Improve reading ability and concentration in school with Imvi
Convergence insufficiency in school can be a hidden cause of reading difficulties
A growing problem in schools is that students struggle with reading. This affects not only learning but also students’ future educational and job opportunities.
There are many causes for this, but one that is often overlooked involves the brain’s coordination of the eyes. Optometrists refer to this as “binocular vision problems,” “hidden strabismus,” or “vergence problems.” About 10% of people have convergence insufficiency, and among children and teenagers, it is over 20%. Sometimes people with dyslexia or ADHD also have convergence problems, but since convergence insufficiency can produce similar symptoms to these conditions, they can be difficult to distinguish and diagnose.
However, it is possible to train away convergence insufficiency. With Imvi’s training, one can significantly improve their convergence in just twelve weeks. This relieves the brain and leads to increased reading speed and improved concentration. It also helps if, for example, you are often tired, have headaches, or suffer from eye strain.
Regular pedagogy does not help with convergence insufficiency; instead, this type of special convergence training is required for eye coordination to improve. Typically, eye exams in schools do not detect when students have convergence problems, making it a hidden issue that many experience without knowing why.
Symptoms to be aware of
Signs that indicate a student may have convergence insufficiency. Please contact an optometrist or healthcare provider if the student:
- Squints, tilts their head, or closes one eye when reading or looking at a screen.
- Holds objects very close to their eyes or sits at the front of the classroom to see properly.
- Shows disinterest or inability to concentrate.
- Complains of headaches.
- Has difficulties with reading, reads slowly, or confuses letters such as n and u, p and b, d and b.
- Complains that the text becomes double or jumps in front of their eyes.
- Experiences abnormal fatigue.
The symptoms are often detected in school
In school, problems such as myopia are often detected during regular health check-ups. Children are offered at least three health visits from preschool to ninth grade, where vision is checked at least once. Vision impairments can develop quickly, and the checks in school are not frequent or comprehensive enough to detect them in time.
Myopia is increasing very rapidly in society. By 2050, it is estimated that half of the world’s population will be myopic, with the highest increase among children. This is serious because myopia increases the risk of developing eye diseases later in life.
Increased use of tablets and mobile phones at close distances for very long and continuous periods is believed to be the cause. Reduced time spent outdoors in natural sunlight also has a negative impact. At the same time, problems with eye coordination are increasing. In school, eye coordination is not examined at all.
Imvi Labs helps schools
Students’ ability to read and comprehend texts is a central part of the Swedish curriculum. According to the curriculum, Swedish language instruction should promote students’ linguistic and literary development, as well as their ability to communicate and use language as a tool for learning. Reading is a key skill that is crucial for students’ success in school and life.
Imvi Labs offers a unique method to improve students’ reading skills by strengthening eye coordination through training. The method is based on scientific research and has proven effective in increasing reading speed, concentration, and promoting reading development in students of various ages.
Imvi Labs’ patented solution is developed in collaboration with the Karolinska Institute. The method involves training eye coordination using a mobile app, by watching streamed content through VR glasses.
Anette Norberg van Amerongen works as a special education teacher at an elementary and middle school in Sweden. Here she describes how a student who completed our training program has achieved significant improvements in their reading speed, as well as in social interactions in the classroom.
Strong connection to the curriculum
Our results and observations
- Faster reading
- Increased concentration
- More energy and stamina
- Calmer in class
- Better grades and a higher percentage of passing students
- Early training reduces the need for interventions throughout schooling
- Engaged guardians
Supports the school’s goals and responsibilities
- Equality
- Promote lifelong learning
- Promote knowledge
- Confidence in language ability
- Right to additional support as needed, no diagnosis required, insufficient resources not a reason to deny
- Inform guardians about the plan and progress
The curriculum that the Imvi Labs method can contribute to:
Reading comprehension: The Imvi Labs method improves students’ ability to focus on and understand texts. This enhances their reading comprehension and helps them process and interpret various types of texts.
Reading speed: Through regular training with Imvi Labs, students can increase their reading speed, which is an important aspect of efficiently handling large amounts of text.
Concentration: Improving eye coordination with the Imvi Labs method can also enhance students’ ability to concentrate. This is crucial for reading accurately and keeping up with complex texts.
Web portal and mobile app access for educators: There is a web portal and mobile app access for educators to monitor students’ training and development.
Imvi method in practice: We alternate tests with training to track students’ progress and to optimize the difficulty and duration of the training.
Results from Imvi Labs training
RANGSBY SKOLA AND ÖDKARBY SKOLA SALTVIK, ÅLAND
We collaborate with several schools. Here is an example of a successful partnership with two schools in Åland. Special education teachers Isa Blomqvist and Emma Nylund report after 12 weeks of training:
- We selected 10 students with reading difficulties, where previous interventions had not yielded sufficient results.
- 9 out of 10 students had convergence insufficiency before training.
- Together with the students and their classroom teachers, we observed: improved reading fluency, less choppy reading, less fatigue during reading, better spelling, and feeling more “whole.”
- Reading speed: 43% improvement.
If Imvi had been implemented earlier, the school could have:
- Utilized teachers’ working time more effectively.
- Used students’ lesson time better.
- Helped the students earlier.
How can your school start with Imvi?
The school identifies the students with the greatest reading difficulties. Teachers and special education teachers usually have good insight into which students need our training. In conjunction with this, you can take our free convergence test on our website.
We send out VR glasses and links to instructions to the school. Imvi Labs then holds a digital overview of the training and setup, both for the involved educators and the concerned guardians.
Students download the app to their respective phones. When students are registered, their guardians give consent for data handling and training, which also gives the school access to the data. Therefore, this is not something the school needs to manage.
Educators can monitor their students’ training and results through a web interface, and guardians can download the app in a version that allows them to follow their child’s training.
Contact Imvi Labs
The setup above is an example that is often applied by the schools we collaborate with. If you have your own ideas and would like to discuss an arrangement that suits you, we are of course open to finding a solution.
