Helping Your Child Reach Their Full Potential:
A Parent's Guide to Vision Therapy
As parents, we all share the same dream—watching our children thrive, succeed in school, and grow into confident individuals. But what happens when you notice your bright, capable child struggling despite their best efforts? When homework becomes a nightly battle, reading brings on headaches, and their confidence begins to fade?
Sometimes the answer lies not in how hard they're trying, but in something we can't see.
Does This Sound Like Your Child?
Frequently complains of headaches especially during or after reading or homework
Loses their place while reading or skips words or lines
Can't seem to sit still or concentrate on reading
Lacks confidence in themselves
Writes letters backwards (b, d, p, q) beyond the age when this is typical
Struggles to keep up with their peers in sports and classroom activities
If you're nodding along to any of these, you're definitely not alone!! Many parents notice these signs but aren't sure what they mean or where to turn for help.
Here's what we want you to know: these aren't about laziness, intelligence, or not trying hard enough. These could be signs of vision problems that aren’t related to 20/20 eyesight, but rather to how their eyes and brain work together to process what they’re seeing.
And the good news? These challenges can be addressed!!
Understanding Vision Beyond 20/20
When we think about vision, the familiar eye chart at the eye doctor’s office will pop into our head, right?. Can your child see 20/20? If yes, then their vision must be fine.
Not quite. While 20/20 eyesight measures how clearly your child can see at a distance, it doesn't tell us about the complex visual skills they need for learning and daily activities.
Visual skills are about how their eyes work together, how they track across a page, can they focus while reading, how their brain processes what they're seeing. Let’s imagine —having good eyesight (20/20) is like they’re having a great camera, but visual skills are about knowing how to use that camera effectively.
So… What exactly is Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy is a personalized, optometrist-supervised program designed to improve how your child's eyes and brain work together. Think of it like physical therapy—but instead of rehabilitating an injured knee or shoulder, we're training the visual system to function more effectively.
Here's How It Works at NAKOON
We create a program that's customized for your child.
No cookie-cutter approach here. We use fun, interactive activities (yes, some involve computers and games—kids really enjoy this part!), along with special lenses, prisms, filters, and other tools to help strengthen those visual skills. This makes the process both effective and engaging.
Sometimes, we may also collaborate with other specialists (occupational therapists, speech therapists, or physical therapists) if your child would benefit from an multidisciplinary approach.
What you can expect :
Weekly sessions at our optometry practice
Giving simple exercises to practice with them at home (usually 15-20 minutes a day)
Checking progress and adjusting as we go
What Can We Actually Help With?
Vision therapy can help children overcome a variety of visual challenges that impact their learning and development, including :
Eye teaming problems such as convergence insufficiency (inability to bring their eyes together properly when looking up close)
Focusing difficulties where it’s hard to keep things clear during reading or homework
Tracking challenges when the eyes jump around or lose their place on the page
Poor visual processing affecting comprehension and memory
Lazy eye (amblyopia) and other binocular vision dysfunctions
By addressing these issues, vision therapy can significantly reduce frustration, improve academic performance, and boost confidence. It equips children with the visual skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.
Who Might Benefit from Vision Therapy?
As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. Trust your instincts. If you've noticed several of these signs, it's worth getting a comprehensive vision assessment:
School Struggles:
Reading below grade level
Can understand words but struggle to comprehend what they’ve read
Keep losing their place, repeating or skipping words
Still reversing letters or numbers beyond age 7-8
Messy handwriting
Behavioral Signs:
Tilting or turning their head when reading
Difficulty staying in one place and concentrating
Always rubbing their eyes or saying they’re tired
Avoiding homework or reading
Sitting very close to books or screens
Physical Symptoms:
Regular headaches, especially after visual tasks
Eye strain or discomfort
Gets carsick or motion sick easily
The emotional side:
Shyness or lack of self-confidence
Frustration during homework time
Reluctance to participate in activities they once enjoyed
When Will You Notice Results?
We know this matters most to you. Most parents start noticing positive changes in their child within a few weeks—less complaining about headaches or showing more willingness to read.
However, each patient is different. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to up to four months, depending on:
Their specific condition and its severity
How your child responds to therapy (everyone’s different!)
Consistency with home exercises (this is super important!)
The complexity of visual skills being addressed
Throughout the program, our optometrists will continuously check your child's improvements and adjust the treatment plan to ensure the best results that will benefit your child for years to com
Ending Your Child's Struggles
Imagine a future where your child no longer battles headaches during reading, reads fluently without losing their place, completes homework independently with confidence, or even believes in his/herself again.
With the right eye care and guidance, what once seemed like insurmountable obstacles can become manageable milestones. Vision therapy is a proven, effective solution that restores confidence and helps your child unlock their full potential.
Take the First Step Today
If you've read this far, something resonated with you. You’re seeing your child in these descriptions, and you're ready to find answers.
Contact Nakoon Optometry to schedule a comprehensive functional vision assessment.
You don't have to watch your child struggle anymore. You don't have to wonder if there's something you're missing. And you certainly don't have to navigate this alone.
