Optimetric Extension Program Foundation Inc.
1921 e.Carnegie Avenue, Ste 3-L, Santa Ana, California 92705 5510
Phone (714) 250 8070
| Vision in the Classroom |
DSRF Note:
Children with Down's syndrome have problems with
vision which can cause additional problems in school.
The following information provides contacts in the UK
where a behavioural optomerist can assess your
child's needs.
|
The following
information is reproduced with permission of the Optimetric Extension Program Foundation Inc. 1921 e.Carnegie Avenue, Ste 3-L, Santa Ana, California 92705 5510 Phone (714) 250 8070 |
This information was prepared to help teachers and consultants identify children's visual problems that could interfere with learning and classroom performance.
Nearly all the visual problems that deter children from doing well in the classroom WILL NOT be uncovered by the Snellen eye chart, nor by most stereoscopic devices. The value of these school screening devices is to identify those children who cannot see clearly.
VISION IS MORE THAN CLARITY.
It is the ability to visualise, understand and apply the information that comes through the eyes. Children with 20/20 sight may not have these abilities. Therefore, learning problems are often related to vision problems.
Teachers are the best screeners. They observe the child functioning in the classroom.The appearance of irritated eyes, squinting and frequent blinking are PHYSICAL signs of visual problems. A child's PERFORMANCE is affected by problems with eye movement, eye teaming, eye-hand coordination, and visual perception.
EYE MOVEMENT PROBLEMS
The information obtained by the child will be reduced if eye movements are slow or clumsy, if the eyes jump, "stutter" or lose their place on instructional materials.
EYE TEAMING PROBLEMS
While our eyes are supposed to work as a team so that they perform as one, this teaming is not guaranteed by design. It must be acquired through use during the preschool years and not all children adequately develop this skill. It can interfere with learning, especially in the areas of comprehension and spatial relations.
EYE-HAND COORDINATION PROBLEMS
Eye-hand coordination problems are noted as a lack of skill in drawing or writing. Paper work shows poor orientation on the page and the child is unable to stay within the lines when coloring. Often the child will continue to be dependent on his or her hand for inspection and exploration of toys or other objects.
VISUAL FORM PERCEPTION PROBLEMS
Form perception problems usually are a result of difficulties in the discrimination of visible likenesses and differences. There is confusion with similarities, inattention to slight differences, reversals in reading and reversals of letter forms. This produces difficulties in spelling and writing.
REFRACTIVE STATUS PROBLEMS
Near sighted (myopia), far sighted (hyperopia), astigmatism and focusing problems interfere with the child's comprehension processes and classroom participation. These problems can be developing even though the child may see 20/20 on a Snellen Chart. They need prompt attention by a behavioral optometrist who treats both vision and sight.
THE CHECKLIST
This checklist is designed to assist the teacher or consultant in communicating with clinicians and parents. It is particularly useful in identifying those children who did well academically in the very early grades and later developed problems.
| CHECKLIST OF VISION PROBLEMS | |
| Student's Name: | _________________________ |
| Date: | _________________________ |
| APPEARANCE OF EYES | |
| Reddened eyes or lids: | _________________________ |
| Eyes tear often: | _________________________ |
| Encrusted eyelids: | _________________________ |
| Frequent sties on lids: | _________________________ |
| COMPLAINTS WHEN USING EYES | |
| Headaches: | _________________________ |
| Burning eyes: | _________________________ |
| Itching eyes: | _________________________ |
| Nausea after reading: | _________________________ |
| Print blurs: | _________________________ |
| Double vision: | _________________________ |
| TEACHER'S OBSERVATIONS WHEN STUDENT READS | |
| Head movement: | _________________________ |
| Loses place often: | _________________________ |
| Needs finger to keep place: | _________________________ |
| Omits words frequently: | _________________________ |
| Re-reads lines: | _________________________ |
| Skips lines: | _________________________ |
| Short attention span: | _________________________ |
| Fails to recognise some words: | _________________________ |
| Confuses similar words: | _________________________ |
| WHEN STUDENT WRITES | |
| Writes up or downhill: | _________________________ |
| Repeats letters within words: | _________________________ |
| Omits letters, numbers or phrases: | _________________________ |
| Misaligns digits: | _________________________ |
| Covers one eye: | _________________________ |
| Tilts head: | _________________________ |
| Fails to recognize same word when repeated in text: | _________________________ |
| Fails to visualise: | _________________________ |
| Makes mistakes when copying from chalkboard: | _________________________ |
| Writing poorly spaced or crooked: | _________________________ |
| Unable to stay on ruled lines: | _________________________ |
| Poor placement of words on page: | _________________________ |
| OTHER PROBLEMS | |
| Must feel things to understand: | _________________________ |
| Repeatedly confuses right and left: | _________________________ |
| Difficulty with similarities and differences: | _________________________ |
| Avoids desk work: | _________________________ |
| Blinks, squints, rubs eyes: | _________________________ |
| Fatigues easily: | _________________________ |
Click here to see David Elliott's vision by Dr Anne Baxter
Consult a Behavioral Optometrist
If any of the problems listed on the Checklist of Vision Problems is marked, the child should be further evaluated by a behavioral optometrist.
Behavioral optometrists spend years in post-graduate, continuing education to master the complex visual programs prescribed to prevent or eliminate visual problems and enhance visual performance.
Not all optometrists practice behavioral optometry, which includes developmental and functional optometry. Yearly vision evaluations are recommended to make sure the visual system develops properly.
For more information on finding a behavioral optometrist in your area, please contact the Optometric Extension Program Foundation, Inc.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Optometric Extension Program Foundation, Inc.
1921 E. Carnegie Ave., Ste. 3-L Santa Ana, CA 92705-5510 (714) 250-8070
(A nonprofit foundation for education and research in vision)
Copyright. Optometric Extension Program Foundation, 1995
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