Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit

A disorder that affects the understanding of information that a person sees, or the ability to draw or copy. A characteristic seen in people with learning disabilities such as Dysgraphia or Non-verbal LD, it can result in missing subtle differences in shapes or printed letters, losing place frequently, struggles with cutting, holding pencil too tightly, or poor eye/hand coordination.

Affects the understanding of information that a person sees, or the ability to draw or copy.

A characteristic seen in people with learning disabilities such as Dysgraphia or Non-verbal LD, it can result in missing subtle differences in shapes or printed letters, losing place frequently, struggles with cutting, holding pencil too tightly, or poor eye/hand coordination.

Signs and Symptoms

· May have reversals: b for d, p for q or inversions: u for n, w for m

· Has difficulty negotiating around campus

· Complains eyes hurt and itch, rubs eyes, complains print blurs while reading

· Turns head when reading across page or holds paper at odd angles

· Closes one eye while working, may yawn while reading

· Cannot copy accurately

· Loses place frequently

· Does not recognize an object/word if only part of it is shown

· Holds pencil too tightly; often breaks pencil point/crayons

· Struggles to cut or paste

· Misaligns letters; may have messy papers, which can include letters colliding, irregular spacing, letters not on line

Strategies

· Avoid grading handwriting

· Allow students to dictate creative stories

· Provide alternative for written assignments

· Suggest use of pencil grips and specially designed pencils and pens

· Allow use of computer or word processor

· Restrict copying tasks

· Provide tracking tools: ruler, text windows

· Use large print books

· Plan to order or check out books on tape

· Experiment with different paper types: pastels, graph, embossed raised line paper