August is Vision and Learning Month!

August is Vision and Learning Month. Now that school is back in session for many students, there are some signs that both parents and teachers need to look out for that may indicate a vision problem that is affecting learning.

What do these issues look like? At first, parents might wonder if their child has a learning disability or is struggling with ADHD or dyslexia. Many of the signs of a vision problem are similar to these diagnoses and might be the root of the problem. The good news is that many visual issues can be fixed through vision therapy. Vision is responsible for 80% of learning. When the visual system is not working as it should, schoolwork is difficult and children struggle with reading, retention, focus, and comprehension.

Parents should be on the lookout for warning signs such as squinting, head-tilting, sitting too close to the screen, headaches after near work, and poor hand-eye coordination. The child’s reading skills can also be a big indicator of an issue. Skipping lines or words, losing their place in the text, word guessing, trouble with comprehension, or sounding slow and choppy when reading are all indicators of a vision problem.

These issues often indicate an eye tracking or an eye teaming issue. The child may be struggling to get both eyes to line up and work together. For a child with a vision problem, often school is just plain hard. This leads to frustration for both the child and the parent. Vision therapy can help a child get back on track and build the visual skills they need to learn to their full potential.