The Critical Role of Vision In Learning: How Vision Therapy Helps

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Did you know that over 80% of learning is visual? In the classroom, children rely on 11 different visual skills daily, and each child develops these skills at their own pace. As a result, one in five children may not have the visual skills necessary to perform at grade level. Symptoms such as tilting their head, squinting, or complaining about reading for extended periods can indicate a visual deficiency. It's important to understand that even if a child doesn't need glasses or passes a vision screening at school or with a pediatrician, they might still struggle with visual skills like tracking or maintaining focus.

This page aims to shed light on developmental optometry and vision therapy. Vision is a developmental process, and through neuroplasticity, we can train and improve these visual skills. Once acquired, these skills, much like riding a bike, remain with the child and significantly enhance their performance in the classroom. Vision therapy is particularly effective in helping children with reading difficulties, ensuring they have the visual tools necessary for academic success. Understanding and addressing these visual challenges can make a profound difference in a child's learning journey.

11 Visual Skills Used in the Classroom

In the classroom, children rely on 11 different visual skills to succeed. From smoothly tracking letters across a page to shifting focus from the board to up-close work, these skills are crucial for learning. These are learned and developed abilities, essential for academic performance at any grade level. Often, we think of vision in terms of whether a child has 20/20 vision or needs glasses. However, this is just one aspect. Various other visual skills impact how a child sees and succeeds in the classroom, making comprehensive vision care vital for their educational development.
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Parents Checklist

As a parent, you have no shortage of things to pay attention to regarding your children, which can make it a challenge to add something extra like paying attention to signs which may indicate a vision problem. This checklist provides a concise and helpful guide to make your job a bit easier.
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Are Vision Screenings Reliable?

Vision screenings, whether conducted at school or a pediatrician's office, are limited in scope and effectiveness. They only cover about 4% of what a comprehensive eye exam entails and can miss up to 75% of vision problems. While these screenings are useful for determining how well a child can see from 20 feet away, they do not assess the visual system's ability to handle complex tasks, such as tracking across a page when reading. This gap underscores the importance of comprehensive eye exams to ensure a child's visual skills are fully developed for academic success.
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Learning-Related Vision Problems

There is much more to vision than most people realize, and there are numerous vision problems which can impact a child’s ability to learn. Continue reading for a primer on many of these issues.
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Teacher’s Guide to Vision

Teachers may be in the best position to notice if a child is having a vision issue that is negatively impacting their ability to learn. However, they must know what to look for. Check out our simple but comprehensive guide, so you can provide yet another important service for your students.
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Signs of Learning-Related Vision Problems

It’s one thing to know what problems you may encounter, but it’s another entirely to be able to spot the signs in your child. We’re here to help. Continue reading to learn about what to watch for.
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Can Vision Therapy Help My Child?

You may have heard of vision therapy being used to treat children with learning-related vision issues, but are unsure about what exactly it can do for them. Get the answer to that important question, and more.
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Can ADHD Be a Vision Problem?

Is your child’s teacher concerned they have ADHD? The real problem may in fact be a vision issue. Learn more about the connections between vision issues and ADHD so you can know better what to do if your child is struggling in school
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Does My Child Have Dyslexia?

Most of us have heard about dyslexia and how it makes reading more difficult. However, some vision issues can cause similar problems, and they have very different causes. Learn more here about the differences, and how to determine what the cause of your child’s difficulty is.
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Understanding Visual Symptoms

There are several symptoms your child might exhibit which signify a vision issue, some easier to spot than others. Learn why your child may be exhibiting these symptoms.
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