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DS long-sighted, I am partially sighted - what to do?

8 replies

radicalsubstitution · 13/04/2013 22:14

I am partially sighted, and have very poor vision for reading books. Hence, I tend to hold books very close to my face (about 12 inches) when reading.

DS (yr 1) also holds books really close to his face, and I think it's because that's what he's always seen me doing. He is a fairly good reader for his age, but makes odd mistakes when reading. For example, he would read the word 'wound' as 'would'.

We had him checked out by the optician today and (as suspected) it turns out that he has 20:20 distance vision bu is slightly long-sighted. The optician doesn't want to prescribe him glasses as yet as it's not that bad and getting dependent on glasses is probably not great at his age.

Should I mention this to his teacher, or just leave it? What size font should a 6 year old be able to read? HIs reading books look really small to me but that's because I can only read font size 20+. Where should I be 'forcing' him to hold his books?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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lalalonglegs · 13/04/2013 22:35

I am long-sighted, have been since I was a child, and my understanding is that a long-sighted person holds a book at arm's length rather than close to their face so I'm not sure that your son's reading habit reflects any significant problem with his eyesight. As you've said, he's probably copying you so just gently push the book further away when he reads (all children of his age mix up similar words).

In Y1, it's not so much font size that is important as breaking up sentences with lots of pictures and illustration, ime. It will be bigger print than in a typical novel but a couple of sentences per page rather than a few words.

HTH.

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Periwinkle007 · 13/04/2013 22:46

when you say slightly long sighted do you mean +0.5 or +0.25? that is apparently very normal for a young child. The optician told me that young children are usually slightly long sighted and as they get older that corrects and they just get normal vision. normal eye development.

When I read a book (I am short sighted but I mean with my glasses on) I would feel most comfortable holding it about three quarters of my arm length if that make sense. so imagine arm length and then bend arms a bit. or imagine sitting at a table and reading the book lying flat on the table.

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Pendipidy · 13/04/2013 22:52

Why do you think you should be 'forcing' him to read at a certain distance? What an odd thing to think. Just let him hold the book how he wants!? That will be where he sees it best.

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UniS · 13/04/2013 22:58

On Thursday DS had eye test and I was told by the optician that "he is a bit long sighted, but that is normal for a 7 year old."
DS can read a book that is on his lap. Normal sort of book that is sent home from school. I am short sighted and can't see a book on my lap with out my glasses, but can read at that distance with glasses on. I don't read with out glasses as I would have to have book 3 inches from nose.
DS trys to hide the text of his reading books by holding them close to his face, so I can;t tell if he is making it up or reading it. Most days I let him read and only pull him up if what he has read does not make sense, then he has to read the sentence again ( and again) till it makes sense.
Good luck, 6 and 7 year old boys are not always the most enthusiastic readers.

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Magrug · 13/04/2013 23:30

I think your suspicions could be correct and that he is holding books close to his face as a habit, or acquired behaviour, because that's how he sees you do it. I don't think it worth mentioning the minor long-sightedness to his teacher. However, the fact that reading at home is not quite the straightforward process as it could be would be really helpful for the school to know as background information.

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mrz · 14/04/2013 08:29

Long sighted means close objects appear fuzzy so you do need to discourage him. Perhaps put the book on his knee or on a table/tray.

I think reading "wound" as "would" is not directly related to sight but more to do with him not reading through the word and making a "guess". Can I ask if he was taught would as a sight word?
It is very common for young children to do this if they have been taught "sight words".

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radicalsubstitution · 14/04/2013 11:26

Thank you ladies for all your advice - much appreciated!

His prescription is +0.75 in both eyes - which is not hugely long-sighted by any means. We are now at a point where I cannot hope to read over his shoulder, so I need to encourage him to hold the book at a distance which is comfortable for him. I don't know whether he is just getting used to tracking words with his eyes rather than finger. He is my first and I have no experience of seeing a child learn to read!

mrz the wound/would example was just me trying to think of the type of word he misreads by getting one letter wrong - not necessary that particular word. He has had excellent phonics teaching, and (unlike most of his friends) has never been given lists of words to learn by sight. He learned would along with should, could etc as part of his phonics teaching. I have absolutely no doubt that he will fly through the year 1 phonics check!

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rrbrigi · 16/04/2013 10:11

Hi,

My son is ling sided (+2 in both eyes) and has a squint. We go from doctors to doctors to try to find the best help for him. One of them wants a surgery the other one does not and they want me to decide. So I searched on the internet. Search for pinhole glasses (very good for long or short sightedness) and for eye exercises for long sightedness.

Here is a link for exercise: www.livestrong.com/article/263397-eye-exercises-to-correct-long-sightedness/

I know these things are not common in England, but give it a go, if it helps good, if not you did not lose anything.

I am in the process to try to include these exercise to my son daily routine and I bought a pinhole glasses fro him.

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