What is a visual processing disorder?
A visual processing disorder (VPD) affects the brain's ability to understand and use what the eyes see. This can lead to problems with recognizing objects and spatial relationships. It can result in difficulty with daily activities and learning.
VPD is sometimes called visual perceptual processing disorder. VPD is different from refractive errors, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. These affect how light is focused at the back of the eye. VPD is a neurological condition and can occur in people with 20/20 vision.
It is helpful to understand VPD to support individuals with this disorder. Visual processing difficulties contribute to learning disabilities. They can affect math, reading and writing skills. Playing sports, solving puzzles, or moving through busy places can be difficult.
VPD is a common consequence of cerebral visual impairment (CVI), a visual dysfunction caused by brain dysfunction rather than eye problems. Some high-risk factors for CVI include:
- Premature birth
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental delays
- Down syndrome
Individuals often struggle to detect, focus and process visual input. As a result, VPD is a significant part of the visual issue found in people with CVI.
Symptoms of VPD may also overlap with other conditions, such as:
- Visual agnosia – Trouble recognizing or labeling objects that are seen
- Dyslexia – A disability causing difficulty with language processing
- Dysgraphia – Difficulty expressing thoughts into written language
- Dyscalculia – Difficulty understanding information with numbers
Children with visual processing disorders often present with a range of visual difficulties. It can be difficult to tell if these problems are due to CVI or other conditions like dyslexia.
READ MORE: Dyslexia and vision: Are they connected?
Types of visual processing disorders
Visual processing disorders originate in the brain. They encompass a range of conditions, each presenting unique symptoms and difficulties. A diagnosis from a specialist is the first step toward understanding the condition.
Visual discrimination disorder
This type involves a difficulty in distinguishing similarities and differences in visual information. Affected people may have trouble discriminating between different shapes, sizes, objects, colors and patterns.
Symptoms include difficulty with:
- Distinguishing between written characters such as letters and numbers
- Retrieving information from reading material
- Keeping place during reading
- Puzzles or tasks requiring detail recognition
Visual figure-ground discrimination disorder
People with this type struggle to concentrate on crucial visual information and disregard nonessential visual information.
Symptoms include difficulty with:
- Reading
- Concentration when reading small print
- Transcribing notes
- Extracting details from cluttered backgrounds
- Information retrieval
Visual sequencing disorder
This type of VPD makes it difficult to recall the order of objects and events.
Symptoms include difficulty with:
- Maintaining reading order
- Not skipping lines
- Not rereading lines
- Remembering number and/or letter sequences
- Spelling
Visual-motor processing disorder
People with this type have trouble coordinating between what they see and how they move in response.
Symptoms include difficulty with:
- Hand-eye coordination
- Athletic activities
- Note-taking
- Maintaining consistent handwriting
- Staying within the lines when drawing or coloring
Visual memory disorder
This type of VPD involves difficulty with the short-term and long-term recall of shapes, symbols and objects.
Symptoms include difficulty with:
- Recognizing letters and numbers
- Sight word reading
- Copying from other sources
- Math skills
- Reading comprehension
Visual-spatial issues disorder
People with this type of VPD have trouble processing spatial awareness and the relative positions of objects.
Symptoms include difficulty with:
- Judging distances
- Reading maps
- Giving directions
- Perceiving depth
Visual closure disorder
This disorder makes it difficult to recognize an object or image when it’s only partially visible.
Symptoms include difficulty with:
- Recognizing partially obscured objects
- Completing puzzles
- Reading
Letter and symbol reversal disorder
This type of VPD involves the tendency to read or write letters or symbols backward.
Symptoms include:
- Reversing similar letters and symbols
- Writing or reading numbers backward
- General challenges with reading and writing
Impact on reading, writing and other activities
Visual perceptual deficits can make it difficult for a child to excel in school. For example, focusing on a line or an equation may be challenging during math class. They may skip words when reading instructions. They may also struggle to copy information from the board at the front of the classroom.
