Reading, Learning, & Vision
Common Symptoms: Problems reading and/or writing, problems with math, poor memory, problems paying attention, trouble following directions, clumsiness, trouble telling time, problems staying organized, letter/number reversal, and poor handwriting.
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Reading involves various skills, with visual skills a crucial part of the process.
When an individual reads, they need to track their eyes across and from line to line, maintain clear print through accommodation, align their eyes as a team through convergence, and visually process letters, words, and numbers for comprehension. While comprehension is a separate neurological component, the visual system is essential in relaying information to the brain.
Simply looking at printed text is merely viewing a combination of characters, letters, numbers,
and words that the reader must visually process for the brain to interpret.
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Suppose someone struggles with basic visual skills necessary for reading. In that case, they may experience symptoms such as blurred vision, words moving on the page, skipping lines, losing their place while reading, fatigue, headaches, aversion to reading, and a general lack of confidence. The English language presents unique challenges for the reading process.
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At GLVR, the doctors and therapists focus on assessing the skills needed to efficiently read and process information after gathering it. Many diagnoses, including but not limited to ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, and traumatic brain injuries, can cause reading difficulties. These conditions may mimic actual visual problems or exist alongside reading challenges. If you suspect that your visual system is contributing to your problems or if you have been diagnosed with a learning disability, traumatic brain injury, dyslexia, or ADD/ADHD, it's important to rule out any additional visual dysfunctions that may be affecting your reading.
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Additionally, understanding the relationship between the sensory system and developmental processes
is crucial since reading and learning involve multiple sensory modalities.
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Please note that GLVR does not diagnose or treat learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, or similar conditions.
Our clinic focuses on improving the visual system to alleviate the challenges associated with the visual skills required for reading and learning.
Many patients have also seen improvements in spelling, writing, and math when enhancing their visual skills.
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There is evidence supporting the existence of visual abnormalities and their associations with various diagnoses.
Below is a list of references and recommended readings that may help address questions
related to vision, reading, and learning. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.
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Additional Resources: ​
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1. Review of Intervention Strategies for Patients with Learning Problems
2. The Link Between Vision and Language
3. Learning to See = Seeing to Learn: Vision, Learning & Behavior in Children (available on Amazon)
6. The American Academy of Optometry's Position: Optometric Care of the Struggling Student​