NCJ Number
54021
Journal
OPTOMETRIC WEEKLY Dated: (JANUARY 1968) Pages: 23-30
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROBLEM VISION AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS DESCRIBED USING RESULTS OF A STUDY IN HAMILTON COUNTY TENN., AND A PROGRAM FOR SCREENING AND EXAMINING STUDENTS FOR VISION PROBLEMS IS PROPOSED.
Abstract
THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED FOR INCLUSION IN THE 14 CITY PROJECT FOR CHATANOOGA, TENN., IN 1967. IT STATES THAT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DELINQUENCY AND SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT CAN BE DEMONSTRATED BY REVIEWING RESEARCH DONE WITH CLIENTS OF THE HAMILTON COUNTY JUVENILE COURT. THE STUDIES INDICATES THAT 91 PERCENT OF THE JUVENILES BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURT IN 1949 WERE BELOW STANDARDS IN SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT, 94 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN TESTED IN EARLY 1965 FAILED READING AND COMPREHENSION TESTS, AND 74 PERCENT OF THESE CHILDREN TESTED IN 1965 FAILED ONE OR MORE OF THE VISION SCREENING TESTS. THESE FACTS SUGGEST THAT MANY OF THE DELINQUENT NONREADERS OR POOR READERS SUFFER FROM VISION PROBLEMS. CHILDREN WITH READING PROBLEMS OFTEN CANNOT PERCEIVE THE SIZE, SHAPE, AND DISTANCE OF OBJECTS, CANNOT AIM THE EYES QUICKLY AND EFFORTLESSLY, AND CANNOT EASILY CHANGE THE SPEED AND ACCURACY OF FOCUS FROM A NEAR TO A FAR OBJECT. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM FOR SCREENING SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR VARIOUS VISUAL PROBLEMS INCLUDES A SERIES OF SCREENING TESTS FOR OCULAR AND VISUAL PROBLEMS AND FOR PERCEPTUAL ABILITY. A LIST OF APPROPRIATE EXAMINATIONS IS PROVIDED, AND FIGURES ON PERCEIVED STAFF NEEDS, EQUIPMENT, OFFICE SPACE, AND UTILITIES REQUIREMENTS ARE APPENDED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DAG)