{"id":11174,"date":"2021-05-11T10:05:01","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T10:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=11174"},"modified":"2021-07-13T07:24:57","modified_gmt":"2021-07-13T07:24:57","slug":"guide-to-visual-information-processing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Visual Information Processing\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Does your child have any reading or learning difficulties? It could be a sign of a visual processing dysfunction.<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Visual processing dysfunction (VPD) refers to a variety of vision issues that have nothing to do with nearsightedness or farsightedness.<\/p>\n<p>Visual information processing allows the brain to understand and interpret what the eyes see. When processing is impaired, a child&#8217;s ability to excel in school, sports, and social situations is affected.<\/p>\n<p><b>Even if a child has 20\/20 vision, they may have difficulty recognizing words or processing visual information.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Visual processing abilities are also more challenging for a child who has underdeveloped eye focusing, eye movement or eye teaming skills. Fortunately, vision therapy can help to improve these skills.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><b>Schedule an evaluation<\/b><\/a> with a vision therapy eye doctor, who can create a custom vision therapy program to treat your child\u2019s visual processing difficulties.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE RELATED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/signs-of-visual-processing-information-dysfunction\/\">Signs of Visual Processing Information Dysfunction<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find a Vision Therapy Eye Doctor Near You<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>What is visual information processing (VIP)?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>VIP is the brain&#8217;s ability to interpret information transmitted to it via their visual system<b>.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The visual system starts with the eyes and then continues with the nerves that connect the eye to the visual cortex in the brain.<\/p>\n<p><b>Children with VIP difficulties may have clear eyesight, but the issue is the brain&#8217;s inability to effectively and accurately comprehend all of the visual information it receives from the visual system<\/b>.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Visual processing disorder &#8211; signs and symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>If a child is having trouble with visual processing, signs or symptoms include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Bright child, but has reading or learning difficulties<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Difficulty with word memorization<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Frequent reversal of numbers, letters or words, such as top\/top and was\/saw or the numbers 2\/5<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Finds text analysis or comprehension challenging<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Illegible handwriting<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Organizational problems<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Poor retention of visual classroom material<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Tendency to skip lines when reading, or re-reading\u00a0 the same line over and over again.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Trouble copying from a book or writing within the lines<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Trouble remembering what they\u2019ve seen or read<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What are the VIP skills?<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>1. Visual closure<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Visual closure refers to the ability to envision the whole picture when given only partial knowledge. For a child, this is vital for reading fluency because it allows them to identify words by sight rather than having to process each letter in each word.<\/p>\n<p>Word sliders, jigsaw puzzles, and paint by numbers are examples of visual closure activities.<\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Visual discrimination<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Visual discrimination is the ability to discern variations in visual images.<\/p>\n<p>This a crucial skill for math, reading, writing and word memory. If a child has difficulty seeing subtle distinctions, it can be difficult for them to distinguish between letters and words like \u2018was\u2019 and \u2018saw.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Matching and \u2018see the difference\u2019 games are excellent ways to improve this visual capacity.<\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Visual figure-ground<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Reading abilities are aided by the ability to differentiate an object from its surroundings. If a child struggles with this, a page with a lot of words is likely to confuse them.<\/p>\n<p>Anyone who excels at the &#8220;Where&#8217;s Waldo&#8221; books has excellent visual figure-ground awareness. This ability can be strengthened by using seek-and-find or iSpy games or jigsaw puzzles.<\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Visual form constancy<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Visual form constancy refers to the ability to mentally turn or rotate objects, as well as resize a shape, to fit an image. This allows the child to recognize shapes or letters and words, no matter their orientation.<\/p>\n<p>Tanagrams are a good learning activity that tests a student&#8217;s ability to perceive form constancy.<\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Visual memory<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Visual memory problems are common in children who struggle with comprehension. Visual memory helps you\u00a0 immediately recall how numbers, letters, shapes or objects appear.