Our Vision Therapy Blog

It’s not uncommon for parents to encounter behavioral problems in their children at some point in time. While there may be many reasons for a child acting out or being inattentive, research has shown that poor visual skills can contribute to behavioral issues in children.

Some kids find school easy, while others struggle to keep up with their peers in school, both academically and socially. They may also have trouble following instructions and completing tasks. Moreover, ‘slow learners’ often have low self-esteem and may avoid reading and participating in sports.

If you ever received a bad report card as a child, you know how frustrating it can be. You likely experienced the feeling that you weren’t as smart as your classmates or that you'd never be a good student.

If your child is struggling in the classroom, reading below grade level, avoids reading tasks or becomes easily frustrated when it comes to completing homework, they may have an eye tracking problem.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) recently published a policy statement (opinion piece) about visual problems that can arise after a child suffers a concussion, and the various treatment options the organization recommends.

Children with IEPs — school-based Individualized Educational Programs — are more likely to experience problems with their eyes, especially their visual skills. Visual skills include the eye’s ability to focus and track and work as a team, but these and many other visual difficulties aren’t detected in traditional vision screenings.

Almost every classroom has children who struggle more than their peers, whether academically, socially or [behaviorally].

Your child aced their school’s vision screening test with 20/20 eyesight. That means perfect vision, right?

Children may fail to recognize that they’re having difficulty reading, or that their eyes are struggling to focus, so it’s up to parents and teachers to be aware of the many visual problems that are common in children of all ages.

Now that a couple of years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have gotten a clearer picture of the impact that online schooling has had on children’s eyes.