How Vision Affects Learning
Vision involves three areas of brain activity: Visual Input; Visual Processing; and Visual-Motor Output. If any of these three areas is compromised, there can be reduced efficiency with one’s overall learning process. In many cases where a person’s vision may interfere with learning, a child’s eyesight at far is 20/20 or better. Because most school screenings test distance visual acuity alone and do not assess a child’s eye tracking, eye teaming, focusing or perceptual skills, parents who have a child that passes a school vision screening may remain under the false impression that their child’s vision is just fine. It is not unusual that children and adults who struggle in the classroom and/or workplace may have an undiagnosed vision problem interfering with efficient performance. They can often be associated with a host of observable signs and symptoms (see checklist).
Vision problems that go undetected can be major contributors to behaviors such as difficulty concentrating and poor attention to detail. With proper diagnosis and treatment, nearpoint activities such as reading may improve significantly, comprehension increases, and even sports performance can improve. It is important to watch for visual disorder symptoms in both children and adults.