What are Visual Perceptual Skills?
Visual perceptual skills are the brain’s ability to interpret and organize visual information, like recognizing shapes, letters, or patterns. These skills are used in daily tasks such as reading, writing, completing puzzles, and navigating the environment.
What Does Difficulty in This Area Look Like?
Children with visual perceptual challenges might:
- Have trouble copying from the board or a book
- Struggle with puzzles or shape-sorting games
- Confuse similar-looking letters like b and d
- Miss details in pictures or printed words
- Have messy handwriting or trouble staying within lines
- Appear clumsy when navigating spaces or bump into objects
These difficulties can affect school performance, self-confidence, and everyday independence.
How Can OT Help Build These Skills?
Occupational therapy can support visual perceptual development through fun, targeted activities that strengthen how a child processes visual information. Therapists might use:
- Games that improve visual tracking and memory
- Activities that build hand-eye coordination
- Strategies for organizing written work
- Adaptive tools or visual cues to support learning
With the right support, children can build the skills they need to feel more confident and capable in their daily lives.