Wow Vision Therapy Blog
When Parent-Teacher Conference Red Flags Signals Your Child’s Struggles are Likely a Visual Processing Problem
It’s that time of year again—parent-teacher conferences. For many families, these meetings bring both encouragement and concern. Perhaps you heard that your child is bright and capable, but struggles to focus, reads below grade level, or seems frustrated by schoolwork. You may be wondering why your child is trying so hard yet still falling behind in reading, comprehension, or test performance.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and the answer may lie not in eyesight, but in how your child’s brain processes visual information.
Beyond 20/20: When Vision Problems Aren’t About Eyesight
Most parents assume that if their child passed a school vision screening or already wears glasses, vision isn’t the issue. But many children with 20/20 eyesight still struggle to read, focus, or comprehend efficiently because of functional vision problems—how the eyes work together, track, focus, and process information.
These visual processing skills are essential for fluent reading and classroom learning. Unfortunately, they are not typically tested in a routine eye exam or school screening. A child can see the letters on a chart clearly and still experience major challenges in:
- Keeping their place while reading
- Understanding what they’ve just read
- Maintaining focus on written work
- Copying from the board
- Headaches or eye strain during homework
- Below-average test scores despite good effort
- Reversals of letters or numbers beyond age 7
- Avoidance of homework or frustration with reading
When these issues persist, they can cause frustration, avoidance of reading, and declining self-confidence.
What Research Shows
Decades of research in developmental and neuro-optometric science show that visual processing and functional vision problems are common and highly treatable. Studies estimate that up to one in four school-aged children has a vision problem that affects learning, even when eyesight is normal. Conditions such as convergence insufficiency, accommodative dysfunction, and oculomotor control deficits are well-documented contributors to reading and attention difficulties.
Clinical research—such as the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT)—has proven that office-based vision therapy significantly improves these skills and reduces symptoms that interfere with reading and learning. These findings confirm what we see every day at Wow Vision Therapy: when visual skills are strengthened through targeted therapy, children not only read better but also feel more confident, attentive, and successful in the classroom.
How Vision Therapy Makes the Difference
At Wow Vision Therapy, we specialize in identifying and treating these hidden visual barriers through a comprehensive developmental vision evaluation. This assessment looks far beyond visual acuity to uncover underlying problems in eye teaming (binocularity), focusing, tracking, and visual processing.
Our individualized vision therapy programs are designed to retrain the visual system, helping children (and adults) develop the strong, coordinated visual skills needed for efficient reading and learning.
The results are life-changing. We’ve helped thousands of patients improve their reading performance, attention, and academic confidence—often transforming their experience in school from struggle to success. Parents frequently tell us their child is reading for fun again, finishing homework faster, and feeling proud of their progress.
Take the Next Step
If you’re wondering why your bright child struggles to reach their potential, a comprehensive developmental vision assessment is the best way to find answers. At Wow Vision Therapy, we’re dedicated to helping children of all ages overcome visual processing and functional vision challenges to achieve success—academically, socially, and personally.
Because when your child’s visual processing works efficiently, learning takes off, confidence soars and their true potential comes shining through.
Call us today, Wow Vision Therapy in Grand Rapids: 616-447-1444 or in St. Joseph: 269-983-3309. You can also contact us online when you click here.
Dan L. Fortenbacher, O.D., FOVDR