Eye Tracking problem in 5 year old, what worked for you.

[bobbybob]

I teach two sisters to play the piano. One of them is 5 years old and had problems tracking the notes across the page. She seems fine with looking up and down the stave. The biggest problems are at the end of the line, trying to get to the next one.

She is pretty good and learns the pieces quickly with her mum pointing to the notes. She then plays from memory in lessons.

I think this is fine, and thank goodness mum is happy to help with practise. Apparently mum has been told by (dr, paed, optician?) that they don't worry for a couple of years yet.

So, should we continue as we are, or is there something I could do which would actually help with the tracking problem, rather than just working around it?

[bobbybob]

bump

[bobbybob]

Anyone at all?

[Chuffed]

Has she got a lazy eye bb? I had one as a child and was prescribed glasses at 2. I used to see double sometimes with one eye so it would have affected almost everything to do with reading etc.
If it was my child I would push, and second opinion, sounds like some sort of further investigation might be needed?

[chipmonkey]

My ds was told by an OT to follow the print with his finger for reading as the finger would train the eyes. Obviously you coudn't do this while playing the piano ( unless you used your feet as well!!) but if she did it for reading, the music would follow. TBH mostly the advice is not to worry till they're 7.

[LIZS]

ds (just 7) has a visual tracking problem, in addition to motor skill issues. His OT is concerned about it because as far as she can tell it isn't improving with the therapy she has done over the past year, so there are exercises which can help. A year ago there was still the possibility it would correct itself (think by age of 8 was mentioned) but it is now starting to cause concern.

Apparently it is a very specialised area and not normally identified at a general optical check up. We are just starting to investigate this but it could cause problems such as you describe with reading across and, for example, copying from the blackboard.

[chipmonkey]

Sorry bobbybob, just thought of something. If their Mum could track down a behavioural optometrist in your area they might be able to help. Its a specialist area for some optoms.