What Is Visual Processing Disorder?
Visual processing disorder refers to a reduced ability to make sense of information taken in through the eyes. This is different from problems involving sight or sharpness of vision. Difficulties with visual processing affect how visual information is interpreted or processed. The person may have a difficulty to discriminate in terms of foreground-background, forms, size, and position in space. He may be unable to synthesize and analyze, and he may have a problem with visual closure. Visual processing problems can interfere with many areas of a childs learning, particularly reading and math. Below are a few examples of how a visual processing disorder can interfere with learning: • Form discrimination: Whether it be the differentiation of the shape of a circle from a square, or the letter B from P, the ability to perceive the shapes of objects and pictures is an important skill for the developing child to acquire. There is hardly an academic activity that does not require the child to