Unlock Your Child’s Full Potential
Did you know 80 per cent of children’s learning happens visually? So being able to focus clearly on the blackboard,
computer screen and school books is crucial to your child’s development.
Did you also know that an estimated one in five New Zealand primary school children may have an undiagnosed eye
condition stopping them from doing just that?
Oamaru optometrist and EYEPRO professional, Brian Denny, says nearly 100,000 Kiwi kids have vision-related learning
difficulties which can affect their writing, comprehension of visual information, concentration and behaviour.
Current Ministry of Health vision screening for kindergarten and primary school children is not targeted to pick up
those other vision problems that can cause a child’s fine motor skills (needed to read and write) to work incorrectly.
“These children are often referred to a variety of therapists because of behavioural and learning difficulties while
their sight problems, the real issue, can go undiagnosed for years.”
Brian says most children with visual problems are long-sighted and have eye coordination problems. Once given correct
glasses, they show significant signs of improvement in their learning.
“Once a child wears the correct spectacles there is nearly always a dramatic transformation in their learning
performance, behaviour, concentration, comprehension and self belief.”
If you notice any of the signs listed below or have any concerns about your child’s learning abilities visit your local
optometrist for a comprehensive examination of your child’s vision.
What to look out for:
If your child displays any of the following signs it could be worth having their eyes examined by your local EYEPRO
professional.
• Not achieving as expected
• Poor concentration
• Easily distracted
• Shows anti-social behaviour at school
• Typically very inquisitive yet has no interest in learning in the classroom
• Writing and spacing of uneven size
• Writing that does not stay on or within the lines on the page
• Reversing or confusing letters such as p and q, b and d, n and h
• Jumping or missing lines or letters when reading
• Poor at reading aloud
• Reads monotonously
• Ignores punctuation
• Uses their finger to guide their eyes
• Confuses words such as ‘who’, ‘which’ and ‘when’
Diary entries from a patient of Brian’s written over a period of one month (see attached)
“Within days of getting glasses the transformation in this child’s writing is nearly unbelievable, yet this is merely
one example of the many children I see every day whose lives are changed by having a comprehensive eye examination,”
says Brian.
Example 1: 14 April 2008
Example 2: 2 May 2008 (wearing new glasses)
Example 3: 4 May 2008
ENDS