Views on Vision By Dr. Charles A. Boulet ~ Education: Keeping Costs Down and Outcomes Positive

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Every year, hundreds of millions are spent on remediation of learning and reading difficulties across the US and Canada. In spite of this, a comprehensive review of the efficacy of Special Education programs in the United States in 2002 revealed that it not only had ZERO effect on outcomes in the classroom, it sadly had a negative impact on performance in a large part of the population of children. Given the expense, it is incumbent upon all stakeholders from medical professionals to educators to parents to ensure that early intervention and detection is emphasized for ALL children. This includes proper care and attention to visual function.
Some European and Asian nations, as well as most States in the USA recommend at least rudimentary vision assessments prior to the start of formal schooling. It is unknown why this does not occur here, perhaps it is oversight. Strictly speaking, early detection of visual dysfunction can and will save millions to the Alberta taxpayer and prevent years of misery for countless children.
In hockey, if a child has bad skates, or cannot skate well, it seems obvious that he will have trouble scoring goals. In a classroom, if a child has poor or difficult vision (again, this goes way beyond simple clarity of sight), they will also have trouble performing. With hockey, parents can ensure the child has good skates and equipment as well as some time with a skating coach. Parents will often send even the most competent players to hockey camps in order to improve on skills. With vision, optometrists can assist in a) detecting and preventing reading trouble due to visual function and b) improve on existing skills to give even good students an added advantage or in some cases to simply even the playing field.
Children will most commonly suffer for years in the classroom before anything is done about visual dysfunction. Frequently enough, there is no attempt to diagnose or address the problem. Asking a child if they can 'see' an object is often taken as sufficient evidence that the 'eyes' are working just fine; this is, of course, woefully inadequate in assessing visual function - it is akin to asking a child if he can skate to determine if he is ready for the NHL. In schools, children will 'self-diagnose' reading and learning difficulties by falling behind or by causing trouble in class - sadly, intervention is much more difficult at this point. For many other children who are not outwardly affected by visual dysfunction, they carry on through school with C's and D's, when they should really be scoring A's and B's. Elsewhere, children with visual dysfunction are mis-diagnosed as having a reading or learning disability and this leads to years of costly and unnecessary segregated care and social stigma.
DETAILED VISUAL FUNCTION ASSESSMENT IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL AT THE END OF KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE 2. In Kindergarten, assessment allows for detection of 'hidden' problems that will cause difficulties in learning to read. In Grade 2, assessment allows for detection of trouble that has not resolved itself and that will likely lead to trouble reading in later grades. All school-aged children should have a general vision and eye health exam every year. Of course, if there is obvious trouble currently - like if the child reports headaches, blur, trouble reading or if there is a diagnosis of reading or learning disability - an assessment should be done immediately. Some schools strongly encourage and facilitate regular vision assessments for their students, but by far they are in the minority. To do so is a kind and proactive thing that can spare stakeholders years of grief and added expense. The option is to assume everything is ok, cross your fingers and send your children off to school hoping for the best.
We have a standing invitation to all parents in the region to have us do full visual function assessments for their children. Most often, there is no cost to the family for this service. This is the simplest and most cost effective means of detecting and dealing with potential problems BEFORE they become serious impediments to learning and reading. The cost of additional testing to the school and parents is zero: We offer this service in the interest of public health and keeping costs of dealing with learning disabilities down. Call 403-933-5552 to book an appointment. You will be surprised what you learn about your child's vision.

Dr. Boulet is a former teacher and now operates Diamond Valley Vision Care in Black Diamond where he continues to work with children with learning difficulties.
Call 403-933-5552.
www.dvvc.ca and
www.LearningManagement.ca.