Does my Child Have Dyslexia?

We hear about dyslexia often enough, but what exactly is it? Is it a vision problem, or something else?

Take our Vision Quiz to learn whether you should explore Vision Therapy

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a relatively well-known learning disability which, in particular, is known to make reading and spelling difficult. Dyslexia is a highly genetic condition, and occurs in the brain, not the eyes. There are multiple types of dyslexia, and it can vary widely in terms of severity. In a nutshell, dyslexia is a problem with visual and auditory matching, a process known as decoding. A problem with how the brain processes information received, and not a problem with how the information gets from the eyes to the brain. Even someone who is visually impaired and reads braille can suffer from dyslexia, as the brain will have trouble processing the information coming from the fingers just as it does the information coming from words scanned by the eyes.

Symptoms

There are several symptoms of dyslexia, and their presentation can vary depending on a child’s age. Delayed speech or other speech issues (such as having difficulty pronouncing long words or jumbling up words or phrases) can be a sign of dyslexia in very young children.

Once a child with dyslexia reaches school age, you are likely to see them having difficulty learning specific sounds and letters, and they will confuse the order of letters in words while reading, writing, and speaking. They might also complain of headaches or dizziness while reading.

They may also have difficulty with reading comprehension, and with visualizing things based on what they have read.

Many of these symptoms are similar to those seen with certain eye issues, but with dyslexia the eyes are not at fault.

Testing: Dyslexia or Vision Issue?

There are self-tests available for dyslexia, but proper tests for dyslexia are generally carried out by psychologists, diagnostic specialists, or learning disability specialists, and only they can make an accurate diagnosis.

If a child is exhibiting symptoms that may indicate dyslexia, however, it is advisable to also have their eyes examined so you can make a complete determination regarding the cause of the learning difficulties. Not all optometrists do developmental eye exams, so visiting a doctor who specializes is necessary in order to determine if your child has a brain related vision issue--especially if there are concerns they might have ADHD or a similar disorder..

Additionally, if a child has a vision issue on top of dyslexia, it can exacerbate the symptoms and make things even harder for them.

Dyslexia and the Eyes

While dyslexia and some eye problems have common symptoms, dyslexia itself is known to not be an eye issue, and children with dyslexia have the same risk of eye problems as children without it.

Some instances where a vision issue can mimic dyslexia include:

Problems with laterality or directionality: Younger children, up to the age of first grade, often have difficulty distinguishing between their right and left (laterality). This is why it’s not uncommon for young children to reverse letters or numbers when they write them, and why they may hold their hands in an “L” shape to determine which is left and which is right. However, by the time they reach the second grade, this vision problem should go away on its own. If it persists, it may be a sign of dyslexia.

Visual Fatigue: Many vision problems can cause visual fatigue, a symptom also seen in dyslexia patients. Vision problems that can cause this problem include intermittent strabismus and convergence insufficiency. In the case of these issues, the fatigue is caused by the effort required to keep their eyes aligned on the task at hand.

Poor Control of Eye Movements: Just like dyslexia, some vision issues can lead to reading difficulties. However, in the case of vision issues, it is due to a mechanical problem with the eye movements required to read smoothly. Children with this problem may also skip small words like “the” and “it” due to their eyes simply missing them. Patients with dyslexia, however, are thought to skip these words because they have trouble visualizing them.

One Condition Does Not Preclude Another

While eye problems are not the cause of dyslexia, any problems that make tasks like reading more difficult will only add to their stress and make learning even more difficult.

Correcting any eye problems will only help make the dyslexia treatment process go more smoothly.

Summary

Children with dyslexia oftentimes display similar symptoms as children with vision issues, therefore our eye doctor recommends that a child who displays symptoms of dyslexia schedule a developmental eye exam to determine the cause of their symptoms and the best treatment options. To schedule a developmental eye exam at Amplify EyeCare of Greater Long Beach, please call (562) 925-6591. Patients with developmental vision issues visit our clinic from all over California, and we are proud to be a leading provider of developmental vision services for patients from Bellflower, Long Beach, Lakewood, and Los Angeles.

Learn More

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Testimonials

I haven't actually used the optometrist side, so my review is limited to the vision therapy offered. This office was recommended by my occupational therapist for the treatment of my double vision following a stroke.

Claire A.

Love this location. I had a brain injury accident from day one one. All the team make you feel you still important and hope in the horizon after when the medical system fell you miserably. Dr. Ikeda very professional and very understanding about your issue. Two tombs up.

Jim K.

My husband and I were immediately impressed with Dr Ikeda. I was hit by a car while cycling which caused broken bones and three brain injuries. The brain injuries caused double vision. Dr. Ikeda examined my eyes and got me started on vision therapy with his occupational therapist who specializes in vision therapy. She (Chris) is absolutely great. I am impressed with the array of tools used to help recover my binocular vision. I am doing things I never thought were possible (balance boards etc). Chris pushes me and keeps me motivated. I really enjoy my sessions with her. The office staff is always friendly and they have a wonderful appointment reminder tool that makes it easy to keep my calendar up to date. I am happy the rehab center at Little Co. of Mary recommended them!!

Teresa S.

The Vision Therapy is handled in a separate office through a different door from the shared waiting room. Chris, the vision therapist, has a wide and varied assortment of tools, equipment and resources to best evaluate and treat most vision issues. After just a few visits, my double vision became easier to control, using exercises developed during the therapy process. It was time well-spent.

Joe M.

I have been coming here since I can remember. I love it here. The staff is so amazing and nice. They explain everything they gonna do and never make you feel rushed. Dr. Ikeda has always been my doctor and I would never want another one. He is the doctor for my whole family and is always asking how everyone is doing. I am also so crazy about picking out my frames and have to try so many and each person who helps me take the time and lets me try them all on. I would never want to go anywhere else! I definitely would recommend this office to anyone looking for a great eye doctor.

Kayla W.

This is not for the eye exam but for the frames selection portion. I brought my prescription from Kaiser here with my VSP insurance. The reception staff was very polite and professional. Manny helped me to pick out frames and explain my coverage. Very helpful and patient not like the individual at the other place I rated here on Yelp. I was running late and he still helped me and was not bothered at all. I am so glad I came here ..........very pleased.

Very professional staff and pleasant.