<\/p>\n<p>If a child has trouble remembering a sight word from one page to the next or copying details from the board to their notebook, it&#8217;s likely that their visual memory needs improving.<\/p>\n<p>A good way to strengthen visual memory skills is through concentration or memory games.<\/p>\n<h3><b>6. Visual sequential memory<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>The ability to recall mentioned objects in the correct order is known as visual sequential memory.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s essential for both reading and spelling. Visual sequential memory problems affect a child who has trouble remembering the order of numbers, shapes or letters in a sequence.<\/p>\n<p>Reassembling comic strips in order or connecting the dots using letters or numbers may help with visual sequential memory.<\/p>\n<h2><b>How vision therapy can help<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>A vision therapy treatment program can improve a child&#8217;s visual processing abilities, allowing them to progress in the classroom and beyond.<\/p>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/\">Vision Therapy for Children<\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you suspect your child has a visual processing disorder, it may be time to have your child\u2019s vision evaluated. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><b>Schedule an evaluation<\/b><\/a> with a vision therapy eye doctor near you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does your child have any reading or learning difficulties? It could be a sign of a visual processing dysfunction.<br \/>\nVisual processing dysfunction (VPD) refers to a variety of vision issues that have nothing to do with .<br \/>\nVisual information processing allows the brain to understand and interpret what the eyes see. When processing is impaired, a child&#8217;s ability to excel in school, sports, and social situations could be affected. Even if a child has 20\/20 vision, they may have difficulties processing visual information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":11175,"parent":12301,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[490,518,528,529,530,526,527,525,524],"class_list":["post-11174","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-reading-and-learning","tag-reading-fluency","tag-visual-closure","tag-visual-discrimination","tag-visual-figure-ground","tag-visual-form-constancy","tag-visual-information-processing","tag-visual-memory","tag-visual-sequential-memory"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Guide to Visual Information Processing\u00a0 - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Guide to Visual Information Processing\u00a0 - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Does your child have any reading or learning difficulties? It could be a sign of a visual processing dysfunction. Visual processing dysfunction (VPD) refers to a variety of vision issues that have nothing to do with . Visual information processing allows the brain to understand and interpret what the eyes see. When processing is impaired, a child&#039;s ability to excel in school, sports, and social situations could be affected. Even if a child has 20\/20 vision, they may have difficulties processing visual information.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-07-13T07:24:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/guidevip.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/\",\"name\":\"Guide to Visual Information Processing\u00a0 - Optometrists.org\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/guidevip.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-05-11T10:05:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-07-13T07:24:57+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/guidevip.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/guidevip.jpg\",\"width\":640,\"height\":350},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Vision Therapy\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Guide to Vision and Learning Difficulties\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Guide to Visual Information Processing\u00a0\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/\",\"name\":\"Optometrists.org\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Guide to Visual Information Processing\u00a0 - Optometrists.org","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Guide to Visual Information Processing\u00a0 - Optometrists.org","og_description":"Does your child have any reading or learning difficulties? It could be a sign of a visual processing dysfunction. Visual processing dysfunction (VPD) refers to a variety of vision issues that have nothing to do with . Visual information processing allows the brain to understand and interpret what the eyes see. When processing is impaired, a child's ability to excel in school, sports, and social situations could be affected. Even if a child has 20\/20 vision, they may have difficulties processing visual information.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/","og_site_name":"Optometrists.org","article_modified_time":"2021-07-13T07:24:57+00:00","og_image":[{"width":640,"height":350,"url":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/guidevip.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/","url":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/","name":"Guide to Visual Information Processing\u00a0 - Optometrists.org","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/guidevip.jpg","datePublished":"2021-05-11T10:05:01+00:00","dateModified":"2021-07-13T07:24:57+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/guidevip.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/guidevip.jpg","width":640,"height":350},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Vision Therapy","item":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Guide to Vision and Learning Difficulties","item":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Guide to Visual Information Processing\u00a0"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/","name":"Optometrists.org","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11174"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11174\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12301"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}