As parents, we want nothing but the best for our children’s overall health and well-being. While we might think that a regular eye exam is enough to ensure their visual health, it’s important to understand that a general eye exam does not cover all the aspects of their vision.
Pediatric developmental optometrists possess the expertise to delve deeper into a child’s visual skills and address any deficits that can hinder their success. In this blog, we explore the significance of these specialized tests and how vision therapy can help set your child up for success, both in and out of school.
Seeing Beyond the Basics with NeuroVisual Optometry
A regular eye exam mainly focuses on assessing visual acuity, the ability to see clearly at given distance. While this is undoubtedly important, there are other critical visual skills that influence a child’s overall visual performance and success. In fact, there are a total of 17 visual skills that all contribute to strong vision.
Pediatric developmental optometrists are trained to evaluate a child’s visual abilities beyond what a general eye exam can capture. By conducting a more thorough assessment, they can identify any underlying visual issues that might affect a child’s academic performance.
Vision Therapy: Unleashing a Child's Potential
Vision therapy is a specialized program designed to support, develop, and improve a child’s visual skills, which can directly impact their success, both in and out of the classroom. It is a personalized, non-invasive treatment option that uses various exercises and activities to train and strengthen the visual system.
Here’s how vision therapy can help your child:
- Visual Skill Enhancement: Vision therapy targets specific visual skills such as eye tracking, focusing abilities, eye teaming, and visual perception. Through tailored exercises, children learn to improve their eye movements, coordination, and visual processing skills.
- Improved Academic Performance: Strong visual skills are essential for reading, writing, comprehension, and overall academic achievement. By enhancing these skills through vision therapy, children can overcome challenges and perform better in the classroom.
- Improved Visual Comfort: Some children may experience discomfort or fatigue while reading or working on close-up tasks. Vision therapy can address these issues, making their visual experience more comfortable and enjoyable.
- Confidence Boost: When a child’s visual skills improve, so does their confidence! Vision therapy empowers children to feel more capable and accomplished, leading to increased self-esteem and a positive attitude toward learning.
Schedule Your Child’s Functional Visual Exam at Opto-mization
If you want to make sure your child’s vision sets them up for success, or wish to address visual problems they may be having, schedule an appointment at Neuro Visual Performance to get started.
We look forward to helping your child achieve their potential through optimal visual functioning!