No one is born knowing how to play an instrument, hit a baseball, or even read. These are all learned skills, requiring effort, practice, and the right guidance. However, many of the skills we rely on for academic success, such as reading or problem-solving, depend heavily on another vital, often overlooked skill: the ability to gather, process, and integrate visual information. For some children, this process doesn’t come as naturally, leading to challenges in school that parents and teachers might not immediately recognize.
The Hidden Struggle
For many children, the first signs of trouble in school come not from a lack of intelligence or effort, but from unseen visual struggles. When kids can’t efficiently gather or process visual information, they may struggle with reading, focusing, or completing assignments, which can have long-lasting impacts on their academic performance. These are the issues Dr. Rick Graebe, a developmental optometrist in Versailles, Kentucky, addresses every day at his practice through a specialized treatment called Vision Therapy.
What Is Vision Therapy?
Vision Therapy is like physical therapy, but for the eyes and brain. It focuses on training and strengthening the connection between the eyes, brain, and body to improve how these systems work together. Unlike a standard eye exam, which tests distance vision using an eye chart, Vision Therapy goes deeper, evaluating and treating the entire visual system. This comprehensive approach can help with common issues such as lazy eye, crossed eyes, double vision, and even some learning disabilities related to visual processing problems.
As Dr. Graebe explains, simply being able to read letters on an eye chart does not guarantee that a child’s vision is fully functioning for academic tasks. Schoolwork, particularly reading, requires strong near vision, which isn’t always tested during routine eye exams.
Identifying Visual Challenges
A child may struggle with reading because their eyes aren’t working together as a team. If their eyes can’t properly track words on a page or focus together, reading can become a frustrating, slow process. This often goes undetected because children don’t realize their vision is problematic—they simply assume everyone sees the way they do.
The stages of learning a new skill, as Dr. Graebe explains, begin with what he calls being “unconsciously unskilled,” meaning you don’t know what you don’t know. For many students, this applies to their vision. They aren’t aware their vision is hindering them until they start to struggle in school. It’s only once they are consciously aware of their limitations that true progress can begin.
Vision Therapy: From Struggle to Mastery
The goal of Vision Therapy is to guide patients through the stages of learning, from being consciously unskilled to mastering their visual abilities. In Dr. Graebe’s practice, therapy sessions are structured around sequenced games and activities designed to retrain the eyes and brain to work together. Over time, patients move from struggling with their vision to becoming consciously skilled—meaning they can control their vision with effort. Eventually, with practice, they reach a state where using their vision correctly becomes second nature, or “subconsciously skilled.”
This transformation often culminates in what Dr. Graebe calls the “I’ve got it!” moment—when a child suddenly realizes they can see and process information more clearly. These moments are why Dr. Graebe is so passionate about Vision Therapy.
The Importance of Comprehensive Vision Testing
At the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, Dr. Graebe and his team offer comprehensive visual testing that looks beyond what a standard eye chart exam can provide. They evaluate all aspects of the visual system, ensuring that a child’s eyes, brain, and body are working together efficiently. Many children who struggle with reading and other academic tasks may find relief and success through Vision Therapy, once their visual challenges are identified and treated.
Schedule Your Child’s Visual Evaluation
If your child is struggling in school or having difficulty reading, it could be due to an undiagnosed visual issue. At Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, with locations in Versailles serving the greater Lexington area and Somerset, we specialize in pediatric vision therapy and comprehensive visual evaluations. Call us today at 859-879-0089 to schedule an appointment and help your child achieve their full potential.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.