Are my son’s reading struggles linked to his low blink rate?
OCT 01, 2020
Question:
My child is 8 and doesn’t blink. He is also a struggling reader. Could the lack of blinking be a problem?
Answer:
People do blink at different rates and those rates are affected by age, climate, and activity. As long as the cornea is staying moist and not being damaged, the blink rate should be adequate. Generally, I would not think a low blink rate would cause poor reading, but the reverse may be true—that is, reading difficulties might cause the child to strain and blink less. I would have an ophthalmologist examine the surface of the eye as part of a complete eye exam.