Dyslexia is a process that starts with confusing visual clues, which in time diminishes connections in areas of the brain used for decoding the written word and reading. In some cases, the areas in the brain used for reading may be rededicated to other tasks and skills, in which the child excels. By the time the child enters school and is identified as having a reading problem, it may be more difficult to help the child, because the brain may have already been impacted. Delayed identification of visual issues and reading difficulties also makes understanding the causes of dyslexia (visual v. brain) more difficult.

Tools to help children learn to read, and to identify those at risk for dyslexia include: 1.) Young children through second grade, can have staring contests, trying not to blink. Staring contests help develop a fixed gaze, which is preferably developed prior to age seven. 2.) The child should be evaluated for any deviation in the direction of gaze and drift, in either eye, no matter how small, when ready to learn to read or having difficulty reading. Any child with a minor deviation in gaze, in one or both eyes, and a reading problem, should be prescribed the most expensive computer generated spectacle lenses. Computer-generated lenses provide clear vision across a broader field, which may compensate for minor eye deviations and aid learning. 3.) Any child having difficulty reading, no matter the age, should be offered the EyeQ computer program, or similar reading program (apps available for younger children). The EyeQ program was developed to improve reading speed, in adults; but can help in strengthening eye muscles, improving fixed gaze, and developing smooth scanning across the page.

The earlier the better, but even teenagers and adults can benefit from these reading tools. Employing these tools can be done at a relatively low cost, providing significant benefit, independently or as an adjunct to existing reading programs, for anyone having difficulty with reading. It is never too late!