2.1 - Visual Information Processing Difficulties: When Your Brain Can’t Keep Up With Your Eye

Your child sees the letters. They can even read them out loud. But ask them what they just read? Blank stares. The issue might not be with their eyes - but with how their brain handles what they see.

Think of the eyes as high-quality cameras. Now imagine sending all that footage to an outdated computer- it crashes, lags, and can’t process what it receives. That’s what happens with visual information processing difficulties.

In this post, we’ll dive into how the brain interprets visual input, the types of processing problems that can emerge, how they affect everyday learning, and the strategies that can help.

What Are Visual Information Processing Difficulties?

Visual processing is what your brain does after your eyes take in information. It involves organizing, analyzing, storing, and making sense of what you see.

These difficulties aren’t about seeing clearly - they’re about what happens after you’ve seen something.

There are several subtypes, including:

• Visual discrimination (spotting differences between objects)

• Visual memory (remembering visual information)

• Visual sequencing (putting things in the right order)

• Visual-motor integration (coordinating what you see with body movement)

• Visual-spatial awareness (understanding where things are in space)

📉 A 2020 study in the Journal of Optometric Vision Development found that 43% of children referred for learning issues had one or more visual processing deficits, even with normal vision acuity.

Signs That Visual Processing Might Be Struggling

• Confusing similar-looking letters (like b/d or p/q)

• Difficulty copying from the board

• Struggles with spelling or remembering sight words

• Poor handwriting and spacing

• Problems completing puzzles, mazes, or tying shoes

• Trouble with math alignment or reading charts

• Difficulty following directions or organizing schoolwork

These signs are often mistaken for dyslexia, ADHD, or even laziness, but they stem from the brain’s ability to use vision efficiently.

Many children with visual information processing difficulties pass vision screenings with flying colors. But when they start school, the real struggles begin—because their eyes can see, but their brains can’t sort what they see fast enough.

How to Improve Visual Information Processing

1. Vision Therapy + Cognitive Visual Training - Customized programs work on developing the brain’s ability to process and respond to visual input. This might involve matching games, sequencing tasks, memory drills, and spatial activities.

2. Occupational Therapy for Visual-Motor Integration - OTs can help with activities that link seeing with doing - especially for kids with handwriting or coordination struggles.

3. Educational Support Strategies - Highlight key text, use color-coding, minimize visual clutter, and give written + verbal instructions. Visual organizers and assistive tech (like audiobooks or speech-to-text) can be game-changers.

4. Comprehensive Visual Processing Assessment - These are not part of standard eye exams and should be conducted by professionals trained in perceptual testing.

🧠 Quote to Remember

Final Thoughts

Visual Information Processing difficulties don’t show up on a standard eye chart, but they can impact everything from reading fluency to math, sports, and even self-confidence. The key is recognizing the signs early and building a supportive path forward - with therapy, tools, and understanding.