Pediatric Ophthalmology and Childhood Reading Difficulties: Overview of Reading Development and Assessments for the Pediatric Ophthalmologist
AUTHOR:
Collins, Megan E MD, MPH
SPONSOR/INSTITUTION:
YEAR PUBLISHED:
2017
PUBLICATION:
Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (JAAPOS) , Volume 21 , Issue 6 , 433 - 436.e2
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
Reading difficulties are common in the pediatric population, and large socioeconomic disparities exist.
In the United States 46% of white children achieved expected reading proficiency by the end of fourth grade, while only 21% of Hispanic and 18% of African American children were reading at the expected level.
Reading is an involved cognitive process with many subskills; likewise, development of reading proficiency is a complex and continuous process.
Failure to achieve reading proficiency or even early difficulty with reading can affect a child’s academic performance for years to come. Some studies suggest reading proficiency may be related to later success in life.
Although many problems with reading are not related to vision, a vision assessment is recommended for children with reading difficulties and a suspected vision problem.
The process of reading development as well as the varied educational assessments of reading are presented here for pediatric ophthalmologists.