Visual acuity and visual-perception should not be confused. Visual acuity is the measurement of the eye to see objects from 20 feet for distance vision and 16 inches for near point. Visual perception is how the brain interprets what it sees. If your child is having problems in school, these are two areas that need to be tested. Glasses with the proper refractive prescription can help with the first problem. However, more in depth testing needs to be completed in order to determine where the visual-perceptual problems lie. Generally, most tests of visual-perceptual skills focus on 7 areas. Visual Discrimination measures the ability to compare geometric shapes or forms and find two that are the same. Visual-spatial Relationships requires a student to be able to look at several forms, visually compare them, and choose the one that is different from the others. These skills are needed in order to determine similar words from each other while reading. Visual Memory is the ability to view a specific form and then find that item in a group of very similar forms. This skill is attached to being able to remember from one sentence or page to another. Visual Form Constancy tests the ability to attach meaning to a symbol in different colors, sizes or mixed within words or sentences. A student may learn a word on a 3x5 card but be unable to identify that same word in a sentence or from one page to another. Deficits in the area of Visual Sequential Memory are linked to being unable to recall the proper order of steps to solve a math problem, spell words with letters in the proper order, and learning phone numbers, etc. In the area of Visual Figure Ground, a student must be able to visually sort essential information from non-essential (foreground vs. background). Lastly, in the area of Visual Closure, the student needs to be able to visually fill-in the blanks of words, math problems or sentences. Deficits in any of these areas are bound to have an impact on your child's academic progress and success. Often, children who have problems in these areas are referred to an Occupational Therapist or learning resource teacher to learn strategies that help support learning. As a parent, you will play an integral part in helping your child become more successful in school by encouraging use of strategies at home as well as at school. |
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