At the Vision and Reading Clinic, we specialize in examining and treating children with diminished reading skills because of vision problems. We have treated hundreds of children, helping them to improve their reading and learning skills. After a regular eye exam, we do additional testing. This includes near focusing ability, eye health and eye posture. We use advanced technical equipment to determine eye tracking when reading and following moving objects, and the ability of the eyes to integrate information in the process of perception.
Here are the important skills that we evaluate
EYE COORDINATION AND READING - the ability of the eyes to work efficiently together to see as one. Poor eye coordination when reading usually causes the person to exert extra effort to force both eyes to see properly.
EYE TRACKING AND READING - the precise movement of the eyes back and forth across a printed page is a complex process requiring the work of several muscles surrounding each eye. Poor eye tracking ability causes the reader to have a variety of reading problems such as skipping words or lines, or repeating words.
PERCEPTION AND READING - the translation of letters on a printed page into language that has meaning. This language must be organized and associated with previous learning, then classified to provide continuity to the story. Poor visual perceptual skills do not sort out and relate information efficiently, thus comprehension is reduced and reading skills are hindered.
SPORTS VISION - many of the visual skills required in reading are also important in various sporting activities.
By judging the performance on a visual skills test, utilizing special diagnostic equipment, we are able to determine whether the patient needs vision therapy training. If vision therapy is indicated, instruction goals will be determined to improve the child's reading skill level or visual skill level.
