October 2024, Issue 6:

Recognizing Visual Processing Problems:

What to Look For

Dear Reader ,

Welcome to the next issue of Mindful Connections: Navigating ADHD, Trauma, and Beyond with Dr. Connie.

This issue is dedicated to Identifying Visual Processing Problems: What to Look For which is crucial in providing the right support and interventions to help children and adults overcome these challenges and thrive.

Recognizing visual processing problems is vital for a child's academic success and emotional well-being. These challenges can significantly impact various aspects of learning and daily life, making it essential to identify and address them promptly.

Visual processing problems can greatly hinder a child's learning. They affect tasks like organizing, picking up toys, learning spelling by sight, doing math, and reading comprehension. Children may miss letters when writing, struggle to copy information from the board, and have difficulty remembering letters and numbers. These processing problems are not related to vision itself but to the brain's ability to process visual information. The child must accurately interpret visual input to understand and respond appropriately.

Symptoms of Visual Processing Problems:

• Difficulty with tasks that require copying (taking notes).

• Written copies may be missing words.

• Below-average reading or writing skills.

• Below-average math skills; may ignore function signs or omit steps.

• May confuse visually similar information.

• May fail to notice changes in bulletin board displays, signs, or posted notices.

• Disorganization and difficulty remembering visual information.

• Frequent tripping or bumping into things.

• Trouble with eye/hand coordination.

Checklist for Identifying Visual Processing Issues:

1. Does your child miss words when writing or copying sentences or phrases?

2. Is your child easily distracted by visual activities in the room?

3. Does your child frequently lose or misplace things?

4. Are your child's math skills below average?

5. Does your child trip or bump into things frequently?

6. Does your child have difficulty organizing?

7. Does your child struggle with eye/hand coordination?

8. Is your child's handwriting illegible?

9. Does your child struggle to write spelling words correctly but can spell them out loud?

Zoe’s Journey:

Zoe, a sweet seven-year-old girl, was being raised by her grandmother along with her siblings. Despite her efforts, Zoe struggled to learn to read and understand her schoolwork. When assessed, it became clear that Zoe was unable to process visual information. She could follow verbal instructions but couldn't complete school tasks, causing her to fall further behind.

Her initial assessment results showed extreme impairments in all areas of visual processing, with scores so low they couldn't be measured. Zoe's visual comprehension was nearly nonexistent, making it impossible for her to understand any information presented visually.

Zoe underwent a neurofeedback plan to improve her visual processing abilities. After 20 sessions, there was only minimal improvement. Her grandmother, persistent in seeking help, continued the treatment. Despite limited results after another 20 sessions, Zoe's grandmother noticed changes and decided to continue.

Finally, after continued sessions, Zoe's brain began to respond remarkably to the neurofeedback interventions. Her visual processing started to function, and she blossomed into a confident and happy girl who could now follow along in school. Her grandmother expressed deep appreciation for the support, and Zoe’s transformation brought cheers and tears of joy from everyone involved.

Steps for Identifying Visual Processing Problems at Home and in School:

Observe and Document: Pay close attention to the child's behavior in different settings. Look for patterns of difficulty with visual tasks, such as copying notes or following visual instructions.

Create a Quiet Environment: Minimize visual distractions in the child's environment to help them focus better.

Use Multisensory Learning: Incorporate auditory and tactile elements into learning activities. For example, use text-to-speech programs for reading assignments and provide hands-on activities for math problems.

Break Down Tasks: Divide tasks into smaller, manageable steps to help the child stay organized.

Check for Understanding: Frequently check in with the child to ensure they understand the material and can follow through on instructions.

By following these steps, parents and teachers can better identify and support children with visual processing problems, helping them to succeed academically and emotionally.

In our next newsletter, we will explore neurofeedback as an effective, non-invasive intervention for auditory and visual processing problems.

Warm regards,

Dr. Connie McReynolds 

 connie@mcreyno.com

www.conniemcreynolds.com

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