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Signs and symptoms

The following is a checklist that can be used to help determine if a child is suffering from an undetected visual problem. Go through the checklist and if you have one or more checked... finish the form and bring in to your exam.

 

NOTE: Your information will remain confidential and will not be shared with any 3rd party. Your privacy is very important to us.

  • One eye turns in or out at any time

  • Reddened eyes or lids

  • Eyes tear excessively

  • Encrusted eyelids

  • Complaints when using eyes at desk

  • Headaches in forehead or temples

  • Burning or itching when not reading

  • Nausea or dizziness

  • Print blurs after reading for a short period of time

  • Behavioral signs of vision problems

  • Eye Movement Abilities

  • Head turns as reads across page

  • Looses place often during reading

  • Displays short attention span in reading or copying

  • Frequently omits words

  • Repeatedly omits “small” words

  • Writes up or downhill on paper

  • Rereads or skips lines unknowingly

  • Orients drawings poorly on page

  • Eye Teaming Abilities (Binocularity)

  • Complains of seeing double

  • Repeats letters within words

  • Omits letters, numbers, or phrases

  • Misaligns digits in number columns

  • Squints, closes, or covers one eye

  • Tilts head excessively while working at desk

  • Consistently shows gross postural deviations at all desk activities

  • Refractive Status (Nearsighted, Farsighted, Focusing Problems)

  • Comprehension reduces as reading continues, loses interest too quickly

  • Mispronounces similar words as continues reading

  • Blinks excessively at desk tasks and/or reading, holds book too closely, face too close to desk surface

  • Avoids all possible near-centered tasks

  • Complains of discomfort in tasks that demand visual interpretation

  • Closes or covers one eye while reading or doing desk work

  • Makes errors in copying from chalkboards to paper on desk

  • Makes errors in copying from reference book to notebook

  • Squints to see chalkboard or requests to move closer

  • Rubs eyes during or after short periods of visual activity

  • Fatigues easily, blinks to make chalkboard clear up after desk task

  • Visual Form Perception (Visual Comparison and Visualization)

  • Mistakes words with same or similar beginnings

  • Fails to recognize the same word in next sentence

  • Reverses letters and/or words in writing and copying

  • Confuses likeness and minor differences

  • Repeatedly confuses similar beginnings and endings of words

  • Fails to visualize what is read whether silently or orally

  • Whispers to self for reinforcement while reading silently

  • Returns to “drawing with fingers” to decide likes and differences

  • Eye-hand coordination abilities

  • Must feel things in order to assist in any interpretation required

  • Eyes not used to “steer” hand movements (extreme lack of orientation, placement of words or drawings on a page)

  • Writes crookedly, poorly spaced, cannot stay on ruled lines

  • Misaligns both horizontal and vertical series of numbers

  • Uses his/her hand or fingers to keep his/her place on the page-Uses other hand as “spacer” to control spacing and alignment on page

  • Repeatedly confuses left-right directions

  • Visual problems can prevent children from comfortably reading and from realizing their full potential. 

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