Dr. Shalini Jain MOPT, Fellow L.V.Prasad Eye Inst(Hyd), Consultant Optom Yashoda Hospitals & Samyak Eye Care Clinic

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic & Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Testing & Treatment for Learning Difficulties

Vision related learning problems are more common than most parents and educators realize

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &22 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Can Lead To A Misdiagnosis of Dyslexia or Other Learning Disabilities

When vision problems go undetected Children have

Trouble Reading Trouble doing their schoolwork Fatigue & Fidgeting Frustration in the classroom

It is estimated that 80% of children with a learning disability have an undiagnosed vision problem.

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic & Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Vision v/s Eye Sight Vision is a complex process Involves over 20 visual abilities

More than 65% of all the pathways to the brain

Undiagnosed vision problem can interfere with learning and lead to academic and / or behavioral problems.

It is important to know that these children frequently do not report symptoms because they think everyone sees the same way they do.

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &44 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Vision and Learning Seeing is our dominant sense and our primary source for gathering information in learning

Vision problems can have a profound effect on how we learn.

Many children who experience academic difficulty may have a visual dysfunction in addition to their primary reading or learning dysfunction. These conditions are treatable.

Many learning difficulties can be attributed to vision problems that are not detected during typical school vision screenings.

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &55 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Vision 6 / 6 Not Enough

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &66 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

A vision check does not test A child's focusing abilityTracking Visual perception skills

Many children pass their annual school vision screening or the pediatrician's eye chart

but remain undiagnosed with problems of the visual system.

Vision Assessment A vision screening Either at school or The pediatrician's clinic

Is not a substitute for a Complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor

who specializes in developmental vision. Early testing for vision problems is critical to mitigating learning disabilities or,in some cases, significant visual impairment in children

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &77 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Physical Signs or Symptoms

Frequent headaches or eyestrain Blurring of distance or near vision Avoidance of close work Poor judgment of depth Turning of an eye in or out / up or down Tendency to cover or close one eye Double vision Poor hand-eye coordinationConfidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &88 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Performance Problems

Poor reading comprehension Difficulty copying from one place to another Loss of place, repetition and /or omission of words while reading Difficulty changing focus from distance to near and back again Poor posture when reading or writing Poor handwriting Can respond orally but can't get the same information down on

paper Letter and / or word reversals difficulty judging sizes and shapes

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &99 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Visual Abilities Needed For Learning

Eye Teaming Tracking Focusing Visual Memory Visual Discrimination Gross Motor Eye-Body Coordination Fine Eye-Hand Coordination

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &1010 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Eye Teaming

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &1111 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Tracking

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &1212 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Focusing

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &1313 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Visual Memory

Helps children remember what they read and see

Children with poor visual memory may struggle with comprehension.

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &1414 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Visual Discrimination

• Helps children distinguish between similarly spelled words, such as

was/saw, then/when, on/one, or run/ran

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &1515 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Visual Sequential Memory

Helps to remember forms or characters in correct order

This skill is particularly important in Spelling

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &1616 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Letter omissions, additions, or transpositions with in words are common for children who struggle with this skill

Visual Spatial Relations Helps to distinguish differences among similar objects or forms

Helps in understanding relationships and recognizing underlying concepts

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &1717 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

This area is closely related to the problem solving and conceptual skills required for higher level science and mathematics

Visual Spatial Orientation

Helps us with letter reversals

Many parents and educators considered letter reversals after age seven to be a symptom of dyslexia

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &1818 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

The most common cause of reversals in older children is a lack of visual spatial development

Visual Form ConstancyHelps children distinguish differences in SizeShape Orientation

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &1919 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Children with poor form-constancy may frequently reverse letters and numbers

Visual ClosureThis skill helps children read and comprehend

quickly

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &2020 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Visual Figure Ground

Children with poor figure-ground become easily confused with too much print on the page

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &2121 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Affecting their Concentration , Attention , Scanning text to locate specific information

Gross Motor Eye-Body Coordination

Allows children to use their visual systems for good body balance and coordination

Children with poor eye-body skills may have difficulty in such areas as sports, learning to ride a bicycle, or general "clumsiness."

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &2222 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Fine Motor Eye-Hand Coordination Poor Eye-hand coordination may result inPoor handwriting Take longer to complete written assignmentsBecome frustrated Lose Concentration

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &2323 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Treatment Of Learning Related Visual Problems

Appropriate Glasses for work & / or A regimen of Binocular Therapy Visual Integration to improve

important Visual Skills

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic & Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Vision Therapy or Vision Training“Remediating inadequate visual systems by

improving function and performance”

Programs typically involve Eye Exercises The Use of Lenses, Prisms, Filters, Occluders, Specialized Instruments Computer programs

It involves a series of procedures carried out in both home and clinic settings

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic & Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Goals of Vision Therapy

Our primary goal is to provide Clearer, comfortable, efficient binocular vision. New foundations for increased self-confidence,

self-esteem and visual awareness

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &2626 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

What Parents Can do to Help With Visual Development

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &2727 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Summary Vision problems can and often do interfere with learning

People at risk for learning-related vision problems should be evaluated by an optometrist who provides diagnostic and management services in this area

Prompt remediation of learning-related vision problems enhances the ability of children and adults to perform to their full potential.

People with learning problems require help from many disciplines to meet the learning challenges they face.

Optometric involvement constitutes one aspect of the multidisciplinary management approach required to prepare the individual for lifelong learning.

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &2828 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission

Take Home Message

Confidential and proprietary information of Samyak Eye Clinic &2929 Opticals – Do not distribute or duplicate without Samyak eye clinic’s express written permission