Improve Your Child’s Reading Skills with Vision Therapy
Do you worry about your child’s reading skills? Have you noticed signs that they’re struggling with schoolwork and are becoming increasingly frustrated with learning? Now may be the time to consider whether vision issues may be contributing to their reading difficulties.
According to research, 80% of what a child learns in school is dependent on good vision. So, an obstruction in the visual system can keep children from reaching their full academic potential.
VUE Vision Therapy Center offers a vision therapy program that’s been designed to enhance your child’s visual and reading skills. Set up a free discovery call with us to learn more.
Good Eyesight vs. Good Vision: Why Both Are Essential for Your Child
Basic vision screenings offered in schools only check to see if your child has 20/20 eyesight. That is, how clearly he or she can see an object that’s placed 20 feet away.
However, 20/20 eyesight doesn’t mean that the child has perfect vision. Children may have 20/20 eyesight with or without prescription glasses, and may still experience trouble reading, learning, or maintaining attention due to reduced visual skills.
Which Visual Skills are Necessary For Your Child’s Reading and Learning?
If 20/20 vision alone doesn’t guarantee reading and learning success, what more do kids need?
1. Excellent binocular vision
This refers to the ability of both eyes to work together effectively for sharp, clear sight.
2. Visual fixation
This is the ability to keep a steady focus on something. For example, reading or taking notes from the chalkboard would require good visual fixation.
3. Saccades
Saccades refer to quick eye movements and children need it when reading as it can help them track text from one end of a single line to the other without mix-ups.
4. Accommodation
Here, we’re talking about the eyes’ ability of the eyes to focus on objects at varying distances, whether near, midlength, or far off.
How Can You Spot Your Child’s Visual Dysfunction?
Detecting visual problems in kids can be challenging, especially when they lack the verbal skills to communicate what they’re experiencing.
That said, these are a few signs you can look out for if you suspect that your child may have visual dysfunction:
- Reading below school grade level
- Reluctance or unwillingness to read or read out loud
- Excessive fidgeting when it’s time to read or do other learning-related activities
- Difficulty summarizing or remembering what they’ve read
- Signs of frustration
- Resists going to school or doing homework
- Low attention span
- Frequent bathroom breaks during reading-related activities
- Covers one eye, tilting their head, or frequently blinking their eyes when looking at distant objects, such as a blackboard.
Vision Therapy Can Improve Your Child’s Reading Skills
Do not worry if you notice these signs in your child, we can help. Our program at VUE Vision Therapy Center can be customized to help improve the specific visual skills your child needs to read better, learn better, and reach their potential.
Book a free discovery call today with our therapy experts: Dr. Patrick Quaid, Dr. Hadassah Rutman, and Dr. Daniel Cunningham to see how we can help your child succeed.
We serve patients from Guelph, North York, Kitchener, York, Ontario, and surrounding communities.
