ADHD or Vision Problems? The Hidden Link

Is your child struggling to sit still, losing focus, or acting out during homework? Before jumping to an ADHD diagnosis, there's another possibility you should check: their eyes.

The Overlapping Symptoms

It is surprisingly common for vision problems to be misdiagnosed as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). This is because the effort required to compensate for poor vision often manifests as behavioral issues.

Shared symptoms include:

• Short Attention Span: Especially for reading or close-up tasks.
• Fidgeting: Moving around simply because sitting still and focusing is visually exhausting.
• Careless Mistakes: Skipping words, misreading numbers, or poor handwriting.
• Avoidance: Refusing to do homework or read.

Convergence Insufficiency (CI)

One of the most common culprits is Convergence Insufficiency (CI). This is a condition where the eyes struggle to turn inward (converge) to focus on a near object, like a book or tablet.

Instead of a clear image, a child with CI might see words swimming or doubling on the page. To stop the double vision, they have to work incredibly hard, leading to headaches, fatigue, and naturally... a loss of attention.

Why School Screenings Miss It

A standard school vision screening usually tests for visual acuity (the ability to see the "20/20" line on a chart across the room). It does not test for:

• Eye tracking (following a line of text).
• Eye teaming (eyes working together).
• Focusing stamina.

A child can have perfect "20/20" eyesight and still suffer from severe Convergence Insufficiency.

What Can You Do?

If you suspect your child's learning struggles might be vision-related:

1. Get a Comprehensive Exam: Schedule an appointment with a developmental optometrist who can test for binocular vision disorders.
2. Observe: Watch your child read. Do they cover one eye? Do they tilt their head? These are coping mechanisms.
3. Vision Therapy: Conditions like CI are highly treatable with vision therapy games (like Piggy Peekaboo!) and exercises.