If reading ends in tears, meltdowns, or “I hate this,” this episode reframes the conversation.

We unpack a common misunderstanding: reading struggles aren’t always about motivation, intelligence, dyslexia, or ADHD. Reading is first a visual task — and there’s a critical difference between eyesight (20/20 clarity) and vision (how efficiently the brain uses the eyes).

You’ll learn:

1. How visual inefficiencies can mimic ADHD
2. Why some children labeled dyslexic may also have undetected visual challenges
3. The signs of tracking, focusing, and eye teaming issues
4. What to look for at home
5. When to seek a comprehensive visual evaluation

(00:04) Intro
(00:37) When Your Child Hates Reading
(01:08) It’s Not Laziness or Lack of Motivation
(02:30) What Should Parents Do First?
(02:55) Dyslexia: Diagnosis & Misconceptions
(04:29) Why a Behavioral Optometry Exam Comes First
(05:02) 20/20 Eyesight vs. True Vision
(06:00) Tracking, Focus & Why Reading Feels So Hard
(07:34) ADHD vs. Vision Problems
(08:42) Can Kids Have Multiple Issues?
(09:30) Compensating vs. Fixing the Root Cause
(10:43) Dr. Collier’s Personal Story with Double Vision
(12:06) Punishment vs. Understanding the Struggle
(13:29) Tapping Into What Your Child Loves
(14:00) When Kids Decide “I’m Not a Reader”
(16:20) Catching Vision Issues Early
(18:45) Building Perseverance the Right Way
(19:02) Tracking Progress & Celebrating Wins
(20:33) Where to Start If Your Child Is Struggling
(21:22) Finding a Behavioral Optometrist
(21:46) 4D Built to Read Program
(22:01) Outro

If your child avoids reading, it may not be defiance — it may be discomfort. It could be their eyes! Start with understanding.

👀 What is vision therapy really like for a child?

In this special episode, we hear directly from Wesley, an 8-year-old vision therapy graduate, who bravely shares his experience in his own words. Wesley walks us through what an eye exam feels like for a kid, what was hard for him before vision therapy, and how things changed after completing his program.

This episode offers parents a rare, honest look at vision therapy from the child’s perspective—helping families understand what their child might experience and why the work is worth it.

🧠 In This Episode, Wesley Shares:

1. What an eye exam is like when you’re a kid
2. What he was struggling with before starting vision therapy
3. How vision therapy helped him at school and in daily life
4. His favorite vision therapy activities
5. Encouraging advice for kids who are currently doing vision therapy

💡 Why This Episode Matters

1. Hearing directly from a child helps demystify vision therapy for parents and kids alike
2. Kids often describe their challenges differently than adults—and those insights matter
3. Success stories from children can help normalize the process and reduce anxiety for families just starting out

(00:00) Intro
(00:35) Meet Wesley – A Kid’s Perspective
(01:16) What Happens During an Eye Exam?
(03:15) Distance Vision & Teamwork Between the Eyes
(04:29) Vision Processing & Eye-Brain Connection
(05:02) When Words Look Double
(06:25) How Vision Therapy Helped (Without Glasses)
(06:52) Favorite Activity: Slap Tap
(07:57) Most Challenging Exercise: Michigan Tracking
(09:05) Reading & Math Improvements (Mad Minute Explained)
(10:26) Book Recommendations – I Survived Series
(11:49) Graphic Novels vs. Chapter Books
(13:02) Why Some Kids Don’t Realize They See Double
(14:15) Advice for Kids Starting Vision Therapy
(15:16) Outro

❤️ A Note for Parents

If you’re considering vision therapy for your child or your child is currently in a program, this episode offers reassurance, perspective, and encouragement—from someone who’s been there and come out stronger on the other side.

🎧 Listen & Share

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune in.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another family who may be wondering what vision therapy is like for kids.

Vision therapy is often discussed in the context of young children—but what about older kids and teens who are struggling academically, athletically, or emotionally and have been told they’re “too old” to benefit?

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Eric Chow, OD, a functional optometrist and owner of Miami Vision Therapy, to explore how vision therapy can be effectively delivered to older children and teens through innovative digital models. Dr. Chow shares insights from his clinical experience, his journey as a practice owner, and the development of his digital vision therapy program, See Your Potential: Brain Core Training.

Together, we discuss how modern vision therapy is evolving to meet families where they are—without compromising clinical integrity or outcomes.

🧠 In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Dr. Chow’s path into functional optometry and vision therapy
• How See Your Potential: Brain Core Training supports teens and their families through a digital vision therapy model
• What parents should be asking when their older child is struggling
• Critical questions eye doctors should consider when evaluating next steps for teens
• How digital programs can expand access while maintaining quality care
• Where Dr. Chow sees the future of vision therapy headed

(00:00) Intro
(00:35) Meet Dr. Eric Chow
(01:30) See Your Potential
(02:19) Why Digital Vision Therapy
(03:30) Expanding Care Beyond the Clinic
(04:00) The Evolution of Vision Therapy
(05:02) Binocular Vision Dysfunction
(06:34) Getting the Right Diagnosis
(07:56) A Teen Patient Story
(09:00) What Parents Should Ask
(12:14) Questions for Your Eye Doctor
(15:12) Motivating Older Kids
(17:22) Gamification in Vision Therapy
(18:17) Real-Life Patient Results
(20:24) Why Not Apps or YouTube?
(22:02) Brain Core Training Explained
(23:10) Bringing Expert Care Home
(24:39) The Accessibility Gap
(25:26) The Future of Vision Therapy
(28:15) Vision & Brain Health

🔗 Resources & Links

• Visit Miami Vision Therapy: https://www.miamivt.com/
• Explore additional resources from It Could Be Your Eyes: https://www.4dvisiontherapyathome.com/

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
If this episode was helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a family or provider who could benefit from this conversation.