A child may struggle to play sports or even navigate school hallways. This could be caused by issues with:
- Visual perception
- Spatial reasoning
- Processing movement
They may become frustrated and shy away from particular activities. They may also avoid going to school altogether.
Occupational and vision therapy practices can offer tools for managing VPD. These therapies can help children develop strategies for coping with their struggles at school.
Diagnosis and evaluation
Standard eye exams identify vision and eye problems, but they don’t usually check for visual perceptual deficits. However, a specialized exam can assess different aspects of visual processing. Tests assess:
- Visual discrimination
- Figure-ground perception
- Visual memory
- Visual-motor abilities
Testing might also involve:
- Neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental assessments
- Neuroradiological evaluations
- MRI scans
If you suspect your child has a VPD, a diagnosis can be made by a specialist. They can conduct the necessary assessments and recommend appropriate interventions. Early identification and intervention are very important for supporting individuals with VPD.
Treatment options for visual processing disorders
Several interventions exist to help manage VPD. These therapies can improve a child's academic performance, social skills and well-being.
Vision therapy and occupational therapy
Vision therapy is a specialized treatment that addresses visual system issues. Vision therapists use a personalized program of exercises and activities. They may use lenses, prisms and other tools.
Occupational therapy focuses on improving a child's ability to perform daily tasks. It can help children enhance visual-motor skills, perception and processing abilities. These therapies emphasize various techniques to strengthen the eye-brain connection. This improves visual processing abilities.
Vision and occupational therapy exercises may include:
- Eye tracking
- Focusing skills
- Visual perception skills
- Hand-eye coordination
- Eye teaming skills
- Visual memory and discrimination
Classroom accommodations
Classroom environments can be modified to assist students with VPD. It may help your student to have:
- Limited visual distractions
- Straightforward instructions
- More time allocated for each task
Assistive technology and resources may also be requested for the classroom, such as:
- Large-print materials and books
- Lined or dotted paper
- Computers or tablets with large screens
Individualized education plans (IEPs)
IEPs are for students who need educational accommodations at school. Each plan includes specific educational goals, accommodations and support services. Parents, teachers and specialists work together to create a successful IEP. This collaboration ensures that everyone supports the student's academic and developmental goals.
READ MORE: What is (and isn't) vision therapy for children?
Living with visual processing disorders
Managing VPD requires a supportive network. Equipped with the proper strategies, people with visual processing deficits can overcome challenges and reach their full potential.
Coping strategies
Basic strategies can make a difference in managing everyday tasks. Even simple adaptations can be beneficial. These may include:
- Using a finger or ruler to guide the eyes while reading
- Breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps
- Using visual aids, such as written schedules or color-coded instructions
Parents can make a difference for children facing visual processing difficulties. They can do this by integrating fun exercises into daily routines. Spending 15 minutes each day on certain activities can help build vision skills. These exercises may include:
- Puzzles
- Visual search games
- Activities that involve catching or throwing balls
- Sorting items
- Recognizing patterns
- Memory games
- Strategy games
- Origami
- Building toys
Support and resources
Support groups and organizations are valuable resources. These groups allow families to share experiences, learn from each other and network. Additional support is available from websites such as Understood.org. Books and workshops also offer valuable guidance.
FAQs about visual processing disorders
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about VPDs:
Can visual processing disorders be cured?
VPD is a lifelong condition. Effective management is possible with the right strategies and support.
How common are visual processing disorders?
VPD is more common than previously thought. The exact prevalence is difficult to determine because of the challenges of diagnosis. A recent review suggests that up to 3.4% of kids in mainstream schools may have visual perceptual difficulties (VPD) associated with CVI. It suggested an even higher percentage in special educational settings.
Are visual processing disorders related to intelligence?
VPD is not at all related to intelligence. The capabilities and talents of individuals with VPD vary widely.
Can adults develop visual processing disorders?
Most VPD cases are identified during childhood. The condition is thought to last into adulthood. Underlying conditions, such as a neurological condition, may result in VPD in adults.
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