Symptom Guide
A Guide for SENDCOs and teachers

Common Symptoms to Screen for Vision Therapy: A Guide for SENCOs
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As a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), your role involves identifying and addressing various challenges that students may face in their learning journey. One often-overlooked area that can significantly impact a student’s academic performance is their visual processing abilities. Vision therapy can be an effective intervention for students with visual processing issues, but recognizing the signs that suggest a visual problem is crucial for making appropriate referrals. Here are some common symptoms to look for when screening students to determine if vision therapy might be beneficial:
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1. Difficulty with Reading and Writing
- Symptoms: Frequent loss of place while reading, skipping lines, re-reading the same lines, or difficulty tracking text. Students may also show poor handwriting, inconsistent spacing, or trouble aligning text on the page.
- Potential Issues: These symptoms may indicate problems with eye tracking, visual-motor coordination, or focusing, which can be addressed through vision therapy.
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2. Short Attention Span and Frequent Distractibility
- Symptoms: Trouble maintaining focus on close-up tasks, appearing easily distracted, or becoming frustrated with tasks that require sustained visual attention.
- Potential Issues: Difficulty with visual focus and attention can be a sign of visual stress or poor visual processing, impacting the student’s ability to engage in classroom activities effectively.
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3. Frequent Complaints of Visual Discomfort
- Symptoms: Complaints of headaches, eye strain, blurry vision, or double vision, especially after doing close-up work like reading or writing. The student may also frequently rub their eyes or squint.
- Potential Issues: These symptoms may indicate underlying visual stress or strain, which vision therapy can help alleviate by improving the visual system’s endurance and comfort.
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4. Poor Hand-Eye Coordination
- Symptoms: Difficulty with tasks that require precise hand-eye coordination, such as writing, drawing, cutting with scissors, or catching a ball. The student might also struggle with tasks that involve spatial awareness or fine motor skills.
- Potential Issues: Weak hand-eye coordination and fine motor control can be a result of inadequate visual-motor integration, which vision therapy can help develop.
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5. Struggles with Spatial Awareness and Depth Perception
- Symptoms: Difficulty with tasks that require understanding spatial relationships, such as organizing materials, following directions on a map, or estimating distances. The student may also have trouble with activities involving depth perception, like catching objects or judging distances.
- Potential Issues: Problems with spatial awareness and depth perception may be related to visual perception issues, which can be targeted through vision therapy exercises designed to enhance these skills.
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6. Behavioral Issues and Frustration
- Symptoms: Increased frustration or behavioral problems during reading, writing, or other close-up tasks. The student may appear disengaged, reluctant to participate in activities, or exhibit signs of anxiety or stress.
- Potential Issues: Behavioral issues can sometimes stem from underlying visual difficulties that make academic tasks challenging. Addressing these visual problems through therapy can help reduce frustration and improve overall behavior and engagement.
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7. Challenges with Academic Performance
- Symptoms: A noticeable gap between the student’s potential and their academic performance, especially in areas that require visual processing, such as reading comprehension, math, and attention to detail.
- Potential Issues: Struggles in academic performance may be linked to unaddressed visual processing issues. Vision therapy can help bridge this gap by improving the visual skills necessary for academic success.
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How to Proceed
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If you observe these symptoms in a student, consider referring them for a comprehensive vision assessment. Early identification and intervention are key to addressing visual processing issues effectively. Vision therapy can provide targeted support to help students overcome these challenges, leading to improved academic performance and overall well-being.
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By being vigilant and proactive in screening for these common symptoms, you can play a crucial role in ensuring that students receive the appropriate support they need to succeed in their educational journey. For more information or to make a referral, please contact us to discuss how vision therapy could benefit your students.
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Below is a copy of our screening form for SENCOs: