Learning Disability? Maybe Not!

Glasses Can't fix ADD
--or Can They?
Farsighted kids literally can’t focus
on up-close activities like reading.

A whopping 90% of school-age children are not receiving comprehensive eye exams, according to The California Optometric Association (COA). That’s huge cause for concern since kids depend so heavily on their eyes to learn. (Close to 80% of kids’ learning is obtained through their vision.) Just as concerning is the fact that over half of so-called “problem learners” have vision problems, yet many go undiagnosed.

Dr. Corinne Odineal, O.D. with Auburn Family Optometry, sees many kids with vision disorders misdiagnosed as learning disabilities. And kids who have true learning problems face compounded challenges with undiagnosed vision disorders. “Most of the ADD/ADHD kids I have seen have very poor tracking or focusing,” she says. “While you may not be able to rid them of ADD, you can certainly help their reading by helping their vision.”

Dr. Melissa Barnett, Senior Optometrist at UC Davis, recalls how one of her young patients struggled in school until a routine eye exam revealed he had astigmatism in both eyes.

“Astigmatism,” Dr. Barnett explains, “means the eyes aren’t perfectly round – more like footballs than basketballs.” After receiving glasses to correct the problem, “he just blossomed,” she says. The student fell in love with reading, started getting good grades, and was suddenly enjoying school. “I always recommend an eye exam before an IEP (Individualized Education Plan),” she says. That way, if a vision problem is found to be part of a student’s struggles, it can be addressed first.

The COA also encourages parents to get kids’ eyes checked prior to heading back to class, and urges parents to watch out for these common vision problems:

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
Lack of development of one eye can result in the eyes not working together. Usually developed before the age of six, symptoms can include clumsiness, poor hand-eye coordination, tilting or turning the head to favor one side, or covering one eye while reading. Early detection is important for complete recovery.

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Farsighted children may easily read what’s written on the chalk board but not the book on their desk, because they see distant objects more clearly. Symptoms include headaches and fatigue while reading. School vision screenings, which only use a distance eye chart, will usually not detect this vision problem. Furthermore, because many school screenings are not performed by vision professionals, other clues may go unnoticed.

Dr. Odineal often sees farsighted kids labeled with ADD or hyperactivity. “If kids have trouble seeing up-close, they’ll have a much harder time in school. They fidget, they don’t want to read. They literally can’t focus – because their eyes can’t focus.”

Tracking (Eye Teaming) problems
The “seesawing” image above illustrates how those with eye teaming problems see words on a page. When the eyes do not work as a team, it is difficult to track words or letters in a straight line. This can lead to avoidance of reading, eyestrain, and poor academic or athletic performance. Often the child’s reading level is significantly lower than his intelligence would suggest.

The great news is that so many vision problems, once detected, can be fixed fast, and for the other conditions, in-office Vision Therapy (VT) is proven to help. Dr. Odineal’s daughter, who has both ADD and visual problems, began VT around age five to help improve her reading skills. Her mom happily reports, “She is a great reader now!”

The California Optometric Association (COA) is dedicated to assuring quality vision health care. To find an optometrist near you who focuses on developmental/children’s vision, check out the “Find an EyeDoc” feature at www.eyehelp.org.