'Bright child, poor report card' is a common problem By Dr. S. Moshe Roth When your child comes home with a poor report card, it usually isn't a surprise.The question is,how do you remedy it?The first step is to identify the problem. Observing your child when studying may provide some very helpful clues. If you know what to look for,you may be able to unlock the door to success for your child.Does your child avoid reading or homework? Does your child understand the materials when you read them to her,but not when she reads for herself? Does your son turn his head at an angle when he is reading? Does comprehension get worse the longer he or she reads? Avoidance There can be a variety of reasons why a child avoids reading or homework. Perhaps the child isn't motivated or just isn't trying hard enough.While this may be the case for some children, research has shown that more than 60 percent of children who struggle with reading and learning have undiagnosed vision problems that are not detected by most vision screenings or even examinations.Often when a child has difficulty seeing the words on the page, they will avoid reading. During the examination, some children say that the words look double,blurry,or appear to move on the page.Parents are often shocked when they hear that.Why didn't the child say something sooner? Children rarely complain because they think that this is how they are supposed to see.Better understanding when others do the reading One of the first signs that a vision problem is interfering with learning is that the child has difficulty comprehending what they read,yet understands the same text when someone else reads it to them.When a vision problem makes reading difficult, the child must use additional energy to concentrate.The child then doesn't have sufficient energy in reserve to remember what he read.A child may, therefore,be able to read words out loud, but not necessarily comprehend what they are saying. Head turns When a child turns their head while reading, it is often a sign that they are trying to block out the image from one eye in an attempt to get rid of a doubled or blurry image. Comprehension worsens as the lesson progresses Children with may read well at the start of their homework,but as they continue, they become tired.Words then seem to move on the page or double,or they may have problems following a line of print. There are many visual skills that are required for reading and academic success. Being able to see the letters on the eye chart (20/20) is just one of those visual skills. Dr. S. Moshe Roth, optometric physician, practices at Family Eye Care in Old Bridge.Lic No.4635, OM No. 27OM0005600. For more information, call 732-679-2020 or visit www.njeyesite. com.