of symptoms to gain a full understanding of possible conditions your child may be experiencing.
Symptoms
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Possible Vision Problems
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- Complains of blurred vision
- Rubs eyes frequently
- Squints
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Nearsightedness
Farsightedness
Astigmatism
(inability to see clearly in the distance or up close)
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- Closes or covers one eye
- Occasionally sees double
- Rubs eyes frequently
- Able to read for only a short time
- Poor reading comprehension
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Eye coordination problems
(inability to coordinate the eyes together effectively)
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- Holds things very close
- Complains of blurred vision
- Poor reading comprehension
- Says eyes are tired
- Able to read for only a short time
- Has headaches when reading
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Eye focusing problems
(inability to easily refocus eyes or maintain clear focus)
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- Moves head excessively when reading
- Frequently loses place, skips lines when reading
- Uses finger to keep place
- Poor reading comprehension
- Short attention span
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Eye tracking problems
(inadequate ability to smoothly and accurately move the eyes from one point to another)
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- Mistakes words with similar beginnings
- Difficulty recognizing letters, words, or simple shapes and forms
- Can't distinguish the main idea from insignificant details
- Trouble learning basic math concepts of size, magnitude, and position
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Faulty visual form perception
(inability to discriminate differences in size, shape, or form)
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- Trouble visualizing what is read- Poor reading comprehension
- Poor speller
- Trouble with mathematical concepts
- Poor recall of visually presented material
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Faulty visual memory
(inability to remember and understand what is seen)
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- Sloppy handwriting and drawing
- Can't stay on lines
- Poor copying skills
- Can respond orally but not in writing
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Faulty visual motor integration
(inability to process and reproduce visual mages by writing or drawing)
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- Trouble learning right and left
- Reverses letters and words
- Trouble writing and remembering letters and numbers
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Difficulty with laterality and directionality
(poor development of left/right awareness)
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