Does your child struggle in school and you’re not sure why?
Up to 25 in every 100 children are affected by vision problems — that’s at least six students in every class.
This checklist will help you to discover if an undiagnosed visual problem could be impacting your child.
Regular and comprehensive eye exams are crucial for detecting vision problems — and essential in aiding a student’s academic success.
Schedule a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doctor near you, to detect any underlying vision problems your child may have.
SEE RELATED: Could Your Child Have Digital Eye Strain?
How to use this Checklist?
Follow these steps;
- Print off the these pages
- Carefully read through the checklist and tick any boxes
- Schedule an appointment for your child to see an eye doctor experienced in vision therapy
- Take these pages to the appointment
Parents Checklist
Below is a checklist for parents that may signal that your child has a vision problem.
Does your child display any of these behaviors?
- Reading below grade level
- Reads words backwards, such as: was=saw and top=pot
- Closing or squinting of one eye
- Excessive blinking or squinting
- Frequently bumps into objects or drops things
- Frequently loses items
- Head is frequently tilted to one side or one shoulder is noticeably higher
- One eye turns or drifts in a different direction than the other
- Poor motor/visual coordination skills (hand-eye coordination)
- Problems judging distances and bumping into objects
- Tilts or turns head while reading or during other visual activities
Does your child ever complain of;
- Blurry vision
- Concentration and attention difficulties
- Dizziness or nausea
- Double vision
- Words move on a page or run together
- Eye strain or headaches
- Motion sickness or car sickness
3. Does your child display any of these whilst reading?
- Avoids or dislikes reading
- Covers or closes one eye
- Fatigues easily
- Frequently loses place and/or skips words
- Holds object or reading material too close
- Repeats lines when reading
- Rubs eyes during or after periods of reading
- Tilts head toward object or book
- Uses finger or ruler to read
If your child shows any of these signs or symptoms, schedule an evaluation with an experienced vision therapy eye doctor.
How does vision therapy help?
Treating visual problems often has a direct and positive impact in reducing problematic behavioral and learning problems.
Vision therapy is a customized treatment program that involves specific eye exercises that help to retrain the eyes and brain to communicate better.
Researchers have found that vision therapy can be helpful for children who have been diagnosed with ADHD or learning disabilities but whose learning problems are actually related to visual dysfunction.
If a child’s eyes aren’t focusing properly, then attention, focus, grades, reading abilities, and behavior are affected.
LEARN MORE: Vision Therapy for Children
Schedule an evaluation with a vision therapy eye doctor who can diagnose and treat your child’s vision problems.
