Understanding Visual Processing Disorders in Children
What If the Problem Isn’t the Eyes — But the Brain?
As a parent, you might look at your child and think, “I know they’re smart. So why is school so hard?”
Maybe they’re struggling with reading, reversing letters, or having trouble copying from the board. Maybe they avoid writing altogether, or get easily frustrated with homework.
You’ve had their eyes checked — and their vision is 20/20.
So what’s going on?
At Bayview Vision, we often uncover the missing piece: a visual processing disorder — when the brain has trouble making sense of what the eyes are seeing.
What is a Visual Processing Disorder?
Visual processing refers to how the brain interprets and organizes visual information. It’s not just about clarity — it’s about understanding what you see.
A visual processing disorder means that, even if a child’s eyesight is clear, their brain struggles to process what their eyes are taking in. This can affect everything from reading to coordination to self-esteem.
These are the kids who are often labeled as inattentive, unmotivated, or even learning disabled — when really, they just need a different kind of visual support.
Common Types of Visual Processing Issues
There are many forms of visual processing difficulties. At Bayview Vision, we assess for the following:
Visual Memory Deficits – Trouble recalling shapes, letters, or words
Visual Discrimination – Difficulty spotting differences between similar shapes or letters
Visual Figure-Ground – Struggles to locate a specific item in a busy background (like words on a page)
Visual Closure – Inability to recognize a full picture from partial clues
Visual-Spatial Relations – Confusion with directions (left vs. right) or letter/number reversals
Visual-Motor Integration – Difficulty coordinating hand and eye movement (affecting handwriting)
Signs of a Visual Processing Disorder
Reverses letters like b/d or numbers like 6/9
Poor reading comprehension
Takes a long time to complete written tasks
Struggles with copying from the board
Avoids homework, especially reading or writing
Difficulty with puzzles or following patterns
Writes with poor spacing, alignment, or orientation
These signs often overlap with learning challenges or attention issues, which is why visual processing disorders are frequently overlooked.
How We Help at Bayview Vision
Our comprehensive vision therapy evaluations go beyond a standard eye exam. We assess how your child’s eyes and brain work together, including visual perception, oculomotor skills, and binocular function.
If a visual processing disorder is diagnosed, we develop a personalized vision therapy program to strengthen these skills through hands-on, engaging exercises.
This therapy is fun, effective, and often life-changing for children who finally feel like they can keep up in the classroom.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
When a child struggles with visual processing, it affects more than just grades — it impacts confidence, motivation, and self-esteem.
Early intervention with vision therapy can help your child build the visual foundations they need for reading, learning, and success.
Book a Vision Therapy Evaluation in Toronto
If your child is bright, but struggling, a visual processing disorder could be the missing link. At Bayview Vision, we’re here to listen, evaluate, and help.
📞 Call us at 416-487-5401 or book online to schedule a vision therapy consultation.