•Dr Priscilia Imade
When a child struggles in school, we often blame poor concentration, lack of interest or inadequate study. But one important question is sometimes overlooked: Can the child see well enough to learn?
Much of classroom learning depends on vision, reading books, copying from the board, writing, recognising letters and numbers, and following visual instructions.
A child may be able to watch television, recognise people and move around normally, yet still have a vision problem that affects learning.
Good learning vision involves more than simply seeing clearly. A child needs to focus comfortably, use both eyes together and move the eyes effectively while reading.
VISION AND LEARNING PROBLEMS
A child who struggles to copy from the board may be labelled careless. One who avoids reading may be called lazy. A child who frequently loses their place while reading may be considered inattentive. But sometimes, the underlying issue may be visual.
Signs to watch for include frequent headaches after reading, squinting, rubbing the eyes, holding books too close, moving close to the board or television, losing their place while reading, skipping words, difficulty copying from the board, or avoiding reading.
Many children do not realise that their vision is abnormal because they have nothing to compare it with.
A child may simply assume that everyone sees the way they do.
This is why parents should not wait for a child to complain before arranging an eye examination.
THE ROLE OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS
Teachers are often the first to notice changes in a child’s classroom behaviour. Parents should also pay attention to persistent signs of visual difficulty.
Not every child who struggles academically has a vision problem, but vision should be considered when trying to understand a child’s learning difficulties.
PROTECT VISION, PROTECT LEARNING
An untreated or undetected vision problem can become an unnecessary barrier to education.
A simple eye examination could reveal a problem that has been affecting a child’s ability to learn comfortably and confidently.
We don’t just help children see. We help them learn, participate and reach their potential. See the child. Check the vision. Protect the learning.
*Dr Priscilia Imade is CEO, Modern Eye Clinic, Lagos. E-mail: moderneyecliniclagos@gmail.com
Another edition of the column returns on Monday in The Frontier.
