Processing refers to how well the brain understands, interprets or categorizes information. To do this, the brain must first have the ability to hold individual pieces of information together (short-term memory). Visual processing refers to the ability to make sense of information taken in through the eyes.

There is a connection between the physical development and mental development, and it runs right through the visual system.

Optometric studies show a close connection between vision and learning.

*More than 10 million children, ages 0-10, suffer from vision problems.

*Nearly ½ of the human brain is devoted directly or indirectly to vision.

*It is estimated that 75% to 90% of what a child learns comes to him/her through visual pathways.

Many visual skills are necessary for successful learning in the classroom, and skill deficiencies may contribute to poor academic performance. A typical vision screening may only test a few of the necessary learning related visual skills (distance acuity, i.e. 20/20 eyesight) leaving most visual skill deficiencies undiagnosed. Research shows a relationship between poorly developed visual skills and poor academic performance.

Visual skills important for academic success

1. Distance vision-being able to see the board
2. Near vision-being able to see words in a book
3. Focusing flexibility-being able to maintain clear vision while shifting focus from a distant object to a near one (also from the chalkboard to the text to the teacher while taking notes)
4. Tracking/eye movement skills-being able to aim both eyes accurately and move smoothly across a line of print or from object to object with ease
5. Eye-hand coordination-being able to use the eyes to guide the hands
6. Eye-teaming-being able to coordinate the two eyes together so that they are precisely directed at the same object at the same time
7. Eye-focusing-maintaining for long periods of time, completely clear vision while looking at near or distant objects
8. Directionality-visually proceeding from left to right
9. Visualization-being able to see things in the ‘mind’s eye’
10. Adequate Convergence-especially during the act of reading, the demand is for the two eyes to turn inward so they are aimed at the reading task

**If you have concerns, write down the reasons you feel that may indicate that a problem may be present or developing, and specific examples to support your concerns. Talk to your child’s teacher, or other professionals that interact with your child to see if similar concerns exist.

If further investigation is desired, specific areas may be able to be evaluated by an eye care professional that provides specialized testing in visual skills required for learning such as:

1. Eye movement control
2. Focusing near to far
3. Sustaining clear focus
4. Eye teaming ability
5. Depth perception
6. Visual motor integration
7. Form perception
8. Visual memory

*Ways that visual processing may affect schoolwork

1. In the early grades-difficulty with number and letter reversals, i.e. the child thinks and sees “6” but writes “9”, or thinks and sees “b” but writes “d”.

2. In the higher grades-can directly affect factoring of numbers in algebra, specifically when having to shift like and unlike terms around (requires seeing the relational patterns with the subject).
3. When having to study, take exams or handle assignments, the ability to pull out facts and relate them becomes overwhelming; may be difficult to write a cohesive essay without a visible structure (graphic organizer) in place. This may be due to difficulty in knowing how to organize material in such a way as to see the relationships between the facts.
4. Covering, closing, or rubbing eyes while reading.
5. Difficulty keeping place while reading; a “finger reader”, skips words while reading
6. Holds printed material in unusual positions
7. At any grade level, the student may have difficulty accurately copying from the board, taking notes from lectures and writing answers to essay tests.
8. Lack of awareness of what is going on around them
9. Problems sight reading or doing math
10. Impaired ability to learn from books
11. Difficulty remembering what was seen
12. Poor recall of information
13. Difficulty copying from a book or the board
14. Unorganized
15. Unable to see an object within a competing background
16. Difficulty seeing difference between two similar objects
17. Loses material
18. Late for class or appointments
19. Difficulty with oral reading
20. Unable to understand the concept of time
21. Spells poorly; poor written work
22. Difficulty expressing themselves
23. Unable to use a separate answer sheet

(#8-20 are from www.kidscanlearn.net)