ADHD & Vision

Some children with learning difficulties exhibit specific behaviors of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and distractibility. A common term used to describe children who exhibit such behaviors is  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Undetected and  untreated vision problems can elicit some of the very same signs and symptoms that are commonly attributed to ADHD. Due to these similarities, some  children with vision problems are mislabeled as having ADHD.  

 A recent study by researchers at the Children's Eye Center, University of San Diego,  uncovered a relationship between a common vision disorder, convergence  insufficiency, and ADHD. 

"[C]hildren  with convergence insufficiency are three times more likely to be  diagnosed with ADHD than children without the disorder [...] patients  diagnosed with ADHD should also be evaluated for convergence  insufficiency and treated accordingly."
- Dr. Granet of the Children's Eye Center

In school, children with ADHD often have difficulty focusing. They may also fidget or squirm in their seat, appear careless in their work,  and/or fail to follow through on instructions. 

Does this sound familiar?

As you learned above, functional vision problems in children can  produce a similar set of symptoms. In fact, the overlap is so profound  and distinctive that we’ve compiled a chart comparing the symptoms side  by side.

ADHD is a relatively common disorder for kids to suffer from, so when  a child presents with the typical symptoms, their doctor may be quick  to diagnose it as the cause.  However, a number of vision disorders have  many of the same symptoms as ADHD.  This can result in a child being  prescribed medication as a cure, when what they really need is vision  correction.  If a child has any of the following symptoms, it could be  due to ADHD or a vision problem (or both), which is why a correct  diagnosis can be tricky:

• Struggles to pay attention or concentrate in class
• Difficulty with reading or writing
• Tests poorly, even when they know the material
• Makes careless mistakes
• Starts assignments but has trouble completing them
• Poor performance in sports
• Has trouble organizing tasks

Due to the similarities in symptoms, if your child is suspected of having ADHD, it is wise to also get them tested for a vision disorder.

Call Calgary Vision Therapy to schedule a Visual Information Processing Evaluation.

When a child has problems with their functional vision, certain  visual skills become lacking, which results in symptoms like those of ADHD.

Functional vision is how your complete visual  system, including your eyes, brain and the visual pathways between them,  work together to make sense of the world around you, and help you  understand and interact with your surroundings.  It allows you to see  objects with depth and dimension (like a ball, for example), and  understand how to interact with it (catch it).

Problems with functional vision means the eyes and brain do not work together properly and can result in difficulty with focusing, depth perception, tracking skills, reading comprehension, hand-eye coordination and more. The symptoms of these vision issues, such as loss  of concentration, not paying attention in class, rushing through work with careless mistakes, poor sports performance, etc., are often confused with those of ADHD.  Therefore, getting your child evaluated for functional vision disorders can help you determine the best course  of treatment.