80% of your child’s learning in school happens through vision. Poor vision can affect your child’s ability to do well in school.
1 in 10 children has vision problems that are serious enough to affect their learning. This amount is probably much higher in Asia, where the prevalence of myopia is much higher than compared to the rest of the world.
School screenings often do not detect serious vision problems, resulting in children struggling academically.
There are different reasons why poor vision affects learning.
Poor Vision Makes it Harder to Focus
If a child can not clearly see the small print on paper or read the text on the blackboard easily, he will lose focus and attention more easily. They will get tired of trying to see what’s printed or written and lose concentration much faster.
Poor vision also results in poor reading comprehension, as children will confuse similar-looking words when they can’t see them clearly. They may also lose their place while reading a text, slowing reading speed and making the child seem a ‘slow reader and learner.’
Poor Vision Leads to Poor Eye-hand Coordination
A child with poor distance vision often avoids team sports and games because he simply cannot see well enough.
School recess or physical education is an excellent time for children to develop their social skills and burn off excess energy, resulting in better focus when returning to the classroom.
Suppose a child doesn’t like to participate in games or physical activities. In that case, they not only lack the benefits of physical activity and the social skills accompanying it, but they can also develop poor eye-hand coordination and lose focus in the classroom.
Poor Vision can Lead to Feeling Less Confident, Compared to Others
Children with vision-related problems, who need more time reading a text or make reading and comprehension mistakes more often, will feel less confident.
This can result in these kids not reaching their full potential. On the other hand, studies show that confident children perform better at school.
Most kids will not complain of visual problems but might show the following signs:
- Learning difficulties
- Poor reading and reading comprehension skills
- Difficulty remembering what is read
- Poor attention or concentration
- Losing the place while reading
- Holding reading material very close to the face
- Poor hand-eye coordination
- Avoiding team sports where distance vision is required
- Squinting, closing one eye or head tilting while reading
- One eye turning in or out
- Frequent eye rubbing or blinking
- Frequent headaches or fatigue
Schedule a comprehensive eye test to rule out any vision problems if your child is not performing well in school.
Even better is to rule out vision problems before learning problems appear.
If your child suffers from vision issues that somehow hinder their academic performance, get an exam today to find the best treatment for their eyes.
Every patient deserves top-quality eye care from us. European Eye Center focuses on providing Western-standard services and determining appropriate treatment plans to help patients restore their vision in a feel-like-home atmosphere.
We are happy to help if you have questions about how poor vision can affect your children’s learning. Don’t hesitate to connect with us at appointment@europeaneyecenter.com.
Contact us today to schedule an eye care service!