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Visual Processing: An Interdisciplinary Approach

At Bullseye Optometry, we understand that clear vision is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to how the brain interprets visual information. Our interdisciplinary approach to visual processing involves a comprehensive assessment and collaborative care to ensure your visual system functions at its best.

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Step 1

Comprehensive Eye Examination & Visual Processing Screen

Our process begins with a comprehensive eye examination performed by our experienced optometrists. During this examination, we assess how well your eyes work together, ensuring there are no underlying conditions that could affect visual performance.

During the eye examination our optometrists will also determine if there are underlying issues with how your brain is processing visual information and if so will recommend a full processing assessment with our Occupational Therapists.

However, it’s important to recognize that some symptoms, such as difficulties with reading, attention, or comprehension, may not be related to visual processing but instead to language, literacy, or speech issues. If our optometrist determines that visual processing is not the underlying issue, we will recommend an assessment with our Speech Pathologist to explore these possibilities further.

Step 2

Full Visual Processing Assessment

This extensive assessment, involves a standardised and observational assessment with our Occupational Therapist. The assessment is taken over 2 one hour blocks with some clients needing an additional hour.

Once the assessment is complete, our Occupational Therapists compile a detailed report with their findings and provide recommendations for any necessary therapy. This ensures that you receive targeted interventions designed to improve visual processing skills.

Step 3

Integration with Optical Correction

If your eye examination indicates that you require glasses, we carefully coordinate the timing of your visual processing assessment. The assessment is scheduled two weeks after you have collected your new glasses. This allows time for your visual system to adapt to the new prescription, ensuring the most accurate assessment of your visual processing abilities.

The Importance of Visual Processing in Children’s Education and Literacy

Visual processing plays a critical role in a child’s ability to succeed in school and develop literacy skills. It’s not just about seeing clearly—children must also be able to interpret and understand what they see. Difficulties with visual processing can impact reading, writing, literacy, and overall learning, leading to challenges in the classroom.

Children with visual processing issues might struggle with tasks such as:

Reading comprehension: Trouble with tracking words on a page, leading to slow or inaccurate reading, which can hinder literacy development.
Writing: Difficulty in organizing letters and words on the page, affecting handwriting, spelling, and written expression.
Literacy skills: Challenges in recognizing and processing letters, words, and sentences can slow down a child’s ability to learn to read and write effectively.
Attention and focus: Processing visual information can be exhausting, leading to difficulties in maintaining attention on visual tasks, which are essential for learning and literacy.

Our interdisciplinary approach ensures that these issues are identified early and addressed comprehensively. By combining the expertise of optometrists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists, we provide targeted support that can significantly improve a child’s visual processing and literacy skills, paving the way for better academic performance and a more confident approach to learning.

At Bullseye Optometry, we are committed to helping children reach their full potential by ensuring their visual system supports their educational journey and literacy development.

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