The Hidden Vision Crisis Holding Our Kids Back — Dr. Bryce Appelbaum on How Functional Eye Health Transforms Learning, Focus, and Family Wellness

When our daughter was falling behind in reading and getting daily headaches, we were told she’d grow out of it. But we knew something wasn’t right. Bryce helped us uncover a hidden developmental delay in her visual system—one that was holding her back in ways we never imagined. And once we started vision therapy, everything began to shift.

Dr. Bryce explains how functional vision—how the eyes team up, track, and communicate with the brain—is a crucial part of learning, behavior, and confidence. He breaks down why so many children are misdiagnosed with ADHD or learning disorders when the root issue is actually visual. If your child struggles in school or avoids reading, this is the conversation you didn’t know you needed.

This episode is a wake-up call. It will challenge everything you thought you knew about eyesight, school performance, and brain development—and show you how to actually get to the root cause.

Why This Matters to You

If your child is struggling in school despite their best efforts, this episode could change your entire outlook.

• Constant Headaches or Fatigue? Learn why unresolved vision issues cause strain, headaches, and burnout—especially during near work.
• Trouble Reading or Sitting Still? Discover why kids with visual processing issues avoid reading and can’t focus—because it’s physically exhausting.
• Behavioral Challenges? Find out how double vision, depth perception issues, or poor eye teaming often mimic ADHD or defiance.
• No Help from Your Pediatrician or Eye Doctor? Understand why most doctors don’t test for functional vision—and what you need to ask for.
• Worried Something’s “Wrong” with Your Child? Hear how vision therapy can unlock potential, rebuild confidence, and transform daily life.

Actionable Advice

• Get a Functional Vision Evaluation – Not all eye exams are the same. Bryce explains what to look for and where to go for real answers.
• Watch for Red Flags – If your child rubs their eyes often, avoids reading, or struggles with coordination, it could be vision—not behavior.
• Understand Convergence Insufficiency – Learn how this common but overlooked condition impacts learning and how it’s treated.
• Rewire the Brain-Eye Connection – Discover how neuroplasticity and targeted vision therapy exercises can re-train the eyes to work together.
• Track Progress, Not Perfection – Bryce shares how small wins build up—and why success looks different for every child.

Dr. Bryce didn’t just give us a diagnosis—he gave our daughter the tools to succeed. After just a few sessions of therapy, she went from dreading books to voluntarily reading out loud, her headaches disappeared, and we saw her self-esteem soar.

What we thought was a learning disorder was actually a vision development issue. And now? She’s thriving.

Links and Resources to Explore

• Dr. Bryce Appelbaum’s Website – https://www.myvisionfirst.com
  get 10% off selected products using code ANCESTRAL
• Follow Dr. Bryce on Instagram – @drbryceappelbaum

Listen to the Full Episode – Available now on   Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.

It’s time to stop assuming your child is “just behind” or “not trying hard enough.” There may be a real, treatable reason for what they’re experiencing—and it starts with their eyes.

Your child isn’t broken. Their brain just needs a new way to connect with their world. Listen to the full episode now and discover how vision therapy could change everything.