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Rdg Difficulty or Visual Disfunction? |
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As a Title 1 remedial reading teacher, I am often challenged to find the reason an obviously bright child is not reading. By the end of first grade or start of second grade, you will see most children really start to take off with their reading skills. Many factors could lead to their lack of progress, such as; a late birthday, lack of ability to stay focused, or a learning disability. Another
factor many times overlooked is a tracking problem with their eyes.
Most parents are diligent in having an eye exam for their children before entering school but after researching this procedure I have found that the normal eye exam is looking for visual acuity (their ability to see at a distance or close up) but does not include any test for their ability to track script. According to the American Foundation for Vision Awareness, 60% of all students with reading difficulties have delays in visual skill development. If you feel that your child may fall into this percentage, try to answer these questions:
- Do you often see your child laying their head down while reading?
- Does your child position their book in a strange direction?
- Do they rub their eyes or blink excessively while reading?
- Do they try to read with just one eye?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, your child may have a tracking problem that is preventing him/her from progressing. I have found a large number of students who started playing video games at a young age, fit into this category.
What do I do if I think this may be the cause of my child’s lack of reading progress?
It is important that you have your child examined by a doctor of Optometry, OD who specializes in eye tracking problems. After a thorough examination, they will be able to tell you if this is a problem your child is facing. Glasses are sometimes prescribed for this condition but eye exercises are also used to remediate many children’s eyes suffering from this condition
Eyes Plus is a collection of activities and resources that can help identify whether your student or child is in need of vision skill development. Located here >>> Eye Tracking
Donne Dintelman - HelpMeRead.com
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