Visual Processing Disorder

A visual-processing deficit is the inability to interpret, organize, analyze, or synthesize a visual data in the absence of a visual impairment. Individuals diagnosed with Visual Processing Disorder often face difficulties discerning differences between types of symbols, images, shapes or patterns. For example, determining objects in the foreground and the background in a photography. Printed materials on patterned paper or poor-quality photocopying can exacerbate this issue in a classroom environment. 

Visual Processing Disorder should not be confused with issues related to poor eyesight, as it is an issue with the brain's processing of the information recieved from the visual sensory organs, not the visual organs themselves.

Warning Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of Visual Processing Disorder do not show significant change as the individual ages. Young children, elementary-age children, adolescents, and adults tend to exhibit similar symptoms, including:
 
  • May be inattentive to visual tasks or appear easily distracted by too much visual stimuli.
  • The individual appears restless or inattentive during video or visual presentations, may be disinterested in movies or television.
  • May exhibit difficulty with tasks that require copying (ex. taking notes from a board) and written copies may be missing words or shapes, exhibit reversals or inversions.
  • Often cannot remember even basic facts about material read silently
  • Complains of eye strain or frequently rubs eyes (despite no presence of poor eye sight)
  • Below average reading or written level coupled with high oral comprehension and verbal skills
  • Math skills may be demonstrated below average, individual may ignore function signs, omit steps or confuse visually similar formulae.
  • Routinely fails to observe or recognise changes in bulletin board displays, signs, or posted notices.

Visual Processing Disorder, like all Learning Disabilities, impacts upon all aspects of an individual's life. Learning Disabilities are present in all ethnic and language groups, and may disrupt a child’s home life, education, behavior, and social life. At home, children with Visual Processing Disorder face many of the same difficulties they do in school. Notes left may never be read, task lists may be ignored, and frustration with visual stimuli may cause anxiety in individuals with Visual Processing Disorder. At school, they have trouble completing with assigned written class work, and may often miss valuable information due to visual-based instruction methods due to time required to process the material. 

An assessment is a necessary step before decisions can be made about accommodation and eligibility for services. The diagnosis of Visual Processing Disorder requires consultation with medical professionals. As with many neurological conditions, LDANL recommends you contact your family doctor or other healthcare professional for more information.
 

1. New Brunswick Department of Education, "Resource for the Identification and Teaching of Students with Specific Learning Disability" 1999

 
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