Almost 80 percent of what a child learns in school is presented visually. Which is why learning and vision are so closely linked. Good vision is critical for us all: more so for students of all ages to enable their learning process.
When children have difficulty in learning, they are often labelled as disinterested or slow. We forget this could stem from an inability to see what is written on the blackboard. It is therefore critical that both parents and teachers must be vigilant about vision problems in kids.
Sometimes, all that these children need are glasses: they can see the board, and even their books better. And this alone has a remarkable effect on their performance in school, and outside.
Of course, refractive errors must be ruled out to ensure that your child is visually ready for school. However, some other vision related issues can also impact a child’s academic and reading performance. Here is all you need to know about them.
Learning-Related Vision Problems
The eyes form the image on the retina, this is transmitted to the brain, and the brain sees. Vision, therefore, is a complex process involving both, the eyes, and the brain. Specific learning-related vision problems are of three types: affecting visual input, its processing or integration.
Eye health and refractive errors
These problems affect vision. Refractive errors include nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. If left uncorrected, they can lead to amblyopia or lazy eye. Some eye diseases can also cause low vision.
Functional vision problems
Functional vision problems usually affect binocularity (ability of the two eyes to function as a unit), fine eye movements, and accommodation (focusing for near, distance and intermediate distances). Abnormalities of this function can lead to blurred or double vision, headaches and eye strain. Convergence insufficiency is a common disorder that affects reading comfort, and results in frequent blurring, and headaches.
Vision perception problems
Vision involves not only what you see, but also identifying it, and relating it to what you already know. For example, you recognise words, shapes and silhouettes and your brain makes a mental picture, every time you read the C-A-R. This is visual perception. The correlation of what you read, with what you already know. This is an essential component of vision, and therefore, learning.
A routine eye exam evaluates only the first group vision problems — those related to eye diseases and refractive errors. Your eye doctor can evaluate the second set of functional problems as well. The third category however, requires a team of specialists, including your paediatrician.
Note: Even though colour blindness is not a learning-related vision problem, it may affect your child’s performance in school. Especially for color-matching tasks or identifying specific colors.
This is why all children should have an eye exam prior to starting school.
Symptoms Of Learning-Related Vision Problems
Here are some symptoms to watch out for, in your child, with respect to vision related problems:
- Headaches
- Eye strain
- Blurred vision or letters “swimming”
- Double vision
- Crossed eyes or squinting (your doctor calls it strabismus)
- Dislike for reading and near work
- Short attention span during visual tasks
- Head posture: Turning or tilting the head
- Holding the book very close to the face
- Watching TV from very near
- Frequent blinking or rubbing the eyes
- Using the finger as a guide when reading
- Slow reading and poor reading comprehension
- Confusing similar words, skipping words when reading
- Reversal of words or alphabets (that persists even after six-seven years of age)
- Difficulty in identifying shapes and in spatial activities
- Poor eye-hand coordination
- Slow learning with respect to reading and writing
If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, with or without learning problems, please talk to both, your paediatrician, and your eye doctor. They will evaluate the child and try to find a solution for their problem. .
