Concurrent vision training, a method for improving brain-eye coordination, effectively improves visual function in children with reading and writing difficulties. Research from Japan, presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association of Educational Psychology (2019), shows that concurrent vision training is a promising tool in education, from elementary school to university.
Background
In the United States, conjunctive acupressure has an 80-year history and was originally developed to improve the visual function of Air Force pilots and treat strabismus (crossed eyes). Since the 1980s, the training has also been used to help individuals with NPF diagnoses, such as ADHD and dyslexia.
Results from universities and primary schools
University
A study at Senri Kinran University (Saito, 2019) shows that congruence training improves reading speed and accuracy in students with reading and writing difficulties. After 20 sessions over the course of two months, significant improvements were seen.
Primary schools
Takemoto (2016) investigated the effect of long-term training of primary school students' eye coordination and found that simultaneous vision training improved both visual function and reading. Students in language education showed particularly great progress when regular individual studies were combined with simultaneous vision training.
A study by Saito (2024) also shows the benefits of peer training in primary school. The study focused on secondary school students with special needs, and after two months of peer training, significant improvements were seen in both horizontal and vertical reading time.
Conclusion
Consciousness training can be of great help to children with NPF diagnoses, among others, but especially to students with weak eye coordination. Consciousness training in schools promotes improved visual function, as well as increased motivation and better performance. Research from Japan also emphasizes the importance of continuing to develop and implement consciousness training as part of education and training programs.
