THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM AND VISION PROBLEMS
We all know about these issues: children struggling to read, children struggling with mental health, someone feeling less than because of a learning disability. Yet very few people connect these struggles to a vision problem. Instead, the burden is put on the kids, calling them “lazy and stupid.” No help is given, they lose the magic of reading, they hate school. But they don’t have to.
Children with vision-related learning problems may have been told that they are not smart enough or not working hard enough. They may believe that they are dumb, or believe that they are a failure, which can severely impact their self-confidence. This attitude can then be carried into adulthood and may lead to psychological and self-esteem issues.
But children don’t have to suffer, thinking less of themselves. They are smart and capable, they may just have a vision problem that is physically getting in their way. Often these problems can be corrected or vastly improved, setting them up for lifelong success.
A lot of people think that 20/20 vision is perfect vision, but there is a lot more our eyes and brain have to do together in order to read, write, and pay attention. And we can help figure out what is getting in their way.
Vision correlates with one’s socioemotional development. Vision problems go hand-in-hand with cognitive, physical, and even psychological problems, such as depression. For example, if a person cannot see well enough to navigate their world, they may isolate themselves because they do not feel comfortable out in the world bumping into people and things around them, or losing their way. This can then lead to fear of crowds or busy spaces, (social anxiety) or feeling embarrassed because they cannot read the expressions on their friends’ faces. Social isolation can lead to a myriad of other psychological problems.
Research shows that children diagnosed with strabismus, especially with intermittent exotropia (one eye turns out sometimes), were prone to develop significant psychiatric diseases by the 3rd decade of life.
Hear from Daniel and his mother, Paula, how vision therapy can help mitigate these psychological problems that come with untreated vision problems:
Teenager Overcomes Anxiety and Learning Disabilities w/ Vision Therapy
“Overcoming daily issues has reduced my baseline anxiety. I have been able to experience success in the academic and artistic realms, neither of which would have been possible to the extent that they were without vision therapy. Vision therapy has made a profound difference in my life.”
It is important to know that just because the child has trouble paying attention or avoids doing work, it does not mean that they have attention problems or don’t have the mental capacity, but instead there could be an underlying vision problem that causes them to cope in ways that affect their school performance and attention span. They may have an eye focusing issue that physically keeps them from fixating on the page.
At Brighter Outlook Vision, we provide many different tests to determine the patient’s exact diagnosis so that they can leave knowing the next steps to take in order for them to feel more comfortable in their world. It is very important that you get the help that you or your child needs early on so that future problems can be prevented.
“When the visual obstacles are removed, the child begins to excel in school, music and sports. Futures brighten. Self-confidence climbs and a new child emerges from the old, much like a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis. The possibilities are endless.” – Dr. Vicky Vandervort
Connect with us for a call or join us at a workshop if you suspect your child is suffering from a vision-related learning problem. Dr. Jesse Willingham is a development optometrist who cares about you and your family. We can work with your current providers to help find solutions and answers. We want to help you live your best life, unimpeded by vision problems!
