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Can Houston Vision Therapy Help Your Child Do Better in School?

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Spot the Signs of a Learning-Related Vision Problem

boy with learning problemsMany parents don’t realize how vision problems can block academic success. Also, many parents don’t realize that kids generally don’t report that they are having trouble seeing. Even when they can’t see the classroom board clearly or letters seem to jump around on the page, children rarely complain that they can’t see well. To complicate matters further, even if your child passes a school vision screening test with flying colors, it still doesn’t rule out the presence of a vision problem. So-  how can you spot the signs of symptoms of a learning-related vision problem?

The only dependable way to rule out or diagnose certain vision problems is with a comprehensive pediatric eye exam. That’s why it is critical to bring your kids regularly for eye exams with a qualified eye care specialist. If our eye doctor picks up on a problem, our Houston vision therapy specialists can provide effective treatment.

Why is 20/20 eyesight not good enough?

When vision testing diagnoses your child as having 20/20 vision, it means he or she can read small letters at specific distances. In school, it describes the ability to see while copying from the school board or reading. Yet, having 20/20 sight does NOT tell you if your child can:

  • Switch focus smoothly back and forth between a classroom board to a book
  • See clearly from morning until bedtime, all day long
  • Read a book without getting eye fatigue or a headache
  • See single images, as opposed to double
  • Follow the lines on a page and keep one’s place

Visual skills such as tracking, eye teaming, and focusing are not evaluated by school vision testing. And if your child has trouble with any of these parts of vision, it can get in the way of learning. Why put your  child’s education at risk? Book an eye exam to see if we recommend scheduling an evaluation at our Houston vision therapy center.

What are warning signs that my child needs Houston vision therapy?

Parents should be on the lookout for the following behaviors:

  • Squinting
  • Eye rubbing
  • Excessive blinking
  • One eye turning in or out
  • Head tilting
  • Closing or covering one eye
  • Blurry or double vision
  • Dizziness, headaches, or nausea after reading

What learning problems could be caused by a vision problem?

It is typical for a learning problem to be misdiagnosed, when really a vision condition is to blame. A number of cues can alert parents and teachers to a possible vision disorder, such as:

  • Frequent loss of place
  • Trouble copying from the classroom board
  • Weak reading comprehension
  • Reversals of letters or words
  • Omits, rereads, or inserts words when reading
  • Poor handwriting
  • Inconsistent or uncoordinated sports performance
  • Excessive amounts of time necessary to finish homework

How can Houston vision therapy homework raise school grades?

Would you believe that over 60% of children who have trouble learning in school suffer from an undetected vision condition, according to the American Optometric Association? Extra lessons, supplementary homework, and special tutoring won’t help these kids to get better grades. That’s because a learning disability originates from a problem in the brain, and a vision-related learning problem is caused by a disorder in the visual system -  which can be corrected efficiently by eyeglasses, contact lenses, and vision therapy.

Our vision therapy specialists will assess your child’s condition thoroughly to design the most helpful exercises to strengthen ocular muscles and reinforce the connection between the brain and eyes. These exercises are done in regular vision therapy sessions (generally scheduled once a week for a few months) and as homework to practice on your own time. We will utilize a variety of eye exercise and specialized instruments, such as swinging balls, wands, prisms, charts, and computer programs. Typically, improvement is seen after only a few months of treatment at our Houston vision therapy center.

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