Symptoms
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Eyestrain
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Headaches
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Tired, sore eyes
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Difficulty concentrating on reading and close tasks (i.e. reading, computer work, desk work, playing video games, doing crafts, etc.)
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Sleepiness
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Poor sports performance
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Frequent loss of place or mistakenly re-reading the same line of text
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Avoidance of near work or reading
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Dizziness or motion sickness
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Loss of comprehension after short periods of reading or performing close activities
People with CI often experience:
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Double vision when reading, especially for long periods of time
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Eyes feel tired, hurt, sore, or uncomfortable
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A “pulling” feeling around eyes
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Words move, jump, swim, or appear to float on the page
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Words appear to come in and out of focus
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Words blur on page, especially after long periods of reading or if reading when tired
Signs of CI at school:
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Performs below potential
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Trouble staying focused on homework
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Moves head back and forth while reading (instead of moving eyes)
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Poor concentration
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Misaligns letters or numbers
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Avoidance of near work such as reading
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Unusual posture
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Difficulty tracking moving objects
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Whispers to self when reading
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Difficulty copying from the board
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Poor eye hand coordination
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Loses place when reading or uses finger to keep place
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Squinting, eye rubbing, or excessive blinking while reading
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Homework takes hours when it shouldn’t
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Short attention span, quickly bored, day dreams, doesn’t pay attention
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Becomes easily distracted
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Low comprehension of written material
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Can read but chooses not to
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Light sensitivity after reading
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Difficulty in catching a ball
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Child is often labeled as “unmotivated”, “distractible” or “lazy”
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Turning or tilting of head when reading
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Fatigues easily after reading;
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Poor attention skills/ ADD or ADHD
Tracking issues make reading and comprehension much more difficult, as shown in this example:
Impacts of Convergence Insufficiency
What causes Convergence Insufficiency?
Convergence Insufficiency is a lifelong condition that doesn't go away with age. It is most often visible in younger children, but many people are not aware they have Convergence Insufficiency until they are diagnosed and treated later in life.
Psychological Effects
Like most learning disabilities, CI can have a negative impact on people, especially school-aged children and teens. Children with CI have lower self esteem and often have negative feelings about school and their intelligence. They may work slower than their peers, which may lead them to mistakenly believe that they are less intelligent or not capable of taking advanced classes.