People with specific learning difficulties may have problems with certain skills at school, yet do well in other subjects and are generally intelligent. The most common type of specific learning difficulty is specific reading difficulty; and this is often called "Dyslexia".

Dyslexic children are usually poor at spelling and may be highly intelligent in conversation, but have trouble with written language. Leonardo Da Vinci and Einstein are both thought to have been dyslexic.

Dyslexia can only be diagnosed with certainty by a psychologist who, in addition with other tests will evaluate a person's expected reading age from their intelligence (IQ) and age. The difference between this and the actual reading age, as measured with a reading test, gives a measure of the specific reading difficulty.

The term dyslexia is usually reserved for a severe degree of reading difficulty, however the visual problems that are described can also be present in children who have other, non-dyslexic, difficulties at school, e.g. clumsiness (dyspraxia).  A person does not have to be diagnosed as dyslexic in order to benefit from the investigations and different tests available in our practice.

Most experts agree that problems with sight are not usually a main cause of dyslexia. Certain visual problems however, do occur more frequently in dyslexia and these may, in some cases, contribute to the reading difficulty.

Such visual problems would not normally be detected in a school eye test. Two of the most common visual anomalies in dyslexia revealed by our series of tests are a reduced ability to focus closely and poor or unstable co-ordination of the two eyes (binocular instability).

These visual problems can cause eye strain, visual stress or visual distortions. This may slow reading and discourage children from prolonged reading.

Not all dyslexic people have these problems, but some have visual anomalies without realising it. People with a mild specific learning difficulty, perhaps not bad enough to be called dyslexic, can also have these visual problems. The visual problems can usually be treated with simple eye exercises and glasses may be prescribed in some cases.

A routine eye examination with an optometrist may not be able to diagnose dyslexia, but if dyslexia is suspected, then it is sensible to start by investigating whether visual function is normal.

At Kerr Optometrists, we run a special clinic for the optometric assessment of people with Specific Learning Difficulties, with a specialist Accredited Paediatric Optometrist.

These initial appointments usually take about one hour. The fee for the examination is £60 for children and £75 for non-exempt adults (where the basic eye examination is not paid for by the NHS).

A written report explaining the investigations, results and recommendations is included in this fee as well as all the tests necessary for the initial assessment with the exception of Intuitive Colorimetry.

If you would like to attend this clinic please telephone our reception and ask for an appointment in the Specific Learning Difficulties Clinic.

Some people with dyslexic difficulties benefit from using coloured filters (Meares-Irlen Syndrome or Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome). If our findings suggest that a person may benefit from colour, then we dispense a trial coloured overlay. If this is still being used after one school term, then a further appointment can be arranged for testing with a special instrument, the Intuitive Colorimeter.

This enables the precise tint for glasses to be accurately determined. The fee for this further investigation is £50.

Combines teaching and research with private practice. Clinical consultant to major industrial and contact lens companies, Health Authorities and many professional bodies. Chairman, Croydon Local Optometric Committee, President British contact Lens Association and previously Senior Optometrist and Director of Contact Lens Services at Mayday University Hospital. Editor: Contact Lens Yearbook. International speaker, broadcaster and author on general optometric and contact lens-related topics. Mayday Healthcare Trust accredited paediatric optometrist.

Psychological assessment can be arranged through your school, or privately through a local Dyslexia Institute. Amongst others, there are:

The British Dyslexia Association

This is a support group which can give information on the legal situation concerning learning difficulties and legislation on education. Their address is:

98 London Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG 1 5AU

The Dyslexia Institute

It has many local institutes where psychologists can assess learning difficulties and specially trained teachers can help to overcome these problems. Their head office address is:

133 Gresham Road, Staines,TW 18 2AJ

Difficulties at School: Dyslexia and Vision - Leaflet in PDF format