Sharpening Focus: How Optometric Vision Therapy Can Support Kids with ADHD

For parents navigating the complexities of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the search for effective support strategies is ongoing. While ADHD is primarily a neurodevelopmental disorder, it's increasingly understood that addressing related visual challenges can significantly impact a child's ability to learn and thrive. This is where vision therapy, as an adjunctive treatment, can play a powerful role.

Vision Therapy: An Indirect Path to Improved Learning

It's important to clarify what vision therapy is and isn't. We do not claim that vision therapy resolves a learning disability or ADHD. Instead, its benefit lies in helping with visual problems that can interfere with reading, comprehension, and overall educational instruction. Think of it as removing a roadblock that's hindering a child's access to information and their ability to process it efficiently.

The Connection: Convergence Insufficiency and ADHD

A compelling example of vision therapy's potential is found in the relationship between a common vision disorder called Convergence Insufficiency (CI) and ADHD. Researchers at the Children's Eye Center, University of San Diego, uncovered a significant link between these two conditions.

What is Convergence Insufficiency?

Convergence Insufficiency is a condition where your eyes don't work together effectively as a team when you're looking at nearby objects. Instead of both eyes turning inward smoothly to focus, one eye may drift outward. This can lead to symptoms like:

• Double vision (diplopia)

• Blurred vision

• Eyestrain

• Headaches

• Difficulty concentrating on close-up tasks

• Skipping lines or losing place while reading

While CI itself is not classified as a learning disability, its symptoms can profoundly affect the learning process, making reading and close work incredibly challenging and frustrating.

The Startling Statistics

The San Diego researchers found some striking connections:

• There appeared to be a three-fold greater incidence of ADHD among patients with CI compared to the general U.S. population.

• Conversely, they also noted a three-fold greater incidence of CI in the ADHD population.

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These findings suggest a strong correlation, indicating that children struggling with ADHD are more likely to also have CI, and vice-versa. (Granet et al., 2005)

How Vision Therapy Helps CI (and Potentially ADHD Symptoms)

The good news is that Convergence Insufficiency responds very well to vision therapy.

Through a series of customized techniques and activities, optometric vision therapy helps to improve the coordination between the eyes and brain. By teaching the eyes to work together efficiently, vision therapy can reduce or eliminate the symptoms of CI (CITT Study Group, 2008).

When a child's visual system is working more effectively, the effort required to focus and maintain attention on reading and other schoolwork decreases. This can free up cognitive resources, potentially leading to:

• Improved focus and concentration

• Reduced fatigue during schoolwork

• Better reading fluency and comprehension

• Increased self-esteem and reduced frustration with learning

Considering Optometric Vision Therapy

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD or is struggling with learning challenges, especially if he or she exhibits symptoms like eyestrain, headaches after reading, or difficulty keeping his/her place, it may be beneficial to schedule a comprehensive vision evaluation with a developmental optometrist specializing in vision therapy.

While it's not a cure for ADHD, addressing underlying visual issues like Convergence Insufficiency can be a crucial piece of the puzzle, providing valuable support to help your child reach his or her full potential.