Teachers
Identify a vision problem, and you can impact a student’s ability to learn.
What if you could improve a child’s ability to learn – especially if it’s a child who is either underachieving in the classroom or causing a disruption? As a teacher, you’d probably jump at the chance knowing that this could dramatically improve the educational environment for the entire classroom.
For many students, vision issues are at the root of the problem. With the appropriate vision therapy, a child’s capacity to learn can be dramatically enhanced.
How are visual skills related to learning?
Our vision accounts for roughly 80% of the information we process. In order for vision to work well the entire visual system, which includes eyesight, visual pathways and the brain, needs to be functioning efficiently.
There are numerous visual skills that are tied to good vision, and problems with any of them can lead to significant learning difficulties. The inability of a child’s eyes to work together as a team, for example, can cause difficulties in reading a book. Poor visual skills may also make it difficult for them to mentally process information, causing inattention and even bad behavior.
How can a teacher help?
As a teacher, you’re carefully observing a child in situations in which visual skills are often challenged. Reading, writing, and processing visual information all require the entire visual system to be working well.
By observing a child’s behavior and identifying the telltale signs of vision problems, you can quickly identify a student who may need help. You’re also part of a team that evaluates learning disabilities, and your observations may help identify a vision problem that may be contributing a child’s poor performance.
As a teacher, parents highly value your input and your observations. By recommending a child for a functional vision exam, you could significantly change a child’s life.
How can I spot a child with vision problems?If you think a student might be suffering from a vision problem, have he or she take The Vision Quiz.
A list of typical symptoms is also provided below.
Performance Symptoms
__Avoids near-point work
__Poor posture while reading
__Head tilting when reading or writing
__Holds book too close to eyes
__Homework requiring reading takes a long time
__Poor attention during work period
__Loses place when reading
__Uses a marker to keep place
__Moves head when reading
__Omits, re-reads words/letters
__Re-reads lines
__Repeats letters within words
__Reads big words, but misreads/misses smaller words (and, but, if)
__Difficulty copying from chalkboard/loses place
__Avoids reading out loud
__Enjoys being read to / avoids self-reading
__Whispers to self for reinforcement when self-reading
__Poor reading comprehension
__Comprehension declines as reading continues
__Misaligns numbers in math
__Does not look directly into speaker’s eyes
__Easily distracted
__Letter reversals (b,d,q,p)
__Number reversals
__Repeatedly confuses right/left direction
__Word reversals (saw/was; on/no)
__Grips pencil too tightly / poor grips
__Poor handwriting
__Poor spacing when writing
__Uses other hand as “spacer” to control spacing when writing
__Writes uphill or down hill
__Orients drawings/writing poorly on page
__Poor shape recognition/difficulty copying shapes
__Confuses similar words
__Failure to recognize same word in next sentence
__Poor visualization / spells words based on sounds only
__Poor comprehension / unable to describe what has been read
__Difficulty with sports / poor motor skills
__Frustration with school work
Social Observations
__Attention span very short
__Low self-esteem
__Easily distracted
__Temper tantrums
__Frequently the class clown
__Extremely shy child
__Frequent crying when tasks appear hard
__Day dreaming (inattentive)
__Poor self-image
__Frustration / angry emotions are quick to surface
__Behavior often inappropriate for situation
__Irritability
__Clumsy on playground (poor physical coordination)
__Difficulty with sports/poor motor coordination
__Student frequently appears confused
__Mixed dominance
__Lack of hand preference
__Developmental lags
-Source: Eyes on Track by Kristy Mitchell Remick, Carol Stroud and Vicki Bedes
