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Visual Perception: See What?

What are visual perceptual skills and why are they important? I’m so glad you asked! Visual-perceptual skills are not about how well you we see things (acuity) but rather how we (our brains) interpret what we see. For our kiddo’s, visual perceptual skills are so important, both in school and in their daily lives. These skills help them to recognize letters and numbers for reading, writing, and typing. These skills help them to recognize a face, match shapes, find a specific toy in a toy chest, read a road sign or map, and so many more things that those of us with strong visual perceptual skills take for granted.

There are many areas, or subcategories, of visual perception: figure ground, visual memory, visual sequential memory, form constancy, spatial relations, visual closure, visual motor integration, and visual discrimination.

Here is a brief review of each area:

Visual Figure Ground

This skill allows us to find an item in a busy visual field, such as a key word on a busy text book page, or the extra key in the junk drawer, or the broken blue crayon in the art box. This can also include faces, figures, numbers, any object really.

Visual Memory

This skill allows us to record, store, and retrieve information, remember something that was seen once it is no longer in sight. It allows us to learn and later recall what is learned, such as visualizing the notes that you studied before the test, or the empty pantry shelf when shopping.

Visual Sequential Memory

Similar to visual memory in that it allows us to store and retrieve information when necessary or useful, however, sequential memory involves distinguishing order of visual stimuli, such as words on a page, or writing without reversing letters, or a combination to a lock.

Visual Form Constancy

This skill allows us to distinguish one object from another similar object, even if it is rotated or sized differently, such as telling the difference between the letter “b” and “d” or “6” and “9”.

Visual Spatial Relations

This skill allows us to understand where things are in the environment in relation to ourselves and other objects, such as the spacing between words, the side of the jungle gym platform, or even understanding personal space.

Visual Closure

This skill allows us to identify an item when only part of it is showing, such as recognizing a pencil when only the bottom is sticking out from under the papers on the desk, or a stop sign when part of it is covered by a tree limb.

Visual Motor Coordination/Integration

This skill connects and coordinates what our eyes see with what our body/muscles do, such as copying math problems from the board to our own paper, getting your morning cereal into your mouth, driving a car, hitting the game winning homerun!

Visual Discrimination

Each of the above skills require some degree of visual discrimination. Visual Discrimination is the ability to identify detail, finding the slight differences in items, such as distinguishing between “R” and a “K”.

Here are some great activities to do with kiddos to help develop their visual perceptual skills:

  • Hidden pictures
  • Puzzles
  • Connect the dots
  • Copying shapes
  • Memory games
  • Construction toys (Legos, Erector Sets, building blocks))
  • Navigate through an obstacle course
  • Word search
  • Bingo
  • I-Spy bottles (click here to learn how to make your own I-Spy bottles as a fun activity to do with your kiddos)
  • Sorting type of games
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Patient Reviews

LLA Therapy

Patient Reviews

Crystal Scheibe

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Great place, glad we found them. Been going to Medina over 2 months now and he loves Lauryn and Kyler. Wish they had more ABA therapy places available... live in Wooster and long drive everyday.

Karrie Swan LaRock

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My 11 year old son has dyslexia and has made noticeable gains in working At LLA THERAPY. Katie is strong in her approach toward him and also keeps him comfortable enough to perform well. We will continue visiting both the Fairlawn and Hudson offices and recommend them highly.

Ron Monroe

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My 9 year old just completed about 9 months of weekly speech sessions (due to his stuttering) with Matt Hagge at LLA and we are thrilled with the experience and results. What I thought might be a negative (what kid really wants to go to speech class?) was made very positive by Matt, and my son never hesitated or complained when we talked about class. He really enjoyed it and really took what Matt taught him to heart. His speech has been greatly improved and we definitely recommend LLA. Thank you so much!

Heather Dougherty-Pantoja

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My son’s Occupational Therapist, Jess, is an amazing OT! She gives practical tips on working with my son at home and school!

Terri Apgar

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I cannot say enough good things about LLA Therapy. My daughter was a client of Teal Simmons’ for approximately 2 years and was just released from speech therapy! She was diagnosed with Apraxia in 2015 and worked with Teal twice a week. Through Teal’s application of PROMPT therapy, my daughter had age-appropriate speech after one year. All of the staff we interacted with at LLA were absolutely wonderful. They really care about what they do and making sure your child achieves their goals.

Kelli Geisler Davisson

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LLA Therapy has been an excellent experience for my son as well as my family! My son always asks, "When can I go see Ms. Jeannine again, is it Monday??" He has also made huge gains in only 5 months! I would highly recommend LLA and have already shared my experience with friends looking for services!

Victoria Hansford-Price

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We are so grateful for our Speech Therapist Ms.Teal. We have seen a great improvement with our sons confidence and communication abilities since we have started "Prompt" therapy. What we love the most about LLA and Ms. Teal is that Kohl feels comfortable and relaxed which has played a critical role in his progress. Thank you Ms. Teal for all you have done.

Laura Lee Hogsett

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They have helped in numerous ways. Speech, OT and behavioral. I've had numerous compliments on my son's progress thanks in very large part to LLA. I would recommend LLA before I recommend our local children's hospitals, though they are good, they don't have the staff that LLA does.

Amy Furukawa

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We had a great experience with Matt Hagge at LLA! Our Middle School age son was becoming very conscious of his voice, which is nasal due to a cleft palate. Matt helped him to better form his sounds and project his voice in a way that makes the unavoidable nasality less noticeable.Our son is more confident and outgoing & even took on a speaking role in the church play. Matt has the perfect personality to relate with our son, and we would recommend him to anyone needing speech therapy services!

Jessica Havalotti

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LLA Therapy has been an excellent experience for our daughter. I would highly recommend LLA. Miss Grace was so amazing and I can't believe how quickly our daughter showed improvement. Thank you!
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