Your Child's ADHD Might Actually Be a Learning Related Vision Problem

Does your child have ADHD or is it a learning related vision problem? They both have many of the same characteristics, for example:

* Fidgeting and squirming when they should remain still

* Not listening to what is being said to them

* Careless mistakes in schoolwork

* Losing or misplacing their belongings

* Talking excessively

* Interrupting others

A child can have 20/20 vision and still have vision related problems. Vision therapy can help with learning problems, reading and writing difficulties, coordination difficulty, and behavioral problems. Vision problems often go undetected in school age children and they are often diagnosed with ADHD.

Children with vision related problems may have a short attention span, avoid doing their school work, and seem restless. Parent and teachers may describe the child as being "lazy". The child has no way on knowing that what they see is different than their peers. The often wonder why they don't catch on to things like their friends do.

The first step in diagnosis is to have a thorough vision examination performed by an Optometrist. An Optometrist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats visual problems, some specialize in vision therapy. An Ophthalmologist is a doctor of medicine who specializes in eye disease and surgery.

A complete eye exam should have the following:

Acuity-distance: a distance of 20FT (clarity and sharpness)

Acuity-Near: short distance for reading

Focusing Skills: ability to have clear vision at various distances

Eye Tracking and Fixation Skills: the ability for the eyes to follow an object with out moving the head

Binocular fusion: the ability to use both eyes at the same time

Stereopis: binocular depth perception

Convergence and Eye Teaming Skills: how we control our eyes to aim, move, and work together

Hyperopia: difficulty viewing near objects

Color Vision: the ability to see colors

Reversal Frequency: confusing letters that are similar (b,d,p,q)

Visual Memory: the ability to remember an object

Visual Form Discrimination: the ability to determine if two items are the same or different

Visual Motor Integration: the ability to transfer information from horizontal to vertical

Once the evaluation is over the Optometrist will set a treatment plan for your child. This could take several months to finish. You as a parent must be committed to working with your child one on one at home every evening.

Children should have a comprehensive eye exam before entering school and throughout their school years.