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Do you know the top 5 signs?
Most children think that everyone sees the same way they do, so they don't know if they have a vision problem or not. The way they tell you is by their behavior. It is vital that parents and educators know the signs and symptoms of a vision problem. The 5 most common signs that a vision problem may be interfering with your student's ability to read and learn are:
- Skips lines, rereads lines
- Poor reading comprehension
- Homework takes longer than it should
- Reverses letters like "b" into "d" when reading
- Short attention span with reading & schoolwork
Just one of these symptoms could mean that your child is struggling with a vision problem.Call today to schedule a developmental vision evaluation: (301) 951-0320
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i-Devices and Vision Problems
While it's hard to imagine life without computers, tablets, smart phones and gaming systems, parents need to pay attention to the
amount of time spent using
these devices with regard to vision and vision development.
For children ages 3 - 12, about 10 minutes per day is the maximum recommended screen time.
Too much screen time can have a negative effect, such as lower grades, increased nearsightedness, and risk of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). CVS is a condition that can cause back and neck strain, dry eyes, double or blurred vision and even headaches.
Use the 20:20:20 rule and take a break every 20 minutes and look 20 feet away for 20 seconds to prevent vision problems. Parents should watch for:
- Squinting
- Close working distance
- Frequent eye rubbing, blinking, or red eyes
- Head turns or avoidance of the computer
If you see any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment today for an evaluation: (301) 951-0320
NOTE: If your child needs to be on the computer longer than 10 minutes, be sure to let the doctor know so you can get a special pair of glasses designed for using the computer.
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Help Us Spread the Word About Vision and Learning!
The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) is helping to educate the public about the link between vision and learning. At the VCDC, we are doing the same- Dr. Green and Dr. Zeller are available for free lectures
at schools, PTA meetings, and other venues to spread the word about the link between vision and learning.
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It's back to school time, and there's no better time to consider the role vision has on learning. From Struggling to SuccessWhen we first met R.B. her mother said, "She can't read at all." She was almost 7 years old and ending first grade. Her reading grade equivalent was beginning first grade. However, R.B.'s story recall for stories read to her was 6th grade level. She was a year behind in math and more than a year behind in writing.  According to a psycho-educational evaluation R.B.'s verbal skills were superior at 128; her perceptual skills were average at 108. This 20 point difference between verbal and perceptual domains were a definite sign that a vision problem was interfering with her academic success! During the developmental vision evaluation, Dr. Zeller found out that R.B. would confuse the letters b, d, p and q, saying they all looked the same. Sometimes her eyes would burn, but mostly her eyes were tired at the end of the day or when she was asked to do homework. Dr. Zeller determined that R.B. had an eye coordination problem (Convergence Insufficiency) as well as difficulty with how her eyes moved when she tried to follow along a line of print. She also had visual perceptual challenges that were interfering with her understanding of math, maps, graphs, and understanding Hebrew letters. After finishing vision therapy, her mother reports she is doing great; specifically: "Previously she had trouble reading Hebrew, and that has improved. She is no longer reversing letters, in Hebrew or English". "With a great deal of your help, my daughter who came to you not fully recognizing that her name has repeating letters-- is now not only on grade level in reading, but described by her teacher as 'a voracious reader,' and is also on grade level in math." |
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Author, Educator, & Expert in Early Learning Success Says, "It's Time to Stop Arguing and Help Our Children!"
Most parents find out their children have vision problems after trying a variety of interventions and searching for help for years. In many cases parents have already spent thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars trying to help their children's learning by the time they find out that a vision problem is contributing to their difficulties.
"Vision problems are noticeable in the early years of school. It's much better to be able to notice and treat them in first and second grade. The longer you wait, the more difficult it's going to be to deal with the other factors that have developed," shares Bob Sornson, PhD and author of Fanatically Formative (Corwin Press), Creating Classrooms Where Teachers Love to Teach and Students Love to Learn (Love and Logic Press), and the Essential Skill Inventories, K-3 (Early Learning Foundation).
"When you take a child who has really struggled to read because of visual issues, the longer that goes on you're no longer dealing with just a vision issue; now you have an attitude problem, a behavior problem, and avoidance issues," states Sornson.
While nay-sayers keep demanding more research, Sornson responds, "We're long past arguing about this. It's the responsibility of every educator to understand that sensory motor and vision development impact young learners.
There's a strong body of evidence that shows that vision therapy is successful at treating vision problems that interfere with reading and academic success, and it's time to quit arguing about what is now scientifically obvious and help these children,"
For more information about the critical link between vision and learning visit: www.VisionTherapyDC.com http://goo.gl/Zt8ipP
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Vision Problems are
Common After Head Injuries
Whether you have fallen off a bike, had an accident or a stroke, the head injury can cause vision problems that range from being very subtle to severe.
The more severe vision problems are obvious: the person complains of double vision, or words moving on the page. The more subtle vision problems can have a wide variety of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness or nausea, motion sickness or even difficulty with balance or movement. For a complete list of symptoms please visit our website.
Fortunately, help is available. Our doctors collaborate with Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and Physiatrists to speed recovery with a team approach. Vision therapy can get you back to work and play. Call now for an appointment.
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All too often, people find our office after suffering for years. If someone you know is struggling with a vision problem, please share that we can give him or her the tools for success.
Sincerely,
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