Misdiagnosed as Behavioral Problems
Regular Eye Exams Recommended for Students with
Behavioral and Academic Difficulties
WASHINGTON, D.C. (2006) – Parents with school-aged children take note: students with uncorrected vision problems may be misdiagnosed as having behavioral and academic difficulties. Studies have shown that large numbers of students with social and emotional problems and learning difficulties have undiagnosed vision problems. Rates of undiagnosed vision problems are also found to be high among illiterate students and juvenile delinquents.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that two out of three children entering school do not receive the vision care necessary to properly diagnose and treat poor vision. According to CDC, untreated vision problems may seriously affect a child’s cognitive, emotional, neurologic and physical development by potentially limiting the range of experiences and kinds of information to which the child is exposed.
Many behavioral problems occur as a natural reaction to challenges the child may not have the ability to accomplish. This can include poor vision, which can present significant learning obstacles and result in frustration and outbursts in school.
A study of students with behavioral problems found that 97 percent of them failed at least one of the components of the administered vision screening. Additionally, 85 percent of the study participants scored particularly low on tracking, a vital vision skill that allows children to move their eyes properly across a page.
“Because 80 percent of what we learn comes through visual processing, it is critical for students to receive preventive vision care before entering school,” said Joel N. Zaba, M.A., O.D., an optometrist, child development specialist and spokesperson for the Vision Council of America. “Both parents and teachers should be aware of the signs of poor vision in children and rule out vision problems that may contribute to academic and behavioral difficulties.”
Currently, most schools and pediatricians conduct vision screenings. However, a National Institutes of Health study found that vision screenings miss as many as one in three children who have a vision problem. Only an eye exam, performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, can diagnose serious eye diseases that can cause permanent vision loss, such as amblyopia (lazy eye), pediatric glaucoma, as well as neurological problems.
“The reality is, there are many students struggling in our schools today both behaviorally and academically,” said Zaba. “This may be a result of an undiagnosed vision problem that can be diagnosed with a comprehensive eye examination and subsequently treated.”
To ensure proper vision diagnosis and treatment, the Vision Council of America recommends that all academically and behaviorally at-risk children receive regular eye exams from an eyecare professional. Parents of all children and teachers should look for the following signs of poor vision:
- Squinting, closing or covering one eye
- Constantly holding materials close to the face
- Tilting the head to one side or rubbing eyes repeatedly
- Making errors when copying from chalkboard to page
- Losing place when reading
- One or both eyes turn in or out
- Redness or tearing in eyes
- Developmental delays
The Vision Council of America is a not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to improving America ’s vision health through its “Check Yearly. See Clearly.” campaign. For more information on vision health, visit www.checkyearly.com.
