Making Sense of Sight: Visual Information Processing

Visual Information Processing, what is it?

Visual information processing is the ability of the brain to interpret what the eyes see. It goes beyond eyesight clarity (20/20) and plays a critical role in academic success and daily activities. Many people are unaware of the complexity of this system and how deficits in specific areas can impact both children and adults. In this blog post, we will explore the different components of visual information processing, discuss symptoms of poor skills, and outline how vision therapy can help individuals overcome challenges to lead more successful lives.

Visual Information Processing Skills

Visual information processing encompasses a variety of skills, each of which contributes to how we understand and interact with the world. Below are six key components:

1. Visual Memory: This is the ability to remember visual information. For example, a student uses visual memory to recall spelling words and math facts. Adults use visual memory to navigate the local grocery store or to remember where they left their keys.
    

2. Visual Sequential Memory: This skill involves remembering sequences of visual information, such as the order of letters in a word or steps in a process. A child will struggle to read if they cannot recall the order of letters in a word. Adults rely on visual sequential memory when driving to the gym or following a recipe.
    

3. Visual Figure-Ground: This skill helps us distinguish an object from its background. For instance, locating a pencil on a cluttered desk requires good visual figure-ground abilities.
    

4. Visual Closure: This refers to the ability to identify a complete object even when parts are missing. For example, recognizing a partially obscured road sign depends on visual closure.
    

5. Visual Discrimination: This is the ability to notice subtle differences or similarities between objects, such as distinguishing between a “p” and a “q” in reading or differentiating two similar shades of color.
    

6. Visual-Spatial Awareness: This skill allows individuals to understand where objects are in space relative to themselves and to each other. Navigating through a room without bumping into furniture or aligning numbers properly when solving math problems are two ways we use visual-spatial awareness.
    

Symptoms of Poor Visual Processing Skills

Deficits in visual information processing can manifest in a variety of ways, including:

• Difficulty with reading, such as losing one’s place or skipping words

• Trouble remembering visual details, such as written instructions

• Trouble organizing and completing tasks, particularly those requiring fine motor coordination, like writing

• Challenges in distinguishing letters or shapes that look similar

• Reversing letters and numbers

• Trouble identifying an object in a cluttered environment

• Clumsiness or difficulty judging distances

• Trouble with alignment in writing and drawing

These symptoms can lead to frustration, difficulty with academics, and even poor sports performance.

Treatment

The good news is that poor visual processing skills can often be treated through vision therapy. Vision therapy is a customized program designed to improve visual processing by strengthening specific skills through targeted exercises and activities. These therapies may include:

• Memory-building activities: Practicing recall of visual sequences, such as repeating patterns or remembering the location of objects in a grid.

• Figure-ground exercises: Engaging in tasks like finding hidden pictures or solving visual puzzles to enhance focus and attention.

• Discrimination drills: Identifying differences between similar images or shapes to improve attention to detail.

• Spatial awareness activities: Tasks such as maze tracing, building block designs, or catching and throwing games to improve understanding of spatial relationships.

Vision therapy is conducted under the guidance of a trained optometrist and is tailored to the specific needs of the individual. Consistent practice will lead to measurable improvements over time.

Improvements in Academic and Daily Living Skills

With improved visual processing skills, individuals often see significant enhancements in both academic performance and daily life. For example:

• Academic Skills: A student struggling with reading comprehension may find it easier to read and understand material. Better visual memory can also improve performance in subjects like math and science. Improved spatial awareness can improve handwriting, drawing, and geometry skills.

• Daily Activities: People who once struggled to locate items in a cluttered space may find this far less challenging. Enhanced spatial awareness can lead to better coordination and safer navigation in various environments.

Visual information processing is a cornerstone of how we learn, work, and navigate our world. Identifying and addressing deficits in these skills through vision therapy can empower individuals to overcome challenges, build confidence, and unlock their full potential.