Here are some examples of common signs and behaviours which may indicate visual acuity or visual processing problems in children. If any of these signs or symptoms are noticed a full visual examination is recommended.
- Child complains of blurred vision
- Complains of headaches or eyestrain especially with near tasks
- Close reading or writing distance
- Poor reading comprehension which worsens with time
- Squinting, blinking or holding the book close
- Loses place often when reading or copying from the board
- Skips words or lines, needs to use their finger as a guide
- Excessive head movement when reading
- Short attention span
- Covers or closes eyes when reading
- Unusual head turn or poor body posture when reading
- Complains of words moving or jumbling on the page
- Rubs eyes a lot
- Difficulty knowing their own right from left
- Persistent reversal of letters and numbers
- Writes their name from right to left
- Incorrect order of well known letter clusters
- Difficulty recognising the same word repeated on a page
- Mistakes words with similar beginnings
- Poor spacing of writing and inability to stay on the line
- Can respond orally but has difficulty producing written answers
- Difficulty remembering what has been read
- Reads slowly
- Poor spelling
- Difficulty copying
- An eye that turns in or out
- Feeling tired with reading
- Watery eyes
- Red eyes
- Eyes bothered by light
- Crooked or poorly spaced writing
- Clumsiness or poor concentration
- Blur changing from reading to distance viewing
- Double vision