Vision Therapy is an innovative technique that can improve your perception and ability to process new information.As one of the five senses, vision plays a vital role in providing information to your brain, which you then use to make decisions.

For most people, vision problems may first lead to a trip to the eye doctor for an eye exam. However, traditional eye exams only look at the way the eye can focus and function; they do not take into consideration how well the brain processes what it is seeing. This is important to consider, especially for individuals who can see perfectly fine, but have a hard time processing visual inputs.

ADHD and Vision Issues

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition commonly diagnosed in children. It is often diagnosed when teachers notice that children have a hard time paying attention in class and sitting still when they are supposed to.

What may be unknown to most parents of ADHD children is that there is a strong connection between vision problems and the symptoms of ADHD, such as difficulty focusing, sitting, and controlling impulses.

In addition, convergence insufficiency is commonly found in those with ADHD. While it is possible for children without ADHD to also have convergence insufficiency, it does affect those with ADHD more severely.

Convergence Insufficiency

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a condition where the eyes struggle to work together to focus on a single object. The eyes typically adjust accordingly to form a single image, but in those with convergence insufficiency, this is not so easy.

One task that commonly utilizes convergence of the eyes is reading. Reading requires quick and complex eye movements as you scan the page, and so the eyes work together to accomplish this task. To do this the eyes may dilate and move towards the midline, or center, of your vision.

Those with CI may find that their brain and eyes have a hard time coordinating these eye changes. One eye may do one thing while the other does something else. When this happens, it can be challenging for the eyes to work together and form a single image.

Common symptoms of CI include:

• double vision
• blurred vision
• eye strain.

This may contribute to why those with ADHD struggle with reading; the task is much harder for them than it is for those without CI. A common symptom of CI is losing one’s place when reading. When this happens to someone with ADHD, they may have an even harder time finding their place and continuing to read due to their inattentiveness.

The Benefits of Vision Therapy for ADHD

Vision therapy can help address CI and return normal vision functioning to those with ADHD.

As for other vision issues, a research study found that involuntary eye movements are an indicator of ADHD and may lead to some of the functional problems that those with ADHD experience.Since vision therapy is a way to help improve eye movement and tracking, it may help stop these involuntary movements.

With these benefits, vision therapy may serve as an alternative treatment for ADHD instead of medication or behavior therapy.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of vision therapy for those with ADHD, call Abbey Neuropsychology Clinic for more information or to request and appointment.

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7141051/

https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/convergence-insufficiency