Visual Perception Disorders

Visual perception disorders are the most subtle--and the most difficult to recognize--of the four major types of learning disabilities. Most people associate visual perception difficulties with dyslexia, a catchall term used to describe anything that hampers an individual's ability to read. But visual perception problems affect far more than reading.

"These children have difficulty recognizing, organizing, interpreting and/or remembering visual images," says Lisa Strick, coauthor of PARENT'S GUIDE TO LEARNING DISABILITIES. "As a result, they have trouble understanding the whole spectrum of written and pictorial symbols--not only letters and words, but also numbers and math symbols, diagrams, maps, charts and graphs."

Children with visual perception problems may have related difficulties that include a poor sense of direction, problems judging speed and distance, and difficulties with planning and organizational skills.

The problem is not with their eyesight, but with the way their brains process visual information. Strick recalls her own son's ordeal, which began when he reached first grade and was expected for the first time to deal with letters and numbers. "He had been extremely happy in nursery school and a star in his half-day kindergarten class," Strick says. "But when he reached first grade he would come home and complain that he hated everything about school."

After a battery of tests, the reason for his unhappiness became apparent: Although he had a superior I.Q., his ability to process visual information was extremely limited.

While visual perception disabilities can make school very difficult for children, much can be done to help them compensate for the problem. Most learn to read best by hearing written material read aloud, and a method of reading instruction based on phonics is absolutely essential to help them overcome their handicap. Many can be helped immensely simply by being allowed to use computers to type their schoolwork, eliminating the need for doing large amounts of writing by hand, which is often laborious.

The good news about students with visual perception problems is that they quite often blossom in high school, says Strick. By then, they have figured out how to master systems of visual symbols and are able to put more emphasis on language, logic and analytical skills, at which they generally excel. That was the case with Strick's son, who over the years has learned to compensate for his disabilities and play to his strengths. He is now a student at an East Coast liberal arts college, with a special expertise in art and computers.

Below are some behaviors characteristic of children with visual perception disabilities. It is normal for children to display a few of the symptoms on the list, but a learning disability may be responsible if many of the behaviors are present and persist beyond the age for which such errors are expected.

WRITING
•Dislikes and avoids writing
•Delays in learning to write
•Papers are messy and incomplete; many cross outs and erasures
•Difficulty remembering shapes of letters and numbers
•Frequent letter and number reversals
•Uneven spacing between letters and words
•Omits letters from words and words from sentences
•Inaccurate copying
•Poor spelling (spells phonetically)
•Cannot spot errors in own work
•Difficulty preparing outlines and organizing written work

READING
•Confuses similar-looking letters ("b" and "d," "p" and "q")
•Difficulty recognizing and remembering "sight" words (but can sound out words phonetically)
•Frequently loses place when reading
•Confuses similar-looking words ("bread" and "beard")
•Reverses words (reads "was" for "saw")
•Has trouble finding letters in words or words in sentences
•Poor memory for printed words (also number sequences, diagrams, illustrations and so on)
•Poor comprehension of main ideas and themes
•Difficulty with higher-level math concepts

Source: adapted from LEARNING DISABILITIES: A TO Z.