Lane Learning Center

Vision Related Learning Problems

How can you tell if your child has visual problems that interfere with their school achievement? Even though your child has passed a pediatrician's vision screen or a recent eye examination - your child still may have a visual problem!

Healthy eyes and 20/20 vision do not guarantee an efficient visual system. There could be perceptual, eye tracking or binocular problems that were overlooked - all of which are very important to your child's learning process.

It has been estimated that 80% of what we learn is due to our visual system. Reading and schoolwork requires a very efficient visual system for a student to keep up and excel in their studies.

The following is a list of symptoms that indicate there may be a visual related learning problem:

makes mistakes copying from the board or a text book
loses his place or has to use his finger as a marker to read
complains of words running together or moving during reading
sloppy or disorganized printing or handwriting
excessive reversals of letters or words
complains of words blurring
headaches after prolonged reading
blurred distant vision
repeatedly omits words during reading
fails to recognize the same word in the next sentence or paragraph
blinks excessively when reading but not at other times
comprehension declines as reading continues
covers one eye when reading
has to move his head back and forth while reading
holds book very close (7 to 8") while reading
reports seeing double while reading

If it has been recommended that your child needs an eye examination, he or she should be examined by an eye doctor who will evaluate the entire visual system. Developmental Optometrists are qualified to do a complete visual examination. For a list of Developmental Optometrists in your area, visit the website of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) at www.covd.org.

Click a symptom in the menu to the left to learn more.