Dyslexia and Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Dyslexia and learning disabilities are complex problems that have no simple solutions. The most widely accepted view is that dyslexia is a language-based disorder.   Although commonly prescribed by physicians and suggested by psychologists, scientific evidence does not support the efficacy of eye exercises, behavioral vision therapy, or special tinted filters or lenses for improving the long-term educational performance in these complex pediatric neurocognitive conditions.

Diagnostic and treatment approaches that lack scientific evidence of efficacy, including eye exercises, behavioral vision therapy, or special tinted filters or lenses, are not endorsed and should not be recommended to parents.

Instead, a recent report endorsed by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and the 2009 American Association of Certified Orthoptists provides these recommendations:

Recommendations

1. Children who exhibit signs of learning disabilities should be referred as early in the process as possible for educational, psychological, neuropsychological, and/or medical diagnostic assessments.

2. Children with learning disabilities should receive appropriate support and individualized evidence-based educational interventions combined with psychological and medical treatments as needed.

3. Families of children with suspected learning disabilities should receive information about state and local parent support programs.

4. Pediatricians and family physicians should perform periodic eye and vision screening for all children according to national standards and refer those who do not pass screening to ophthalmologists who are experienced in the care of children.

5. Children with a suspected or diagnosed learning disability in which vision is felt to play a role by parents, the child, educators, or physicians should be referred to an ophthalmologist with experience in the care of children because routine pediatric vision screening is not designated to detect near-vision problems.

6. Ophthalmologists should identify and treat any significant ocular or visual disorder found to be present.

7. Primary care physicians should only recommend evidence-based treatments and accommodations to school districts.

8. Diagnostic and treatment approaches for dyslexia that lack scientific evidence of efficacy such as behavioral vision therapy, eye muscle exercises, or colored filters and lenses are not endorsed or recommended.

To read the full report, click here

As a licensed educational psychologist and as an individual who has overcome dyslexia, I have made it my life’s work to keep up with the latest in treatment modalities for children with learning disorders.  I am available to help qualified select patients and I limit my work to a minimal caseload which I work with intensively.  I can provide the best individualized evidence-based educational interventions, psychological testing and counseling for your struggling student.