As parents, we want the best for our children, especially when it comes to their education. Often, we focus on academic support or extracurricular activities, but what if there’s an underlying issue holding them back that isn’t easily seen? Dr. Rick Graebe, a specialist in pediatric vision therapy in Versailles, Kentucky, believes that some children’s struggles in school may be linked to an overlooked factor—visual performance.
The Difference Between Eyesight and Visual Skills
While many parents assume that having 20/20 vision is enough for their child to excel academically, vision is much more complex. Vision isn’t just about clarity of sight; it involves how well the eyes work together and how the brain processes what is seen. This is where Dr. Graebe’s expertise in Vision Therapy comes into play.
Vision Therapy is a structured program that helps improve a child’s ability to focus, track, and understand what they are reading. For children, especially those in school, three main visual skills are critical:
- Visual Efficiency: This refers to how well the eyes focus and track when reading.
- Visual Perception: This involves the brain’s ability to interpret what the eyes see, along with auditory processing.
- Sensory Integration: This is how well the brain integrates all sensory inputs, including vision, to process information.
Dr. Graebe emphasizes the importance of these skills, explaining that while some children may have perfect eyesight, they might still struggle with schoolwork if their visual skills are not fully developed.
How Vision Problems Can Impact Learning
Visual skills typically develop from birth through age 15. If these skills are not fully functioning, children can experience difficulties in school. Reading, for example, involves more than just seeing words on a page—it requires the eyes to move smoothly across the text and the brain to process the information quickly and accurately. If any part of this system is not working properly, a child may experience problems such as slow reading, difficulty understanding what they read, or even behavioral issues as they become frustrated with their schoolwork.
As Dr. Graebe notes, “There is so much going on with reading. It’s a wonder we all can do it.” When children fall behind in reading or other academic tasks, it’s often because of visual challenges, not a lack of effort or intelligence.
Vision Therapy: A Proven Solution
Dr. Graebe has more than 35 years of experience helping children overcome these visual challenges. Through Vision Therapy, which is essentially physical therapy for the eyes, his team works to strengthen the connection between the eyes, brain, and body, allowing children to perform better in school.
One of Dr. Graebe’s young patients, for example, was from the Lexington area. This child, despite having 20/20 vision, struggled with reading comprehension and was falling behind in school. After an evaluation at Dr. Graebe’s office, it was determined that the child had visual processing issues. Through a personalized Vision Therapy program, the child improved dramatically, not only catching up with classmates but also exceeding expectations. This is just one of the many success stories from Neuro-Visual Performance Institute.
Schedule a Pediatric Vision Exam
If your child is struggling in school despite having perfect eyesight, they may benefit from a comprehensive vision evaluation. Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD, a leading pediatric eye doctor, specializes in identifying and treating the visual challenges that can impact learning. With locations in Versailles serving the greater Lexington area and Somerset, Neuro-Visual Performance Institute is one of the only pediatric specialty practices in Central and Southern Kentucky.
Call us today at 859-879-0089 to schedule an appointment and help your child reach their full potential.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.