When children struggle with undiagnosed vision problems, they often develop ways to cope that can mask their difficulties. These adaptations may seem like behavioral issues, but they’re often signs that the child is working extra hard to manage their visual challenges. From frequent bathroom trips to “class clown” behavior, these adaptations can impact learning, attention, and social interactions.
In this blog, we’ll explore some common adaptations children use to manage vision problems and how to recognize when these behaviors may be signaling an underlying vision issue.
Why Children Develop Adaptations for Vision Problems
Vision is a complex skill that requires different areas of the brain to work together seamlessly. When any part of the visual system isn’t functioning optimally, a child may experience difficulty reading, focusing, or processing visual information. Because children often don’t realize their experience is different from others, they may not report these struggles.
Instead, they adapt to the discomfort or frustration of their vision issues. These adaptations can sometimes be misinterpreted as behavioral problems or lack of motivation, but in reality, they are coping mechanisms designed to make it through the day.
Common Adaptations to Vision Problems
Here are some of the most common adaptations that children use to cope with undiagnosed vision problems, along with signs to watch for.
1. Avoidance Tactics: Children who experience visual discomfort may try to avoid tasks that require close work, such as reading or writing. Avoidance can take many forms, including frequent bathroom trips, sharpening pencils excessively, or finding excuses to leave their desk.
2. Class Clown Behavior: Some children respond to vision challenges by becoming the “class clown.” Acting out or making jokes can be a way to divert attention from their struggles. This behavior often occurs when the child feels embarrassed or frustrated by their inability to perform visual tasks.
3. Working Through Strain and Discomfort: Many children “power through” visual discomfort to complete their work. They may squint, rub their eyes, or lean in close to their paper, often ending up with headaches or tired eyes. While they’re determined to complete their tasks, this strain can take a toll on their ability to focus and retain information especially as the day progresses.
4. Speeding Through Tasks: Some children cope with visual challenges by rushing through tasks. Rather than taking the time to process what they’re seeing, they move quickly in an effort to finish before their discomfort becomes overwhelming. This can lead to mistakes, sloppy handwriting, and incomplete work.
5. Getting “Lost” During Reading: Children with tracking difficulties may frequently lose their place while reading. To cope, they may skip lines, reread the same line, or appear “lost” in the text. This can be frustrating and often leads to avoidance of reading altogether.
6. Difficulty Maintaining Attention: Vision problems can make it hard for children to sustain focus on tasks. They may fidget, become restless, or look around the room to give their eyes a break. These behaviors can resemble symptoms of attention difficulties, but they may actually be adaptations to visual discomfort.
7. Perform Their Tasks Slowly: Some children with vision problems put in tremendous effort to focus on their work, leading to slow progress and frustration. They may lean forward, grip their pencil tightly, or take a long time to complete assignments, all in an effort to keep their eyes focused.
8. Head Tilting or Squinting: Tilting the head or squinting can be a way for children to compensate for double vision or blurry vision. By changing their head position, they may be able to achieve clearer vision temporarily, but it’s a sign that something is off with their visual system.
9. Developing Poor Posture: To cope with vision problems, some children may adopt an unusual posture, such as slouching, leaning to one side, or hunching over their desk. Poor posture can be a way to bring their eyes closer to the work or to reduce strain.
10. Negative Attitude: Children with undiagnosed vision problems may develop a negative attitude toward schoolwork, especially homework that involves reading or writing. They may put off homework, complain about it, or resist doing it altogether.
How to Support Students with Potential Vision Problems
As a teacher, recognizing these adaptations can be the first step in helping a child succeed. If you notice these behaviors in one of your students, consider discussing your observations with their parents and suggesting a Functional Vision Evaluation. A Developmental or Neurocognitive Optometrist can assess the child’s visual system beyond basic 20/20 vision, identifying any functional vision issues that may be impacting their learning.
Taking Action: When to Consider Therapeutic Lenses and/or Vision Therapy
If a Functional Vision Evaluation confirms that a child is struggling with vision issues, Therapeutic Lenses and/or Vision Therapy may be recommended. The Lenses remove many of the visual stresses. Vision Therapy is a structured program designed to strengthen the connections between the eyes and brain, improving visual skills like tracking, focusing, and eye coordination. By addressing these skills, these treatments can help children perform better in school and reduce the need for coping adaptations.
Final Thoughts: Recognizing the Signs of Vision Challenges
Children often don’t realize that their visual experience is different from others, so they adapt in ways that help them manage their challenges. By understanding these common adaptations, teachers and parents can identify when a child may be struggling with undiagnosed vision issues and take steps to support them.
If you’d like more information about Functional Vision Evaluations or Vision Therapy, the team at Arizona Vision Therapy Center is here to help. Together, we can ensure that vision challenges don’t hold your students back from achieving their full potential.
For more information or to schedule an evaluation, call us at 520-886-8800 or email us at visiontherapy@live.com.
By Amy Thomas, OD, FCOVD – Neurocognitive Optometrist
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