European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 17, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 24 stars and stripes tuesday april 17 sight disorder stifles learning that scrambled word game by Henri Arnold and Mike Argirion dear Abby please help me get the word out about a common condition that severely affects childrens ability to succeed in school because it inhibits read ing spelling and concentration my daughter who was obviously Bright tested at first Grade Reading level in fifth Grade she had undergone All the school testing for learning disabilities plus two Days of testing at a respected univer sity Hospital none of these tests or specialists revealed what could be wrong with her my Childs self esteem suffered her Confidence faltered she began acting out in school at Home she was a great kid until it came time for schoolwork then the Battles began she thought she was dumb when study ing she could read for Only a very Short time she often begged me to read things to her when working on spelling and assigned to rewrite the words she missed five times she dear Abby often re copied them wrong we thought she just want trying after much research on the internet i came across a disorder called convergence insufficiency disorder this visual condition is the leading cause of eyestrain fortunately we had the Opportunity to have her tested at the Mayo clinic where her condition was con firmed and she was successfully treated with vision therapy it was As though a Miracle had occurred after six months of treatment my Daugh Ter is almost at her age appropriate read ing level her com prehension and retention have markedly increased and her self esteem and attitude about Reading Are much better please help me get the word out so other families wont have to go through what we experienced Angle w in Minnesota dear Angie i am pleased to help you get the word out to other families whose children Are struggling to learn after Reading your letter i contacted my experts at the Mayo clinic in Rochester Minn and was informed that this problem where the eyes Drift too much inward or outward in attempt ing to focus can also be present in adults the symptoms can include eyestrain headaches blurred vision sleepiness and trouble retaining information when Reading other symptoms associated with convergence insufficiency include a pulling sensation around the eyes the rubbing or closing of one Eye when Reading words seeming to jump or float across the Page needing to reread the same line of words frequent loss of place general inability to concentrate and Short Atten Tion Span letters for this column with your name and phone number should be addressed to dear Abby to Box 69440 los Angeles Ca 90069 readers can write to Abby on the internet at Universal press Syndicate unscramble these four jumbles one letter to each Square to form four Ordinary words s s Tribune Media services inc All rights reserved s v s  come take a look Only s5 million the tycoons vis its the luxury yacht because it wa5 now arrange the circled letters to form the Surprise answer As suggested by the above cartoon answer yesterdays s j o do you come from a huge no but a couple of them Are a a Tell Pussy youre a couple l Short of a a Lafiata answers tomorrow jumbles bully abide unlike Furrow answer what the zookeeper was attracted to in the City the wild life Speed bump Good Uusi Knog is u6s still not Usta Hwy Tomou Uhnken Vou say 18 years unt they move wwt1l they realize that Uke a worst Case scenario right this is going to night dont repeat to pm not even conventional l for tji ush