s your child avoiding reading, suffering from frequent headaches, or having difficulty staying on task? If so, they may be struggling with visual-cognitive issues that affect their ability to perform well in school. For parents in Versailles, the greater Lexington area, and throughout Central and Southern Kentucky, understanding the role that visual skills play in reading and learning can open the door to solutions.
Why Some Children Struggle with Reading
Children who experience issues like skipping lines, losing their place, or tiring quickly when reading may not be struggling because they lack focus or interest. These challenges are often tied to the physical aspects of reading, such as eye movement, coordination, and the way the brain processes visual information. According to Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD, a pediatric eye doctor specializing in vision and neuro-cognitive therapy, these physical aspects are frequently overlooked as a cause of poor academic performance.
Many children who resist reading or have low comprehension levels may actually have underlying visual issues. Addressing these can significantly improve their academic performance.
Visual-Cognitive Therapy: A Comprehensive Solution
At the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute in Versailles and Somerset, Dr. Rick Graebe offers individualized vision therapy that treats the whole visual system, focusing on both visual efficiency (eye and muscle function) and cognitive processing (how the brain interprets visual information). Problems in these areas can greatly impact a child’s ability to succeed in school.
Using advanced technology like computerized eye tracking, Dr. Graebe can assess how your child’s eyes move when reading and identify if their visual skills are the root of their difficulties. For example, some children diagnosed with ADHD may actually lack the visual skills necessary to focus on close-up work, leading to frustration and disengagement during school activities.
Success Story: A Child from Somerset
One family from Somerset came to Dr. Graebe’s office after their child had struggled with reading for several years. Despite many efforts to improve, the child continued to avoid reading and suffered frequent headaches. After a comprehensive visual evaluation, it was discovered that their eye movement and coordination were not functioning efficiently, making reading a challenge. After just a few months of vision therapy, the child’s reading fluency improved dramatically, and they began excelling in school without the previous discomfort.
Get Started with Vision Therapy
If your child exhibits signs of visual-cognitive issues, addressing these problems sooner rather than later can set them on a path toward academic success. The summer months are an excellent time to start therapy so that your child can enter the school year with improved visual and cognitive skills.
At Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, with locations in Versailles serving the greater Lexington area and Somerset, Dr. Graebe offers specialized care to improve your child’s reading and learning performance. Call us today at 859-879-0089 to schedule an evaluation and learn how visual-cognitive therapy can 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.