Posted on 02. Feb, 2011 by Allyson Drewry in Health

Vision problems

Your child’s vision is an important factor to consider, poor vision can cause cognitive problem but doesn’t necessarily cause dyslexia. many dyslexics complain that they see shaky and blurry words, but experts agree that this statement doesn’t relate to the real problem, because even when those letters are clearly read by a dyslexic, he still has problem matching sound with the corresponding word. A dyslexic child may suffer vision problems (which can often be treated with exercises or glasses), but dyslexia is mostly caused by phonological processing problem.

Most vision problems symptoms are similar with dyslexia, so you may need expert assistance in determining the correct diagnosis. The child may have dyslexia or visual impairment or both! A child may have an eyesight problem but not dyslexia, if you notice these signs:

• He does not like to be read.

• He enjoys being read, but seems to have no or little interest in reading and writing.

• He keeps on losing the line when reading.

• He has watery or red eyes when reading.

• He complains of moving, double, or blurred print.

• He rubs his eyes, frowns, or squints when reading a book.

• He reads closely.

• He covers one eye when reading.

• He has difficulty distinguishing nearly similar elements in book.

• He is easily distracted.

• He has very short attention span.

• He takes too many breaks when writing.

• He gets tired too quickly when drawing.

• He has difficulty tracing or copying shapes.

• He reverses numbers and letters.

• He has a low self-esteem.

• He complains about headaches.

• He has problems coordinating his eyes and hands.

• He appears awkward or uncomfortable.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology stated that children must undergo a thorough eye examination after their fourth birthday and routine exams every two years. these are some alarming facts:

• one in five students has unobserved vision problems.

• Vision screening tests at school may not detect all types of vision problem.

• A child may have a vision of 20/20 but still have issues coordinating both eyes correctly.

Even if experts are almost certain that the vision problems are not the cause of dyslexia, some dyslexia treatments (Irlen Method and Davis Dyslexia Correction Method, for example) focus on the need to correct poor vision on children.

Problem on playing and dressing

Often dyslexic children have poor fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. A child with dyslexia may have difficulty throwing and catching, while common tasks like tying shoes, threading beads or buttoning a shirt can be infuriating. He may be late in developing a dominant hand as well. some dyslexic children switch between left and right hands when writing, catching a ball, or perform other simple tasks. Others can use one hand for catching balls and the other for writing!

Many children have poor eye-hand coordination and may have a moment of being capable of using both hands equally (ambidextrous). these behaviors are indicators of dyslexia. They do not indicate that dyslexia is a certainty, but if these symptoms persist in school, it could be a problem.

Poor reading skills

Some pre-reading problems can be signs of dyslexia. if your child is struggling with pre-reading skill at first grade, you need to get support and ask for an assessment. you can also try some of the activities listed below to help in improving your child’s pre-reading skill.

• The child is unable to relate sounds with words or the other way around. many young children can say words that sound almost alike. They can give a series of “buh” words, like a bun, ball, balloon and bench and make alliterations. A child with dyslexia does not understand what his problem is. He does not recognize pattern in a string of “buh” words and appreciate the pleasure of composing alliteration.

• The child can’t rhyme words. many children can rhyme easily when they go to school. you can anticipate hearing him compose sentences that end with rhymed words and he’ll be happy to sing his favorite lullabies. A child with dyslexia is different, rhyming is something that is beyond his comprehension.

• The child is not interested in reading and writing. Preschool children love to write some letters and their names everywhere. A dyslexic child won’t do the same thing.

• The child is not able to identify letters. A dyslexic child needs more time to learn letters than other children. When the school starts, he usually can’t remember all letters and can be confused with even simple words.

• The child cannot tell a simple story. each child has a story to tell. They can describe it in a concise manner. A dyslexic child is usually less capable. He finds it difficult to remember sequences of events, telling even a simple story is almost impossible for him.

• The child is not interested in hearing bedtime stories. some children with dyslexia do not listen to stories. They are unable to follow plots, understand word games, and understand the central message.

• The child cannot read and write his own name.