Learner Status Checkmarks

I have 2 checkmarks (Yellow and Blue) that are used to show if a Learner has started or completed a topic on a custom-built menu (just text Blocks) with 5 or 6 topics. The checkmarks display to the right of the topic name on the menu. As the user navigates through the course, these checkmarks are on a timer in the root of the course. The checkmarks are not visible to begin. I use a page variable, so that when the Learner starts a topic, the variable sets to a particular value to start that topic, and the Yellow checkmark displays. When the Learner advances past the last page in the topic, the variable is set to a different value, and the Blue checkmark is displayed. I use a different value for each different topic. This how the customer wanted it to work. If a Learner jumps around from topic to topic, each topic that was clicked, but not finished, shows a Yellow checkmark. Any topic completed shows a blue checkmark. If you complete the entire course, you will have all Blue checkmarks, but you can still go back and review material. It all works, even if it might be a little clutsy.

The problem is for all checkmarsk that are displayed, at that point in the course, Yellow or Blue, the displayed checkmarks flash each time you advance to a different page, from the one you are currently viewing. They flash when you advance to the next page using the Next button. Why is this happening? Is this because I don't have the checkmarks visible to start the course? The flashing is annoying. The checkmarks are correct, they just flash as you either click to a new topic, or advance to the next page usng the next button. What can I do to stop the flashing?