Wow Vision Therapy Blog

At Wow Vision Therapy, we’re honored to be featured in a new WSBT 22 News story, entitled, Operation Education: Visual processing delay often overlooked as a reading challenge, that highlights an often-overlooked reason behind many children’s struggles with reading, writing, attention, and academic performance: visual processing delays.

In this powerful segment by Kristin Bien, anchor and Operation Education Reporter for WSBT 22, viewers meet our patient, Jesse Cross, a bright first grader whose early struggles in school were once dismissed as “just being a boy.” Despite having 20/20 eyesight and passing standard vision exams, Jesse faced challenges in reading, handwriting, attention, and even sports coordination.

What Jesse and his parents didn’t realize—and what so many families don’t know—is that many learning difficulties aren’t due to eyesight alone, but rather how the brain processes visual information.

After being evaluated at Wow Vision Therapy in St. Joseph, Jesse was diagnosed with Convergence Insufficiency and Oculomotor Dysfunction—two eye coordination conditions that affect how the eyes team together and move across the page. These issues, paired with delays in visual processing and integration, made reading and writing far more difficult than they should have been.

What This Means for Families and Professionals

Eye coordination and visual processing delays can present with symptoms such as:

• Frequent letter reversals, “b’s” for “d’s” and “p’s” for “q’s”
• Poor memory for sight word recognition
• Miscalling similar easy words such as “this” or “the” or “a” for “an”
• Sloppy handwriting, spatially disorganized uphill and downhill
• Losing place while reading
• Poor attention and concentration for reading and homework
• Words double and/or run together when reading 
• Eye strain and/or headaches when reading
• Poor confidence, lower self-esteem and anxiety

Too often, these symptoms are mistaken for ADHD, dyslexia, or lack of motivation. But in reality, they may be rooted in a functional vision problem—a disconnect between the eyes and the brain.

Our vision therapy programs at Wow Vision Therapy go beyond “eye exercises.” They are a form of brain-based vision rehabilitation, guiding children through activities that improve the brain’s ability to coordinate the eyes, process visual input, and apply that information to academic and everyday tasks.

The Impact of Vision Therapy

After completing his vision therapy program, Jesse experienced remarkable improvements. His reading level jumped from below grade level to third grade. His headaches and eyestrain vanished. His confidence soared.

And perhaps just as important, his mother, Katie, noticed better coordination, reduced anxiety, and improved focus.

Watch and Share

We encourage parents, educators, and healthcare professionals to watch this enlightening story and share it widely. It’s a message of hope for families who may feel stuck without answers.

Watch the full WSBT22 story here:
Visual processing delay often overlooked as a reading challenge – WSBT22

If you are a parent or professional concerned about a child’s struggles with reading, attention, or academic performance—even after a routine eye exam—contact us at Wow Vision Therapy in Grand Rapids or St. Joseph to schedule a Comprehensive Binocular Vision and Developmental Vision Assessment.

Together, we can help children not only gain better vision—but learn, thrive, and succeed with confidence.

Dan L. Fortenbacher, O.D., FOVDR

Founder, Wow Vision Therapy