Vision accounts for 80 percent of learning, but vision is more than eyesight. As an educator, you’ve probably observed students who struggle despite having good eyesight. But we see with our brain, not our eyes, and vision-related learning disorders affect as many as 1 in four people.
Please watch this video that demonstrates firsthand to teachers how vision difficulties can interfere with reading and learning. Dr. Judson uses this demonstration in several of her lectures to teachers.
Good vision is a combination of how the eyes work, how they move as a team, how quickly they focus and how they coordinate with the hands.
Vision problems in students can often lead to
- Misdiagnosed learning disabilities or attention deficit disorder
- Poor self-esteem
- Fatigue, frustration and irritability
- Day dreaming
- Short attention span
Faulty assumptions about a child’s learning ability can be harmful! Learn more about ways to determine whether a vision problem may be involved.
Could it be a vision problem?
Does the student…
- Complain of blurred vision, headaches, or sore eyes?
- Avoid reading and work that requires seeing things up close?
- Take a long time to complete homework or up-close work?
- Cover one eye, hold a book at an extreme angle, or squint while reading?
- Turn his or her head while reading or follow text with a finger?
- Complain that words are blurred or moving on the page?
Vision Based Learning Problems: The Role of the Optometrist on the Multidisciplinary Team