Are Kids’ Senses Ready for School?

When setting off for kindergarten or first grade, a child may feel prepared with a backpack loaded with crayons, pencils and paper. But a good start in the classroom depends on more than just school supplies. Healthy hearing, vision, speech and language are key to success at school. If a child has problems in these areas, the sooner they’re spotted, the better they can be treated.

A child with a lazy eye or a little hearing loss might get along just fine at home or in daycare. But when children get to school, minor difficulties may start to catch up with them.

Poor vision can also cause trouble in school, and the problems may go unnoticed. About 1 in 10 preschoolers has a vision problem, but kids don’t always tell others about their symptoms. Kids might even think it’s normal to see double or for things to be blurry. But poor eyesight can cause headaches and hinder reading. Some children with vision problems might seem to have attention difficulties, since eyestrain and headaches can make it hard to stay on task.

The most common cause of vision impairment in children is amblyopia, or lazy eye. It often arises if the eyes point in different directions, or if one eye produces a better image than the other. The brain starts to shut down signals from the weaker eye. Treatment encourages use of the weaker eye, sometimes by putting a patch over the other eye. NIH-funded research has found that treatment for amblyopia is more effective if begun when a child is young.

Screenings only identify potential problems, and they don’t catch everything. Children should have regular exams by an eye care professional.

Early detection and treatment of hearing, vision and language problems can give kids a better learning experience.

You can read the original article by Harrison Wein, Ph.D, Managing Editor and Vicki Contie, Editor on newsinhealth.

Here at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore, we’re concerned with keeping our Orlando patients’ vision as clear as possible. We also want you and your family to have healthy eyes. So feel free to make an appointment with our optometrist.