Summer is a good time to make an eye appointment for your child. Visual tracking is critical to reading and writing success. Here are signs I look for as a therapist which may indicate a need for an eye exam. Please note that I am not talking about “being able to see” (acuity) but rather the two eyes teaming well together.
a. Child who covers one eye by propping his head in his hand
b. Child who lays his head consistently down on the table or desk, covering one eye with his arm
c. Child who closes one eye when following a moving object, especially across the body’s midline (across the nose area)
d. Child who skips words or skips down a line when reading
e. Writing becomes worse in the middle of the page or to one side of the page
f. Child has a consistent head tilt to one side of the body
Looking at this “stock” picture, I would recommend this young man having an eye exam! Please note the head tilt and the paper slant!
Hope you are enjoying the summer!
lynaot