Help Your Child Love Reading: The Role of Visual Skills

Published on

September 14, 2024

Many parents wonder why their child struggles with reading, despite their interest in stories and learning. The truth is, reading can be exhausting for children who haven’t developed the proper visual skills. Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD explains that visual skills like tracking and focusing are essential for reading, and when those skills are lacking, it’s like trying to read a book where every fourth word is in a foreign language.

Why Visual Skills Matter for Reading

Reading is a visual process, and when the eyes don’t work together smoothly, children have to put in extra effort just to keep their place on the page. This leaves little brainpower for comprehension and enjoyment, making reading feel like a chore instead of a fun activity. Many children who struggle with reading feel like they’re missing out on the excitement that books can bring. Their eyes are so focused on getting across the page that they don’t have the energy to “turn the book into a movie” in their minds.

How Vision Therapy Can Help

The good news is that these visual skills can be learned and improved. At Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, we offer specialized testing to determine if a child’s visual skills are where they need to be for reading success. If deficits are identified, we design customized vision therapy programs to strengthen those skills. For example, we recently worked with a 9-year-old from Versailles who had been struggling with reading and didn’t enjoy it. After completing a series of vision therapy sessions, her visual tracking and focus improved, and she began to enjoy reading—just like she enjoys watching movies.

Why Testing Matters

Most routine eye exams don’t test the visual skills needed for reading. That’s why developmental vision testing is so important. These tests go beyond the standard eye chart to assess how well the eyes move, focus, and work together. Identifying and addressing visual skill deficits early can set a child up for lifelong success in school and beyond.

Help Your Child Love Reading Again

If your child is struggling with reading or doesn’t enjoy it, a developmental vision exam could provide the answers. At Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, we help children strengthen their visual skills and regain their love for reading.

Schedule Your Child’s Vision Evaluation Today

At Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD provides comprehensive developmental vision exams and therapy programs that help children improve their reading skills and thrive in school. With offices in Versailles and Somerset, we serve families across Central and Southern Kentucky. To schedule an appointment, call us at 859-879-0089 or visit our website.