Most parents would do anything to make sure their child has every resource available to help them learn, grow, and expand their knowledge; however, 1 in 4 school-aged children have vision-related problems. If these visual issues are left undetected and untreated, there are many learning deficiencies that may occur.In 2003, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that 5.3% of boys and 3.8% of girls aged 5 to 17 were identified to have a learning disorder.Potential learning issues related to vision problems:
- Reading disabilities (dyslexia and inefficient vocabulary development, comprehension, and reading mechanics)
- Speech impediments
- Difficulty understanding class materials
- ADHD
- Impulsiveness
- Low frustration tolerance
- Difficulties with social interactions and situations
- Task avoidance
Signs of visual problems to look out for:
- Does your child sit close to the TV?
- Do they hold their text book close to their eyes?
- Do they lose their place easily?
- Do they squint?
- Are they complaining of headaches or tired eyes?
- Do they avoid homework or the smart devices regularly?
- Do they rub their eyes frequently?
- Are they receiving low grades?
- Have you noticed any behavioral changes?
80% of what our children learn in school is presented visually. If your child is not able to see that means they are possibly only learning 20% of classroom material.
The encouraging news is you can prevent vision-related learning deficiencies by taking your child in for a comprehensive eye exam. Comprehensive eye exams should start as early as 6 months old, then again at age 3, and before entering kindergarten. Comprehensive eye exams for kids should become a part of their annual health routine after that. This could be the difference in your child’s wellbeing and future happiness.