READING DIFFICULTY

Reading is a complex neurologic process that requires rapid coordination between the eyes, brainstem, cerebellum, and frontal cortex. It’s not just about vision or intelligence—it’s about neurologic timing, eye movement control, and sensory processing.

At Vital Balance, we help uncover the root cause of reading struggles by assessing how well the brain and body are working together. Whether it's slow reading, poor comprehension, letter reversals, or fatigue during reading, the issue often stems from a disruption in the brain's ability to process and organize visual and motor input—not a lack of effort.

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The Hidden Neurologic Roots of Reading Problems

Reading requires:

• Smooth, coordinated eye movements across the page (pursuits and saccades)

• Proper fixation and convergence of both eyes on the same target

• Accurate spatial awareness of where the eyes are in relation to the words

• Efficient communication between the visual, auditory, and language centers of the brain

• Proper frontal lobe inhibition to maintain attention and filter distraction

When any of these systems are underdeveloped or out of sync, reading becomes exhausting. This is why so many children (and even adults) experience:

• Skipping lines or words while reading

• Losing their place on the page

• Reading slowly or monotone

• Difficulty sounding out or blending

• Poor reading comprehension

• Headaches, fatigue, or frustration with reading

• Avoidance of schoolwork or low academic confidence

Our Approach to Correcting the Neurologic Patterns Behind Reading Issues

 

1. Functional Neurologic Evaluation
We begin with a comprehensive brain-body assessment to identify what systems are contributing to the reading difficulty. This includes:

• Eye tracking and convergence testing

• Gaze stability and saccadic accuracy

• Vestibular and proprioceptive integration

• Cross-crawl coordination and postural reflexes

• Frontal lobe screening (inhibition, focus, and sequencing)

Many children with reading issues also present with retained primitive reflexes, imbalanced muscle tone, or head/neck misalignments—all of which can compromise neurologic timing and coordination.

 

2. Upper Cervical & Structural Correction
The cranio-cervical junction plays a critical role in regulating visual reflexes and proprioceptive input. Even subtle misalignments here can impair eye tracking and postural control, forcing the brain to work harder just to stabilize vision. We use gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments to improve brainstem function and reestablish clean input from the body to the brain.

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3. Eye Movement & Visual-Motor Retraining
Once alignment is restored, we implement custom neurologic exercises that support:

• Accurate eye tracking and fixation

• Left-to-right scanning for reading fluency

• Eye-hand coordination and visual mapping

• Depth perception and spatial awareness

• Visual attention under cognitive load

These drills retrain the ocular motor system and help establish the neurologic foundation needed for reading confidence.

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We work with parents to support reading habits at home with movement-based breaks, lighting strategies, and pacing cues.

Who We Help
We support:

• Children who struggle with reading despite average or above-average intelligence

• Kids who “read fine out loud” but don’t understand what they just read

• Students with co-occurring ADHD, anxiety, or sensory sensitivities

• Children who passed vision exams but still lose their place or avoid reading

• Adults who never felt confident as readers and want to strengthen their skills neurologically

 

Why This Approach Matters

If reading hasn’t “clicked,” there’s a reason—and it’s not laziness or lack of potential. Most struggling readers are working harder than everyone else, just to stay in the game.

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Schedule a consultation and let’s uncover the real reason reading feels so hard—and give your child (or yourself) the tools to finally unlock it.