Perhaps you have noted these characteristics with your child or student:
- Tilts his/her head during reading (suggesting the use of only one eye)
- Draws in very close to reading material (suggesting difficulty and visual stress with close work)
- Inability to stay with reading/study tasks (suggesting a lack of visual skills and lack of comfort)
- Evidences of visual discomfort (tendency to get tired and sleepy, eyes hurt, etc.)
- Reports that words or letters double up or blur
- Rotates head during reading (suggesting lack of ease with ocular fixations)
- Experiences eye-strain (excessive blinking, tearing, encrusted lids, etc.)
If there is any doubt about a student’s ability to see clearly or function visually in a comfortable manner, an examination by a qualified vision specialist is certainly recommended. You may already know of a local vision specialist in your area. (Be sure that this specialist does engage in vision therapy and does not just test vision alone.) If you need a resource guide you might use the COVD (College of Optometrists in Vision Development) Web site to find a qualified vision specialist in your area (www.COVD.org).
