What About the Child Who Requires an IPP Program and Already is Diagnosed with a Learning Difficulty

Vision problems were found in 67% of Canadian children (ages 6 - 12 years old)  who were in an IPP program.  Eye-teaming deficits hindered these children's ability to stay focused while engaged in near work.

Reference: Christian, L., Peddle, A., Pennifold,  S., Schellenberg, B. (2012, October). Binocular Anomalies in Elementary  School Children with Reading Problems: preliminary results from the  University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science, External  Pediatrics Clinic. Research presentation at the 42nd Annual COVD  Meeting, Fort Worth, TX.

Visual screenings at schools or medical offices  rarely pick up these vision problems.  If a child who is struggling to  read and finding learning very difficult goes for an eye exam and is  told that they are fine because they have 20/20 sight, a referral to a  developmental optometrist (e.g. Dr. Neufeld at Calgary Vision Therapy is warranted).

There are different components of eye exam testing that can be performed.

Most eye exams cover the physical integrity which is concentrating on eye health and eye sight (20/20).

However children who are struggling with reading  / learning need to have both the Visual Efficiency Testing (tracking,  eye coordination, focusing) and Visual Information Processing (how we  use or interpret what we see) tested more intensively.  The testing  needs to be more than just a 20/20 evaluation.  It is unlikely that all  these tests would be done in a basic eye exam.

Dr. Neufeld performs these in depth visual  evaluations at Calgary Vision Therapy.  Many Optometrists do refer to  Dr. Neufeld already; however, if a child is on an IPP program, has been  diagnosed with a learning difficulty, or suspects he/she may have a  learning difficulty, this child should have these visual areas evaluated  by a Developmental Optometrist, such as Dr. Neufeld.  There may be a  vision (non-20/20) problem that is increasing the amount of effort the  child is forced to exert in their attempt to acquire information and  learn.