ADD and ADHD

Vision Therapy and ADHD

Many parents of children with attention difficulties find themselves wondering whether ADHD is the entire explanation or whether other factors may be contributing to the challenges their child faces. One commonly overlooked piece of the puzzle is how the visual system works; not simply how clearly a child sees at a distance, but how well their eyes and brain work together during reading and learning.

Children who struggle with visual skills often display behaviors that resemble ADHD. Vision therapy, a specialized form of treatment designed to strengthen visual efficiency and processing, may play an important role in improving attention and learning for many children.

Why Vision Problems Can Look Like ADHD

When a child cannot comfortably coordinate their eyes or sustain visual attention, the result often looks like distraction, avoidance, or poor focus. These behaviors are easy to mistake for ADHD, especially because standard eye exams—focused mainly on 20/20 clarity—do not assess the skills required for reading, tracking, and close work.

These signs do not always indicate behavioral issues; sometimes they signal underlying visual challenges. The table below illustrates how the symptoms of ADHD and vision related learning problems overlap and often are mistaken for one another.

Inattention ADHD (DSM-IV) Learning-Related Visual Problems (Kavner) Normal Child under 7yo (Gesell)
Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes X X
Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities X X X
Often does not listen when spoken to directly X X
Often does not follow through on instructions or fails to finish work X X X
Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities X X X
Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks requiring sustained mental effort X X X
Often loses things X X X
Often distracted by extraneous stimuli X X X
Often forgetful in daily activities X X
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat 		X X X
Often has difficulty remaining seated when required to do so X X X
Often runs or climbs excessively X X
Often has difficulty playing quietly X
Often "on the go" X X
Often talks excessively X X
Often blurts out answers to questions before they have been completed X X
Often has difficulty awaiting turn X X X
Often interrupts or intrudes on others X X X

*Six or more symptoms must be present for more than 6 months in 2 or more environments. If the child is reading, it is the same environment where the child is.

DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual or Mental Disorders, 4th Edition

Sources:

Borsting, E., M. Rouse and R. Chu (2005). "Measuring ADHD behaviors in children with symptomatic accommodative dysfunction or convergence insufficiency: a preliminary study." Optometry 76: 588-592

Borsting, E., G. L. Mitchell, L. E. Arnold, M. Sheiman, C. Chase, M. Kulp, S. Cotter and C. R. Group (2013). "Behavioral and Emotional Problems Associated With Convergence Insufficiency in Children: An Open Trial." J Atten Disord.

Granet DB, Gomi CF, Ventura R and Miller-Scholte A (2005). "The relationship between convergence insufficiency and ADHD." Strabismus 13: 163-168. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16361187

Quick Links
 
Helpful Articles
all eye care services
All Eye Care Services

Find personalized eye care excellence with our comprehensive services. From eye exams to advanced diagnostics, trust us for all your vision needs.

contact us
Keep In Touch

For non-urgent questions or to learn more about our services, contact us today!