Understanding Learning Challenges
I've Been Told My Child May Have Dyslexia
Dyslexia can affect reading, spelling, and learning. However, some children who are described as having dyslexia may also have undetected visual skill problems that make reading harder. Calgary Vision Therapy evaluates whether vision-related skills are affecting reading, learning, and classroom performance.
“A high percentage of individuals labeled as dyslexic are actually mislabeled due to undiagnosed visual dysfunctions.”
Reading Challenges and Visual Skills
Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference. However, some children also have visual skill problems that make reading feel harder.
For example, a child may see clearly but still struggle with eye tracking, focusing, or visual processing during school work. As a result, reading may feel slow, tiring, or frustrating.
At Calgary Vision Therapy, we do not diagnose or treat dyslexia itself. Instead, we evaluate whether vision-related skills may add to a child’s reading or learning challenges.
In addition, our Vision & Learning page explains how visual skills can affect reading, attention, and classroom performance.
For a broader educational overview, review the International Dyslexia Association dyslexia basics resource.
Have you been told that your child might have dyslexia? Who suggested this?
Families may hear the word dyslexia during school meetings or learning discussions. Sometimes, teachers or other professionals use this label when a child keeps struggling with reading after extra support.
However, reading struggles can have more than one cause. Some children have language-based dyslexia. Other children may also have visual skill problems. These problems can make reading slower, tiring, or harder to understand.
For this reason, a complete evaluation matters. Calgary Vision Therapy checks whether vision-related issues add to reading or learning challenges. When visual skills play a role, care can focus on those specific needs.
While “dyslexia” might not be a true diagnosis, however, many reading issues do have causes you can treat.
Common Misconceptions
The Good News
Many people who have been labeled dyslexic actually have a visual syndrome that interferes with their ability to process information. Vision dysfunctions are often overlooked or not taken into consideration when a child is having a learning issue.
The majority of the time, the child will get their eyes checked and be told that they have 20/20 vision and that everything is fine. However their visual skills may not be working properly for reading and learning.
The 20/20 Myth
Unfortunately most regular eye exams only look for 20/20, the visual acuity for compensating glasses, and eye health. This includes evaluation for optical alignment, but does not evaluate tracking or focusing skills.
• 20/20 does not measure visual tracking skills.
• 20/20 does not test focusing ability needed for reading.
Visual Insight
“If a child has any tracking problem or a binocular coordination dysfunction, that child will have to work 4-6 times harder than classmates.”
Educational Psychologist Reports
If your child has been seen by an educational psychologist and the psychologist has suggested there are some visual or visual perceptual processing issues, it is highly likely that your child may have several visual dysfunctions.
Speech is slow
Having a hard time reading
Doing work slowly
Losing place while reading
Using a computer for typing
Using spell check
Mislabeled?
It is our experience that a high percentage of individuals labeled as dyslexic are actually mislabeled due to undiagnosed visual dysfunctions.